Portage Lakes Boating (Akron, Manchester: to rent, houses, live)

[wendiwb]

We'd like to spend a day out on a lake, renting a boat and just putting around. We're curious about the Portage Lakes near Akron -- has anyone else boated here? We're just wondering what it's like -- good scenery from the water, or mostly residential areas? Does it get crowded on the weekends, or it pretty relaxing? We've found a place there that rents pontoons, but would we be bored after an hour or two? Since we live about an hour away and have to reserve a boat in advance, we'd like to know what to expect.

I've seen the info on the Ohio State Parks web site, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of other info out there, so I was hoping to get advice from someone who has first-hand experience. Thanks in advance for your help!

Wendi

[htlong]

GO FOR IT! PORTAGE LAKES IS BIG ENOUGH to spend the day on the lake.
you have to putz around,account of there is only two speed lanes in the entire system of lakes.
start out having breakfast at the harbor inn on west res. then cruise out to Howie's on the lake (turkeyfoot lake) and grab lunch a sandwich and one of their famous bloody mary's to wash it down cruise over to Rex lake for a swim, then head for east res. and checkout d'orios for a cold one ,then cruise to cottage grove lake for another swim and check out the houses, one has old cars inside on display
if you have never been to portage lakes on a boat you will enjoy it, as a kid it was a way to go bar hopping without the DUI, but most of the old bars are gone now.

[wendiwb]

htlong,

Thanks for the great info!!! We will definitely check it out now.

[capt. carl]

htlong hi, i grew up at the lakes. graduated coventry 63 maybe our lives crossed.

[htlong]

capt,
i didn't grow up in the lakes but i spent many a night trying to navigate the old iron channel bumping into the walls after spending the evening at the ....i forget the name of the bar now it was next to the pelican cove and converted into a church? well its all gone now.
i can remember when kids used to rent canoes and actually paddle around the lakes....that doesn't happen anymore , todays kids would have a heart attack if they were to walk to the store!

[Mrs. P]

Originally Posted by htlong

GO FOR IT! PORTAGE LAKES IS BIG ENOUGH to spend the day on the lake.
you have to putz around,account of there is only two speed lanes in the entire system of lakes.
start out having breakfast at the harbor inn on west res. then cruise out to Howie's on the lake (turkeyfoot lake) and grab lunch a sandwich and one of their famous bloody mary's to wash it down cruise over to Rex lake for a swim, then head for east res. and checkout d'orios for a cold one ,then cruise to cottage grove lake for another swim and check out the houses, one has old cars inside on display
if you have never been to portage lakes on a boat you will enjoy it, as a kid it was a way to go bar hopping without the DUI, but most of the old bars are gone now.

sigh......you make me miss home again. I miss having lakes, real ones, not man made ones like where I live now. I ice skated for years at Howie's, swam , and boated all over the lakes...the red dock...you remember that?
What a great place to grow up. I grew up on the Manchester side, where Howie's really is.