Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial

There's only one place to view Lake Erie from the top of a 352-foot peace monument. You must travel to Put-In-Bay, Ohio, where you see a massive Doric column, reminiscent of ancient Greek architecture, that towers above the surrounding landscape.

The white column commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie, one of the most important battles of the War of 1812. A young naval officer by the name of Oliver Hazard Perry—just 27 at the time—commanded a fleet of nine American warships against the British. Despite losing his flagship at the beginning of the battle, Perry rallied his small fleet to victory.

By the end of the battle on Sept. 10, 1813, all six British commanders on their ships were killed or wounded. The battle secured critical shipping lanes of Lake Erie for America.

The peace monument, located 5 miles from the Canadian border, honors America's neighbors to the north. The column represents the lasting peace between Canada and the United States.

The view from the top of the memorial is awesome, to say the least. The stone edifice is 47 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. Luckily, there's an elevator that goes to the top. You only have to climb 37 steps, pay your admission fee (usually $5 and cash only), and then you get beautiful views of the surrounding water. On a clear day, you might see the skyline of Toledo, Ohio, to the west.

Summertime offers the best time to visit the crystal blue waters of the surrounding islands. The only way to reach this monument is by boat. A few outfitters on the island can take you on tours, fishing trips and water-filled adventures.