If you're interested in the beauty and recreational fun that the famed Lake Erie has to offer, and you're anxious to avoid the city rush of Toledo or Cleveland, you should consider a home for rent right on the waterfront in Ottawa County, Ohio. This beautiful stretch of lake shoreline is pregnant with recreational opportunities and will catch the eye of the nature lover and sportsman alike.

Lake home renters have many opportunities to access nature along this stretch of the lake. A delight to bird watchers, the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge lies along the lake shoreline. The refuge's 4,755 acres of marsh and wetlands are host to thousands of birds, including various species of sparrows, hawks, ducks, and woodpeckers. The size of the refuge and variety of birds there make it one of the top ten birding spots in North America. Just east of the Ottawa Refuge, East Harbor State Park is home to 1,831 acres of beautiful forest, beach, and wetland. Lake home residents can spend time there camping, swimming, picnicking, playing disc golf, and waterfowl hunting. The park offers 11 easy to moderate hiking trails as well. Residents can also appreciate the natural beauty below the surface of Lake Erie by scuba diving in the open lake or in Sandusky Bay.

Lake home renters here are serious about sports, too. Lake Erie offers some of the best walleye fishing in the country, and anglers commonly catch yellow perch, smallmouth bass, white bass, and channel catfish. Those hungry for success can head over to the Sandusky River near Fremont for the annual walleye and white bass runs to easily catch the allowed limit. Families can spend the summer boating, waterskiing, and wakeboarding on the lake. The Fenwick or Turtle Point marinas in Oak Harbor or Lakefront or Brands marinas in Port Clinton give boats easy access to the lake and offer year-round storage.

Golfers should check out the Oak Harbor Golf Club, which offers 18 holes with a beautiful view of the Portage River. While the 6500-yard course will challenge any advanced golfer, Oak Harbor welcomes beginners seeking lessons from one of the PGA professionals who stand ready to improve anyone's game. Golfers will love the Catawba Island Club as well, which boasts a 72-par course designed by Arthur Hills. Located on Marblehead Peninsula, the course has 1200 linear feet of shoreline, offering a lovely view of Lake Erie on two sides. Anyone interested in making a home on the golf course proper should visit GolfHomes.com

Ottawa County has more than just sports and nature appreciation. For thrills, ride the roller coaster at Cedar Point Amusement Park. Or relax by taking a walk along the Port Clinton City Beach. Plus, the area offers simple appeal with its breathtakingly beautiful vistas. The lake-view houses for rent have an excellent view of the sunrise (or sunset, for those living the Marblehead Peninsula lakefront) over Lake Erie daily.