1 | Granny Joe's Ice Creamatorium: Made famous on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Granny Joe's serves 32 flavors of Toft's ice cream, such as cotton candy confetti or double chocolate almond, while the kitchen turns out a tasty Lake Erie yellow perch dinner. 5598 Liberty Ave., 440-967-3663, papaandgrannyjoes.com
2 | Decidedly Different: Within walking distance of Main Street Beach, this shop has local art on the walls and carries Vera Bradley handbags and 75 varieties of teas. Plus, you can order an iced vanilla silk latte from the on-site cafe. 590 Main St., 440-967-4664
3 | Chez Francois: Dine on the succulent fall offering of Maine lobster and Saint Andre cheese wrapped in a baked puff pastry while surrounded by ambient lighting, polished oak tables and royal purple drapes. 555 Main St., 440-967-0630, chezfrancois.com
4 | Big Ed's Soda Grill: Step back into the era of red-and-white checkered tablecloths and fountain treats such as a Green River Shake, a sweet-and-sour combo of lemon-lime syrup, 7UP and ice cream. 5502 Liberty Ave., 440-967-4002
5 | Woodstock Cafe: Grab a Magic Bus sub dripping with house-made special psychedelic sauce as you peace out in this retro cafe decorated with framed Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd posters. 665 Main St., 440-967-7687
6 | Swan Creek Candle Co.: Relax with drizzle melt candles in scents such as pumpkin vanilla, leather and Tennessee whiskey and sweet tobacco. 681 Main St., 440-963-0161, swancreekcandle.com
7 | Clare's Stitching Post: This store weaves together a mix of European and Australian hand-dyed linens and an array of cross-stitch accessories. If you aren't nimble with a needle, owner Clare Uebbing offers cross-stitching lessons. 682 Main St., 440-967-0826, claresstitchingpost.com
8 | Brummer's Chocolates: Started in 1904, this mom-and-pop emporium sells rich chocolate treats made on-site. Look for a chocolate Cinderella carriage on the wall behind the register. 672 Main St., 440-967-2329, brummers.com
9 | Lee's Landing: Landlubbers and seafarers can both treasure this gift shop's handcrafted nautical items including seashell necklaces and paintings of Lake Erie lighthouses. 652 Main St., 440-670-0868
10 | Rock City Guitars: Shawn Perry, a former coach on MTV's Made, helped open this store in July. Find UFIP cymbals, square guitars, Paul Reed Smith guitars and Orange amplifiers or play a game of pinball on the vintage machine by the entrance. 5571 Liberty Ave., 440-967-4733, facebook.com/rockcityguitars
11 | The Wine Vault: Guests can pair $19 crispy confit duck leg and goat cheese pasta with one of 80 beers or 100 wines in the refurbished 1907 Old Vermilion Bank Co. building. 5581 Liberty Ave., 440-963-7443
12 | Artseen Gallery: Co-owner Sherry Bradshaw creates porcelain and plastic birds and places them on Lake Erie driftwood or atop light boxes as part of her installations on display at the former Liberty Theatre, which she converted into a studio and art gallery in 2007. 5591 Liberty Ave., 440-963-0611, theartseengallery.com
QUICK PICKS
Here are some favorites we uncovered in downtown Vermilion.
Peanut Butter Burger ($6.50), Big Ed's Soda Grill: A big scoop of peanut butter melts atop a one-third pound burger with sweet pickles and a side of fries.
Lake Erie Sea Glass Earrings ($22), Decidedly Different: Artist Lynn Lesjak mixes either green, brown and clear glass found on the shores of Kelleys Island, Pelee Island and Put-in-Bay with lucky stone (bone from a fish ear) into her earrings.
Dobro Resonator Guitar ($600), Rock City Guitars: Handmade in Vietnam, this guitar is made of Hawaiian koa wood with an abalone and gold mother-of-pearl inlay on the neck and body. The gold-anodized aluminum built-in resonator has heart cutouts.
