Sodus Bay is a Lake Ontario star
By George Thor, Port Captain, Sodus Bay, NY (O-5)
Sodus Bay is one of the largest deepwater bays on the U.S. side of Lake Ontario. The Bay entrance is easy to enter in most any weather condition. The bay has depths from 15 to 30 feet and is large enough to sail when the weather on Lake Ontario is too rough.
There are a number of anchoring spots in the bay, although weeds can be a problem in shallow (less than 7 feet) water. The village associated with the bay is Sodus Point, an area that incorporates Sand Point and shoreline areas surrounding the northwest part of the bay.
Sodus Point has many marinas, including Katlynn Marine (315-483-9102), Sodus Marine (315-483-6032), Krenzer Marine (315-483-6986) and the Sodus Bay Yacht Club (315 483-9550). All cater to larger sailing and powerboats. Near each marina are many points of interest and places to eat.
Sodus Point restaurants
Most of the restaurants are on Sand Point, the area that stretches east into the bay, starting with Greig Street. From the start of Greig Street, there is Hot’s Point grill, bar and ice cream shop. It serves breakfast from 7 a.m. (except Wednesday) and fast food lunch and dinners. On the other side of the street is Six50, a restaurant with the Inside Scoop ice cream shop. Be sure to stop by if you are looking for a good ice cream at a reasonable price and an extraordinary amount. For $3.75 you can get a small dish of ice cream that is anything but small.
Farther down the street is Captain Jack’s Goodtime Tavern. Dinners here are recommended and are reasonably priced. Farther down a bit is Abe’s Mai Tai Tiki Bar. This is the place for live entertainment and drinks. Up Greig Street and across from Willow Park (which has a nice playground for young travelers), is Bay Street Ext.
On the corner is a sign pointing to Sodus Bay Outfitters, a general store that has food items as well as clothing, boating and fishing gear. There is also a Sunoco gas station/convenience store across the street.
Visitor Center to Sodus Bay Outfitters
Walking up the hill on Bay Street, you will find the Back Alley Grill, which offers light fare. Next, The Bay Street restaurant offers more than just bar and grill meals. This is the place to go if you want to boost your dinner choices. It is popular, so reservations are suggested.
Rubino’s at the point in Katlynn Marine is a good choice if you are looking for a lunch sandwich and are near Katlynn Marine or Sodus Marina. Just down the road on Sentell Street is the Franklin House Tavern which is open for lunch and dinner.
What to see in Sodus Point
Sodus Point has a rich history dating back to the War of 1812. From the late 19th to early 20th centuries, it was a recreation destination for nearby Rochester, NY, and also a large coal-loading port. Sodus Marine is on the site of the former coal trestle that burned in 1971.
Details be found at the Historic Sodus Point website (historicsoduspoint.com). This website has good information on the early Sodus Point. It also points out walking tours that show historic and architecturally noteworthy houses.
The main attraction for visitors is the Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum, on North Ontario Street off Bay Street (adults $10). The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is packed with information on Sodus Bay and the village of Sodus Point. A free concert is every Sunday at 2 p.m. on the lighthouse grounds, from the first weekend in July to the last weekend in August.
If you are interested in swimming in the lake from a sand beach, try Sodus Point Beach Park on Wickham Boulevard. From this park, you can walk the breakwater pier that ends at the Sodus Bay Outer Lighthouse.
Finally, if you want to walk through greenery, visit the Macyville Woods Nature Preserve. This one-mile trail is a project of the Genesee Land Trust. A trailhead is just up from the Franklin House Tavern on Sentell Street on the right of the street. There is another trailhead on Seaman Street next to the DPW red barn.
Shopping in Sodus Point
Sodus Point has no grocery store. The closest one is in the village of Sodus. If you become friendly with one of the regular marina boaters, you may be able to get a ride. There are two convenience stores: in a local Sunoco station and at Sodus Bay Outfitters, just across from the Sunoco. The convenience stores sell beer.
A wine and liquor store, Waterfront Wine and Liquor, is on Route 14 between Katlynn Marine and the Sodus Marina. On Greig Street, across from Captain Jack’s, is The Point’s Mercantile, a small clothing and household goods store.
Restaurant hours
Captain Jack’s Goodtime Tavern (https://www.captainjacksgoodtimetavern.com/)
Sunday noon-7 p.m.; closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, noon–2 a.m.
Six50 on the Bay (https://www.six-50.com/)
Sunday noon–7 p.m.; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Thursday 5–9 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m.; Saturday noon–2 a.m.
Abe’s Mai Tai Tiki Bar (https://abestikibar.com/)
Sunday noon–7 p.m.; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Thursday 5–9 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m.; Saturday noon–2 a.m.
The Bay Street (https://m.facebook.com/Martinilandfinedining/)
Sunday noon–7 p.m.; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Thursday 5–9 p.m.; Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m.; Saturday noon–2 a.m.
The Franklin House Tavern (http://franklinhousetavern.net/)
Sunday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; closed Monday, Tuesday; Wednesday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Rubino’s at the Point (in Katlynn Marine building)
Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Monday; Tuesday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Back Alley Grill (search for its page on Facebook)
Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Monday; Tuesday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Hot’s Point (search for its page on Facebook)
Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Monday; Tuesday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.