Sandusky, Ohio is Amusement Central

On our road trip to Chicago, we discovered the perfect spot along the way for an 11 year old daredevil — Sandusky, Ohio.  Who knew?

According to Wikipedia, Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio situated on the shores of Lake Erie and midway between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east.  Ranked No. 1 by Forbes.com as the “Best Place to Live Cheaply” in the United States, Sandusky has a population of 25,793.

But what makes this town a must-see destination for a roller coaster-loving tween is the number of amusement parks, waterparks and interactive museums per capita.

Cedar Point

Cedar Point is the flagship amusement park of the Cedar Fair Entertainment, the company that owns Canada’s Wonderland (a park we have visited hundreds of times over the past decade). Originally opened in 1870, it is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States.   The 365-acre park has one of the largest collections of roller coasters in the world (17), three huge kids’ areas, amazing live shows, a vast and clean beachfront, 71 diverse rides, petting zoo, an extensive outdoor water park and so much more.  For information about Cedar Point including attractions, rides and tickets, check out http://www.cedarpoint.com

 

Kalahari Resort 

Kalahari Resorts is an African themed park, hotel and convention centre with an exciting mix of rides, slides and adventures for the whole family.  The resort has the largest indoor water park in the United States (larger than 3 football fields); an outdoor water park; swimming pools; Safari Outdoor Adventure Park; exotic Animal Park; volley ball courts; shuffleboard; pottery studio; and a giant game room complete with bowling alley. Kalahari also offers programs and amenities such as a spa hair salon, fitness centre, and several dining options.

After a full day of non-stop water park fun, E was ready to hang out at the pool, while S, my daredevil tween, was up for extreme fun the Safari Outdoor Adventure Park.  She took a ride on a 400 foot zip line ride more than 60 feet above the ground, braved the adventure climbing walls, thrilled on ropes courses and visited the Safari Adventures Animal Park.

For more information, visit http://www.kalahariresorts.com/ohio.

 

We packed a lot of fun into 3 full days in Sandusky, Ohio before getting back on the road trip… There are a number of other attractions, museums and incredible water parks in Sandusky, which we hope to visit someday in the future including:  Cedar Point Soak City; Great Wolf Lodge; Maui Sands Resort and Waterpark; Castaway Bay Waterpark.

Chocolate, Roller Coasters, Sunshine and Kisses

The ingredients for a fun, activity packed vacation for tweens.  Chocolate lovers of all ages can appreciate a town built by and for a chocolate empire and it’s makers.  Hershey, Pennsylvania, with streetlights shaped like the famous Hershey’s Kisses and a main street called Chocolate Avenue, is the sweet spot.

A bit of history about this town will provide context…  According to www.hersheypa.com, in 1903 Milton Hershey returned to his birthplace with a vision to build the world’s first modern chocolate factory. He also took an active role in the community and built his dream “real home town” complete with schools, shops, and “Hershey Park,” a place where his employees and their families could relax.  He even started an orphanage and a school, endowing it with his entire fortune.  Later, while the U.S. suffered during the Great Depression, he created many jobs for the town’s citizens by building a community centre, theatre, stadium, arena – and a spectacular, European-style grand hotel – The Hotel Hershey.

Our first stop was ‘The Hershey Story’ on Chocolate Avenue, a museum detailing the history of the town, the Hershey company and all things chocolate.  The ‘Story’ features exhibits and memorabilia, as well as interactive activities to make and eat the sweet treats.  ‘The Chocolate Lab’ is a culinary classroom where visitors can make, dip and mold chocolate into all kinds of shapes and sizes.  Foodie and non-foodie tweens alike will love this hands-on experience.

We visited the ‘Origins of Chocolate Tasting’ to sample cocoa delicacies from around the world.  We were each given a sampling tray with shot glasses containing warm drinking chocolate from more than 10 chocolate growing regions including Java, Mexico and Tanzania.  With diverse intensity degrees of cocoa, this tasting proved that not all chocolate is the same and that we all have varying tastes and likes.

Hershey’s Chocolate World is playground for the chocoholic!  The chocolate themed attraction features ‘The Great American Chocolate Tour’, an interactive ride that takes you on the cocoa beans’ journey from the tropical rainforest to becoming a Hershey’s chocolate. Very informative and we loved the chocolate samples at the end of the ride.  Chocolate World also offers 4D films, an interactive chocolate bar (and wrapper) making tour, chocolate tastings, magnificent shopping and eating experiences to delight all of your senses and cravings.

Chocolate is delicious and it’s great to know where it comes from and how it’s made, but our thrill ride seeker, S, couldn’t wait to get to HERSHEYPARK, the Hershey treats-themed amusement park featuring 12 roller coasters and more than 65 rides, shows and attractions.  There is also an awesome 4-acre water park — so bring a bathing suit along with comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a hat.  Speaking as the non-thrill seeker in the family, there is something for everyone in your group to enjoy.  I particularly enjoyed walking along the boardwalk and the beach area…

Check out the Hersheypark website in advance for insider tips including upcoming shows and Fast Track passes, as well as deals on park admission fees — http://www.hersheypark.com.  We also found the free Hersheypark App (available for iPhone and Android phones) to be very helpful.  It features a GPS map of the park, ride descriptions, height requirements, real-time updates on ride wait times, show times, and more.

 

Parents Share Fave Tween Getaways

travelswithtweens.wordpress.com asked parents with kids between the ages of 7 – 14 years old about their favourite family travel destinations and why.

Bonnie, 2 kids

Favourite Destination:  all-inclusive resorts — It’s so easy! Everything is included… all activities, all water sports, and kids clubs where they have all kinds of crafts, parties and activities… Fun for everyone!  It’s a no brainer for relaxing and quality time with the family!

Judy, 3 kids

Favourite Destination:  San Diego, California — So much to do for kids of all ages. There’s the beach, amusement parks, and great weather. It’s an awesome choice!

Dan, 3 kids

Favourite Destination:  Algonquin Park, Ontario — I love taking the kids to Algonquin Park on canoe trips. We like to camp, fish, and be in a natural environment.

Mark, 2 kids

Favourite Destination:  exploring new cities — We like to go to a new city we haven’t been to before. We find things that are unique and that all the kids would enjoy.

Disney Delivers Thrills and Magic for Tweens

After planning, research, bookings and anticipation, we journeyed to Disney World for a week-long whirlwind family bonding vacation.  In the blink of an eye, we have returned to reality with incredible memories of a near perfect holiday.

We visited all four Disney theme parks — Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios — where we found our inner princess, danced with Mr. Incredible, experienced unique rides, saw incredible shows, ate delicious food and so much more.

We stayed on-site at the Disney Port Orleans Riverside, a quaint New Orleans themed resort which offers activities, shopping, dining and shuttle service to and from the parks.  Accommodations and transportation on the property made our Disney visit seamless and stress free.

5 reasons why our Disney World experience was successful:

5) Advance planning and bookings — utilize the Disney online systems to review and reserve rides, restaurants  and accommodations from the comfort of home

4) Involve the kids in all key activity choices — let them choose what they want to do and see at Disney including the rides and food

3) Visit during off-season — although the weather may be a bit cooler in February and the kids took time off school, the parks are significantly quieter and lines are shorter, as well, there is a cost savings

2) Dress appropriately — comfortable shoes, clothing layers, a hat and sunscreen made for happy girls at the end of long days at the park

1) Disney World just does it right! — Disney rides, food, accommodations and service were first rate and did not disappoint this discerning audience.  As well, Disney offers tools such as Magic Band bracelets and Fast Passes that allow quick and easy access around the property.  This allowed us to enjoy quality time together as a family.

We all had a blast and a magical experience!  Here are some of the highlights…