Parks

Looking for some fun and excitement this summer? Never been to Ohio? Has it been a while since the last time you were strapped to a cart, 400 feet in the air and gone hurtling toward the earth at a ninety-degree angle? Well then, perhaps this summer will be just the right time to take a family road trip to Cedar Point.

Cedar Point is an amusement park located in Sandusky, a small Ohio peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie. The park currently holds the record for most roller coasters in a single park, weighing in at 17 different coasters, one of which—the Top Thrill Dragster—is the second tallest and second fastest in the entire world.

The park is no stranger to breaking world records. The Blue Streak, named for the local Sandusky High School mascot, has given over fifty-four million rides since it opened in 1964. In 1976, the Corkscrew was the first coaster to turn riders completely upside-down three times. In 1989, the park unveiled the Magnum XL 200, a coaster that towered over the Sandusky landscape at 200 feet, only to be outdone in 2000 by the Millennium Force at 300 feet and again three years later by the Top Thrill Dragster, its apex at well over 400 feet straight up into the Ohio sky. The park certainly has a long history of thrilling its visitors, and seems to find a way to outdo itself with even more remarkable coasters every year.

This summer will also mark the opening of Cedar Point’s Snoopy-themed children’s area, Planet Snoopy. Children will be able to enjoy rides on miniature teacups, miniature trains, miniature 4×4’s and much more. The area will also feature daily shows, a special parents section and an all-new restaurant that sports a kids-only menu, with a tiny adults selection of entrees located at the very bottom of the last page.

If roller coasters are a bit too fast-paced and the family is starting to overheat, Cedar Point has also opened a water-themed park called Soak City. Located just next door to the monstrous rides of the main park are over eighteen acres filled with 17 water slides, a lazy river where visitors can spend their day bobbing around on inflatable rafts, a giant wave pool, two kids areas and an adults swim-up bar.

Cedar Point entry fees are reasonable and the park has even opened a campground nearby, which is a fun and inexpensive way to see this great American attraction. Cedar Point is open for business, excitement, adventure and fun for the whole family this May.

Sandusky Hotels

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Cannon Beach, located on the Oregon coast, is the perfect place for a weekend family getaway. It lies only 80 miles west of Portland and has a variety of activities anyone could enjoy. You can mosey along the nine-mile stretch of sandy beach, watch the sea creatures in the tide pools or capture some Kodak moments by the famous Haystack Rock.

Boasting a population of just over 1,500 residents the town of Cannon Beach is small, but pulls in quite of number of tourists and beach-goers. The arts are an obvious emphasis in this town with some of the best crafts, shopping and galleries on the coast lining the main street. The city is planned for strolling, and many visitors take advantage of this to visit the quaint bookstores, shops and bistros. Chain businesses have been discouraged from building which has helped Cannon Beach keep its earth-toned, rustic look.

Take the time to fly a kite, build a sandcastle or explore the many nooks and crannies of the coastline. Haystack Rock is one of the most famous beach attractions and towers an impressive 235 feet making it the third largest coastal monolith in the world. The area below the rock is referred to as a Marine Garden where sea stars, anemones, crabs, chitons, sea slugs and many other aquatic creatures can be seen in the large tide pools. However, it is best to view this area during low tide, so take the time to pick up a tide table from a local shop.

Haystack Rock is also a vital habitat for a variety of other mammals. Birdwatchers can gaze at the over 2,000 seabirds that nest on the rock each year such as the tufted puffin, pigeon guillemot, black oystercatcher, pelagic cormorant. In addition to birds, colonies of sea lions, seals and whales swim along the shoreline. During the spring months you can spy gray whales making their way to the Alaskan waters which serve as their calving grounds. Early mornings on clear days is the best time to view these creatures spouting their misty plumes over the rolling waves.

For hikers, there are many trails to wander through in the thick conifer forests of Ecola State Park, just a few miles north of Cannon Beach. The park has a viewpoint and picnic area where you can see the whole panorama of Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock and the Coast Range. This spectacular view is one of the most photographed on the Oregon coast. William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition even wrote in his journal about the view from Ecola calling it “…the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed, in front of a boundless ocean…”

Your family is sure to find something that suits their interests in, or around, this quaint town. If you want to see local culture at its best, then keep in mind the annual gatherings of the Kite Festival in April, Sand Castle Days in June, and the Stormy Weather Festival in November.

Check out these links for hotel ideas:

Cannon Beach Hotels
Portland Hotels

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