Bucolic Sandusky enjoys 22 miles of shoreline on the southern shore of Lake Erie and is located between Cleveland and Toledo, both an hour away. Its population of 30,000 explodes with spring through fall visitors, most from a 500-mile radius, that arrive for water sports, family-fun adventures and island hopping. Anglers know the region as the "Walleye Capital of the World."
Cedar Point Amusement Park
This 141-year-old, award-winning park has 17 coasters, including the 310-foot-tall Millennium Force and maXair that travels at 70 mph. New for summer 2010 is Shoot the Rapids water ride that plunges down an 85-foot-first-hill through churning rapids, special effects and a splashy grand finale. Freestanding dryers are available for $5 a family. With 75 rides, 3 carousels, live shows, Planet Snoopy character breakfasts, a mile-long beach, exotic flowerbeds and an unblemished safety record, the park attracts 3 million guests during its May-October season.
Soak City Waterpark is an 18-acre complex within the Park that has slides and a gigantic wave pool, plus other amenities. Crowd pleasers throughout Cedar Point are the hand-cut french fries and the Lake Eire narrow gauge steam railroad that circles the grounds.
Cedar Points' 7,500-bed accommodations (no luxury category) include the renovated 650-room Hotel Breakers with its turn-of-the-century charm, RV sites, cedar-shingled cottages, cabins with log exteriors and other structures. Its Marina has 742 slips (85 for overnights). Build-Your-Own Packages (least expensive one-day tickets are $29 for hotel guests) are popular as is entry into the Park one hour before it opens to the public.
Ghostly Manor Thrill Center
The facade here resembles a medieval fortress while inside is the Ghostly Manor high-tech, animatronics haunted house; a skating rink; arcade; XD Motion Theatre with movable seats and wind effects plus a MeTV kiosk for sending viral postcards. "How scary do you want it?" the proprietor asks visitors in order to adjust the high-startle, low-gore haunt that employs 30 actors during high season. Not recommended for children under ten. Kids' menu is available.
Kalahari Resort and Safari Outdoor Adventure Park
Kalahari (America's largest indoor waterpark resort) has 884 rooms, a massive arcade, shops and an authentic African theme thanks to its owner who travels there on a yearly artifact hunt. Check Kalahari's "Beat The Clock" page for deals. This year's expansion is Safari Outdoor Adventure Park that has four 200-400 zip lines above an African village with a towering rope course and a rock-climbing wall. The mini-zoo includes giraffes, zebras and smaller animals to hand feed.
Merry-Go-Round Museum
The Golden Age enjoyed about 5,000 carousels. Today, there are 250 left, which makes this museum a nostalgic treasure. Housed in a former post office, there's a working carousel, 35 figures displayed and "painted ponies" wood carvers to watch. July 17-18, 2010 is the museum's 20th anniversary and celebrated with a Midwest assemblage of calliopes, monkey organs, large Wurlitzers and a French Gavioli fairground organ.
City Bake Shop
Hometown girl Wendy Kromer modeled in Paris but learned cake decorating in NYC where she eventually teamed up with Martha Stewart. Wendy's wedding cakes and cookies are legendary and can be seen in Sandusky where she returned to open City Bake Shop on East Water Street. Drop in for treats made with fresh ingredients and delectable butter-cream frostings. Or order her cake decorations online.
First stop for brochures, free Internet for area information and to check email is the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Welcome Center. When closed, its 24-hour outdoor kiosk takes over.
Judith Glynn - I've written travel articles for years. See more and my novel about romance and travel at www.facebook.com/judglynn
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