Cedar Point hotels

[java]

We are a family of 6. Is our only option the sandcastle suites place?
And which is the nicest hotel here? Any ideas on where we can stay? I have never been and am clueless. How many days would we need to see the area? Is there other places we should visit if we are drive through PA to get there? Isn't there a place outside of Pittsburg that's supposed to be fun??

Any ideas? sorry for all the questions.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Look over Lighthouse Point. They are cabins/cottages right along Lake Erie. The cabins sleep up to 6, cottages up to 8. The best part about them is you have a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and grill right at your room, so you can prepare some meals right there. FYI Food prices in the park are actually worse than Disney! If you need to eat while you are at Cedar Point, exit the park and eat at either the Marina or in one of the hotels.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/resorts/hotels/lighthouse_point.cfm

 

[ckay87]

I like having 2 days at Cedar Point. For us, it is a 7 hour drive, so may as well stay 2 days. And we are coaster fans, so never get bored. OMG, Millenium Force - could just ride that all day long!!

Not much else to see in the area, IMO. There are islands on the lake and watersports if you're really searching for something to do. But otherwise, that may be it.

The place you may be referring to around Pittsburg is Kennywood. People love it; I've never been.

 

[ckay87]

Oh and Mike's right (as he always is with matters involving CP )...leave the park to eat. Fridays is there (albiet a crappy one) and Famous Daves which is GREAT.

 

[OrlandoMike]

And if your looking for an upscale meal, head over to the Marina one night and hit the Bay Harbor Inn. Great food at very reasonable prices!

 

[dawson5]

Marconi's in Huron (about 10 minutes away) is a nice little italian restaurant. I think they are closed on Mondays though.

Look into an Ohio tourism pamphlet, oldest DS had to plan a trip through 5 states and so many miles. He had to get pamphlets from the states he planned to drive through, the Ohio one offered something like Rock & Roller weekend. One day admission to the R&R hall of fame and one to CP, I think it also included hotel. I'll see if he still has that pamphlet somewhere or if he gave it to someone else to look at. We had friends who took their kids to the HOF and kalahari over spring break, he might have given that to them for information.

edit: I used to work at sawmill creek hotel in huron, just out of high school so it's been a long while. I thought they offered suites and then there were villas (I thought they were fully equipped). It used to be pretty upscale, so I don't know how economical it is and don't know if it still is or not. They do have the golf course and I thought they used to give you a voucher for a round of golf with the room. It's been 20+ yrs though.

 

[tayandjensmom]

We live less then an hour from CP. Season pass holders here.

Mike is right on with Lighthouse Point, very nice! They also have a great outdoor pool and hot tub. Its nice to stay onsite, as you don't have to deal with the traffic getting in and out.

Food prices are terrible. They have a nice sports style sit down restaurant in the park, Game Day Grill. Its tasty and one of the best priced. Just ate at Famous Daves for the first time 3 weeks ago. Food was good, we didn't think great. If you like smoked bbq, its the place to go. Bay Harbor, you can't beat, very nice meal...though pricey. As someone else stated, TGI Fridays on Lake Erie, its ok...we have had better.

We started packing a cooler and either heading back to the car or sitting in the picnic area. Subs work well for my family and they travel nice. Then we will typically hit Chet & Matt's for the best pizza ever, on the way home. Its 5 minutes from the causeway.

Marble Head is near by as is Port Clinton. They have nice winery's if your into that. If your driving from PA, Cleveland is a great place to stop. Rock and Roll hall of fame, shopping is great, the zoo is very nice too.

Enjoy your time in Ohio. Lisa

 

[OrlandoMike]

If you do decide on Lighthouse Point, get off the Ohio Turnpike on Rt 250 (Exit 118) and there will be a Wallmart on your right, as you head to the Point. You can get all of your groceries there. We also get one of those cheap styrofoam coolers to keep ice in (They sell bags in the camper village store). A few steaks, a bag or two of charcoal, some of those microwave mashed potatoes, a bag of salad, some breakfast food, and you should be set for mornings and evenings!

The only food I eat in the park usually comes on a stick!

And the Cedar Point fench fries, they are world famous!

 

[PaddingtonBear]

I just got back from Cedar Point! Had a fabulous time.

I second lighthouse point. Another option is to stay in Sandusky. That will allow you to eat off-Point more readily. Please, do yourself a favor and don't eat CP's foods, they aren't very good and they are soooo pricey. Famous Daves is tasty, but not cheap.

Kalahari is a wonderful waterpark in Sandusky, your family might enjoy that. Also you can take a ferry over to put-in-pay for partying or one of the other islands just to sight see.

eta: I had the famouns hand cut fries this weekend and didn't think they were good at all. Cheese on a stick, though, is another story.

 

[dawson5]

Put in Bay

Happy Friar fries, mmmm. We don't buy the food at CP, usually take our own but we always buy HF french fries and the salt water taffy right before leaving. We went Memorial weekend this year and the taffy was sooo fresh. Yummy.

 

[ckay87]

eta: I had the famouns hand cut fries this weekend and didn't think they were good at all. Cheese on a stick, though, is another story.

Good, I'm not alone, I did not love them either. Maybe because I'm from PA Dutch country...for better or worse, these people know how to make fries!

Now...let me put a vote in for the Cedar Point elephant ears! We don't have those around here, thank God! I would look like an elephant ear.

 

[Tess]

We had six at the Breaker's Hotel on the Point. It was a suite with two queens and a pull out sleeper. There was a kitchenette type area with two balconies and French doors between the sleeping and living room/kitchenette spaces. The Breakers is the oldest of the hotels on the Point, but I have fond memories of it and there is some great architecture in the old sections.

I also second the Bay Harbor and Marconi suggestions. There is also a marina restaurant, the name of which escapes me, that we have enjoyed for a less expensive, yet close meal. It is located on the wharf outside the park gates and within walking distance from the east gates as is Bay Harbor Inn. I, too, agree the Fridays at the Breakers is terrible. There is another outside of CP that is the typical TGIF fare.

There are a ton of chain restaurants in Sandusky especially if you are exiting off the turnpike. Have fun, I spent summers at a cabin near Huron (until I graduated high school) and have many fond memories of CP and the area.

 

[java]

Oh Great ideas everyone!! Thanks and keep them coming. I am writing down restaurants and other ideas.

I was surprised as I was thinking of this as a last minute trip but there is availability for Labor day weekend? I would think that would be a sell out. But are the kids back to school in Ohio? Here the kids don't go back until Sept 10!! So we still have some summer left!

Thanks everyone! The only thing I'm skeptical on at the lighthouse is the "double" beds. But it might work!

 

[dawson5]

You can walk around Vermilion also. It's about 30 min east of Sandusky, right on the lake. It's a quaint little boating town, not a whole heck of a lot to do but it is cute. They have the Great Lakes museum and if you're a country fan, Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood were just there. His daughter was exploring the wrecks in the lake with her college class. The Olde Prague was still there last I knew (Hungarian food I think) and Ednamae's. Papa Joes pizza & pies is pretty good too. They just put in a Quaker Steak & Lube, which is right on the river. Lots of little shop and I think they might be still doing movies in the park, in the downtown area.

 

[Figment22]

My son is going to CP for the first time and some friends alerted me to this website. It's got some great information on the park, on the resorts, touring strategies, etc:

http://www.thepointol.com/

 

[java]

My son is going to CP for the first time and some friends alerted me to this website. It's got some great information on the park, on the resorts, touring strategies, etc:

http://www.thepointol.com/

Great thanks!

And OrlandoMike thank you for the walmart tip! It's nice that those cottages have a grill! That would be very nice to have for at least one night! How is the weather in Ohio? Is it warm enough still to do the water stuff?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Not to be petty, but its Pittsburgh, an h on the end.

We just got back from Sandusky, stayed at Kalahari, which is right down the road from CP. Its a great and huge (almost 200,00 sq ft ) indoor waterpark.

Put In Bay is a nice place to visit too. But if I had kids, I would stick to visiting there during the day and not on the weekends.

Kennywood may be what you're thinking about in Pittsburgh . Its an old nostalgic type park. Some good coasters , (nothing like CP though) . We love it there. We have our own famous fries there, called the potato patch fries.

 

[PaddingtonBear]

Not to be petty, but its Pittsburgh, an h on the end.

I'm from Detroit and around here its known as Pittsturd. But then we might be a little bitter

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I'm from Detroit and around here its known as Pittsturd. But then we might be a little bitter

Oh my sore loser, are we!

Pittsburgh is our formal name but we could also be called Sixburgh and the City of Champions!

 

[Tess]

Oh Great ideas everyone!! Thanks and keep them coming. I am writing down restaurants and other ideas.

I was surprised as I was thinking of this as a last minute trip but there is availability for Labor day weekend? I would think that would be a sell out. But are the kids back to school in Ohio? Here the kids don't go back until Sept 10!! So we still have some summer left!

Thanks everyone! The only thing I'm skeptical on at the lighthouse is the "double" beds. But it might work!

Over the years we have been told by CP employees that holidays are actually less busy than regular weekends. I can verify that having been on the 4th of July before as well as a variety of other weekends--it was indeed less crowded on the 4th. I suppose it has something to do with people thinking it will be really busy and therefore opting not to go.

Yes, many schools in Ohio started this week, especially in the northern areas. Our local programming channels come out of Toledo and Tuesday there were a slew of back to school announcements on the early a.m. news.

You could make a stop at Cleveland a visit the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.