Weekend trip? Cedar point vs. Boston

[java]

I am torn as to where to go. We are looking to take our 4 kids someplace Labor Day weekend. We are in NJ. Want it to be driveable. We were leaning towards Cedar Point- but that's an 8 hour drive. And looks like around $1400 with tickets to the park. Never been. Got great Ideas here on the dis.


I can get the Embassy Suites Hotel (near the airport not great I know but we can all fit in one room) for about $120 a night- with taxes, parking ect I am assuming around $200 a night. We would do the Children's museum, Aquarium, North End and whatever else we can squeeze in. I went to school in Boston so this is nothing new for me. And the older kids have been before about 8 years ago though.

So which would you chose? I will spend more around town in Boston. As I have some favorites that we'll have to go to if we are there. I am comfortable taking the kids on the T- I think the Embassy suites is near the blue line.

Any other ideas? Places to go? where do you like to go for weekend getaways?

 

[DISNEY1975]

Boston is very expensive. We spend a week at our time share every year on the waterfront.(We live 20 minutes away) A family meal for 5 (including 1 beer for hubby!) can cost $150 - $200 w/ tip. Of course, there is McDonalds, pizza parlors etc...but you can do that at home! North End dinners are super pricey.

The Aquarium is over $20pp. Duck tours are $$$$, 5-Wits is $25pp, Harbor cruise/trolley is over $25pp.

Take a look at GoBoston cards. They save you $$ and can get you into a lot of places, but meals are still big bucks.

Being from Boston...I would choose Cedar Point! Not because of the $$, but I think my kids would have more fun there. They are not museum/culture/sightseeing kind of kids!!

 

[Dancemom03]

I'd do Cedar Point if it were us - and I'd stay at the Kalahari Resort. We never even stopped at Cedar Point and my kids liked the Kalahari so much that DD8 insists she would rather go back there than wdw

I actually checked rates for Labor Day weekend in June and remember the rates seemed reasonable. For me, Boston is one of those "always in your pocket places" meaning you'll be paying OOP every time you turn around to do/see something. At the Kalahari we were occupied, but a lot of what we did was included in the cost, sort of like at wdw, so it didn't seem as bad b/c I wasn't always reaching for cash when we were there. Plus you can relax at the hotel if you want instead of having to go, go, go or fight crowds in the city.

 

[WaltD4Me]

The two bad things about Cedar Point is that if it rains, there isnt much to do in that area that isn't an outdoors thing and if it doesn't rain, CP will be packed my brother went last year over Labor Day and he said you could hardly move. On the other hand Kalahari is really awesome, my nieces LOVE it and might chose it over Disney too. Eight hours is quite the drive though. I love Boston so I would find a hotel with a good pool and go there personally.

Travel Zoo has a deal for a Marriott in Boston, $129 a night, I don't know about parking or other fees, but looks nice and has a nice indoor pool.
http://hotels.travelzoo.com/lodging-hotels/637103

 

[java]

The two bad things about Cedar Point is that if it rains, there isnt much to do in that area that isn't an outdoors thing and if it doesn't rain, CP will be packed my brother went last year over Labor Day and he said you could hardly move. On the other hand Kalahari is really awesome, my nieces LOVE it and might chose it over Disney too. Eight hours is quite the drive though. I love Boston so I would pick there personally.

Good point on the rain. I didn't think of that. I was reading on other sites and they say it's not so crowded on Labor day as the schools go back this week (I know I don't really believe that.- but there is tons of hotels availability)

Kalahari for our group would be a bit too expensive unfortunately. The kids are aged 4, 6, 12 and 15. The older 3 would love the water park. Little guy- not so much.

Shoot now I am worried about rain. Maybe we need a plan D.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well if you are asking me, I say Boston.

Now that I see the ages, I would nix CP. You will be split up most of the trip. CP is for riding coasters. Which are fun, no doubt, but the little ones can't.

 

[PatsGirl]

How about Plymouth and do a day trip into Boston. At the John Carver there is an indoor water fun park (not really very big but good for the little ones), restaurants are a little cheaper and you don't have to deal with the Cape traffic. There's lots to do in Plymouth for kids and adults!

 

[dawson5]

If you do decide CP, your older two are the same age as our oldest two. I would give them cells or two way radios (they used to rent them there) and let them go on their own and set up a meet-up time/place. There is all the snoopy stuff and small coasters just for the little guys. Dad used to love taking our youngest onto the woodstock rollercoaster.

as for kalahari, have you looked on their site? they used to run some deals for when you stayed there, it seemed economical.

don't know a thing about boston. If we were going to go someplace my kids would choose DC.

 

[PaddingtonBear]

I am from MI and grew up going to CP multiple times per year, AND I love Boston. So tough, but good, choice.

We just went to CP last weekend. My kids are little, 2 and 4, and we were occupied all day with just stuff for them. There's a LOT to see and do at CP, ice skating shows, musical reviews, three big and one small young kid areas, midway rides, train, river boat, etc. If it were me I'd plan to do one full day at CP and one day at Kalahari.

I've had mixed experiences on holiday weekends, sometimes its totally wide open because everyone is afraid of big crowds. Check out pointbuzz.com for all the CP planning information you could ever need.

I love Boston too. I think you'd have a great time.

What do your kids want to do? I'd let them pick.

Have fun!

 

[java]

What do your kids want to do? I'd let them pick.

That's the problem- with 4 kids they all have different opinions. Youngest wants to go to Disney that's my boy unfortunately that's a 16 hour car ride and out for a weekend. Older 2 want to go to CP*oldest for the coasters and younger one because she's never been to Ohio! And the middle one wants to stay home. Which quite frankly may be winning at this point.

hmm DC I forgot about that.

 

[npmommie]

PatsGirls suggestion on Plymouth is a good one
the John Carver is nice, and you could walk some places from there. also there is a lot to do in and around Plymouth, and easy enough to get into boston for the day.

also if you have an museum memberships check if the childrens museum and/or MOS has reciprocity for them.
we use our membership from another museum to go to childrens and mos all the time, saves us quite a bit of $$$

 

[Dancemom03]

For $1400 you should be able to do Kalahari & CP without any problems and there are lots of things devoted to the preschool set unless your little guy doesn't like water. We liked that there was a full schedule of activities throughout the day at the resort when we were there - sort of like on a cruise. The African Queen suite is beautiful and two nights over LD would be just under $800 from what I saw. Better yet, if the weather is nice and you're doing CP, stay that night at a Days Inn or somewhere cheaper then check into Kalahari early for one night and two long days while saving a few bucks.

You've probably already done Hershey but have you been there recently with the kids? It's changed a lot in recent years and can be a pleasant weekend trip though I despise hiking up and down those endless hills to do anything inside the park. Drive thru Amish country or take a side trip into Indian Echo caverns or Gettysburg maybe.

I've been wanting to spend a weekend at Split Rock Resort in PA ever since another dis-er suggested it. It looks like a great weekend destination for our family. Their website is http://www.splitrockresort.com/index.php

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I've always wanted to go to CP. Then again, I'm a thrill ride junkie

I'm from RI, and have gone to Boston more times than I care to count.

Expensive? YES.

Lots to see? YES.

Your 4-year-old (and even your 6-year-old) would love the Children's Museum. I sure did when I was their age!

The Boston Museum of Science is cooler for the older ones, and even for the little ones.

Same with the New England Aquarium.

An above poster mentioned the John Carver Inn...seconded! There is a cool pool area, that's like a mini water-park of sorts. Fun for everyone!

Perhaps day trips to Plymoth Plantations? Sturbridge Village? (Sturbridge Village is a village set up like Colonial America--very cool, worth a look on a nice day). Mystic, Connecticut may be pushing it, though it is a cool town to visit (Mystic Aquarium is great, too).

 

[java]

Shoot the John Carver looks fun but we'd need 2 rooms there. *cheapest one night I see is $151- which would be over $300 a night.

Anyone know where the Embassy Suites is located near the airport in Boston.Is it doable to T it into downtown? Or am I going to be regretting that.