8 Reasons to Make Cedar Point a Weekend Getaway

Situated just 60 miles from Downtown Cleveland on the shore of the glassy Sandusky Bay, Cedar Point’s 18 roller coasters tower over the horizon from both east and west, serving as a sort of terrifying beacon for people who, well, like to be terrified at insanely high rates of speed.

Truthfully, though, there’s so much more to Cedar Point besides its internationally revered collection of scream machines. Things like a recently reimagined waterslide-filled waterpark, sandy beaches and late-night entertainment.

Here’s eight reasons you should make your Cedar Point visit a complete weekend getaway.

8. Um, hello. There’s a beach.

Your toes have been jonesing for a little white-sand immersion, amirite? And, the truth is, neither the Atlantic nor Pacific Oceans, for all their salty vastness, have anything on the freshwater beauty of Lake Erie’s Sandusky Bay.

That duo of white sand and the glassiness of Lake Erie – both available at CP — means you’ll quickly find your bathing suit bottoms seated in an umbrellaed beach chair, while the kids are busy engineering sand structures in between dips to cool off.

If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay on Cedar Point Beach awhile. If you get hit with some cannot-sit-still vibes, there’s cornhole and beach volleyball. For even more action, zoom along the shore in a rented waverunner or fly above it with a parasailing adventure.

7. Wait. You can do *that* here?

Remember when your teacher tried to trick you into learning by letting you play “Oregon Trail?”

Well, Frontier Town at Cedar Point is kind of like that — sans the floppy disks.

Frontier Town and Frontier Trail is an OG section of CP where you can step back in time. Try your hand at glass blowing. Dip your own candles. Mine for gemstones. Pet a goat. Feed a turkey. And, take a ride on a pony.

And, new for 2019, CP is putting on Frontier Festival, an immersive Old West, sunflower-inspired street festival with local artisans, kids’ crafts and games, continuous live entertainment and wild food and drink.

6. Nobody likes rest-stop dining

If you’re like me, you love a good corndog, fresh-cut fries, powder-sugar laced funnel cakes, mountains of fluffy cotton candy and just about any other amusement park treat.

But when you stay overnight, you’re leaving yourself time for some tip-top culinary experiences. Case in point: Bay Harbor. Steaks, chops and the freshest seafood around, anyone?  Pair all that with some killer views of Lake Erie herself. Sign. Me. Up.

Or, you can find other popular restaurants at Cedar Point resorts like TOMO Hibachi Grill (Hotel Breakers) and Quaker Steak & Lube (Castaway Bay).

5. The moon called. It’s about to get lit.

Twilight at CP signals your open invite to a pretty dope party — complete with nighttime antics, pyrotechnics and plenty of food and bev to go around. That’s when the CP team heats things up with Cedar Point Nights, featuring glow-in-the-dark dance parties, nightly concerts, a dreamtime bash at the silent disco and some space to chill out with firepits along the beachfront.

4. Waterparks are an all-day affair

Ready to relax? Puh-lease. Sometimes the best cure for too-much-work syndrome is to shoot through a tube of water at tremendous speed. Cedar Point Shores Waterpark’s got you covered. Located right on Cedar Point’s property, take a summer day to slide-slide-slippety-slide through 18 acres of thrills and spills like the six-story test of bravery that is Point Plummet. Or, just squeeze yourself into your donut-shaped tube and take a few laps around Runaway Rapids, an action-packed alternative to the lazy river concept.

3. Cedar Point Amusement Park. Duhhhh.

I mean, we can’t forget about the park itself, can we? Sure, there’s more to do here than roller coasters, but those roller coasters happen to be among the best in the world. After all, this is what you’ve been training for.

Naturally, there are familiar standbys like the racing Gemini coasters or the heart-in-your-throat Magnum XL-200 coaster. Then, there’s the newb coasters like Steel Vengeance and Valravn, which are attractions in and of themselves.

New for 2019, the CP introduces Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island, an immersive, themed entertainment experience.

2. Crashing is easy

For many, staying at Cedar Point begins and ends with the recently renovated Hotel Breakers, a classic beachfront resort with waterfront views; popular restaurants like TOMO Hibachi Grill; indoor and outdoor pools; and all the other amenities you would expect at a world-class beach resort.

Lighthouse Point offers some of the most family-friendly accommodations marked by their intimate lakefront cottages, cute inland cabins and luxury RV hook-up sites for the ultimate road warriors. Bring the extended family, cook-out on your patio and take a short stroll over to the park.

Perhaps you got hit with a rainy day. Or, maybe you’re just a parent to a brood of sunburn-prone youngsters who can’t hang outside all day. ENTER: Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort. This is the place for indoor water-related shenanigans — from an indoor wave pool to a real water coaster.

And, if you’re looking to party on a budget, Cedar Point’s Express Hotel offers tremendous value along with an outdoor pool and free wi-fi. It’s located just a short drive from the park.

1. So. Many. Perks.

When you stay at Cedar Point, you’re not just getting some seriously nice accommodations (and a much-needed night’s rest), but you’ll also get some sweet deals on ticket packages, complimentary parking and shuttle service throughout Cedar Point’s peninsula.

And, when you book certain dates, you might even just get a free unlimited in-park fountain drink package and/or complimentary admission to Cedar Point Shores waterpark (dates and restrictions apply).

But what do we love most about staying overnight? It’s that oh-so-awesome perk of getting into the park one hour before everyone else. Amusement park to yourself? BOOM – dream came true.
 

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THIS ARTICLE WAS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY CEDAR POINT.

So, listen. No one is saying you can’t go to Cedar Point for just one day. But, if that’s your line of thinking, then answer us this one Q: WHY?

Book your weekend getaway at CedarPoint.com.