How’s your summer going so far? Summer camp started for us this week (for real this time!), so the kids are now occupied during the week while I work in peace at home. Aaron has started his new job as well, and so far after day two it’s still going very well.
We’re already planning out what we’d like to do with our weekends for the next two and a half months. I’ll be traveling to Chicago for BlogHer in July, Aaron has some superhero appearances for charity, and we have a 5K this coming weekend. That still leaves several weekends open for us.
The topic of Cedar Point and Lake Erie has come up several times in our discussions. We were thrilled to attend an early-season event at Cedar Point in May, where we discovered Mira was finally tall enough to ride the big rides, including her first upside-down coaster. The entire family loves Cedar Point – even Cordy, who is terrified of roller coasters, can still name several rides that she adores in Camp Snoopy.
It’s nearly impossible to see and do it all in a single day, so when Mira asks, “When can we go back to Cedar Point?” it’s fair to consider going back again this summer, if only to seek out the things we didn’t have time for in May, and maybe return to a few favorite attractions as well.
Beyond all of the “usual” (if you can call anything at Cedar Point usual) fun, they have some additional events planned for the Fourth of July weekend. There will be an all-you-can-eat Picnic at the Point all weekend long, July 4-7, from 4-6 p.m. on each day. One price will provide all of the fried chicken, hot dogs, brats, potato salad, and baked beans you can eat – but make sure to leave room for ice cream, too! Sounds even better than our extended-family get-together for the Fourth. Maybe we should move our family celebration to Cedar Point instead?
And of course there has to be fireworks, right? On July 4, the nighttime sky will light up with a fantastic fireworks display starting at 10:30pm.
The holiday isn’t just about the food and fireworks, though. Cedar Point also wants to show our military men and women their appreciation for all they’ve done for us as well. Any active, retired or honorably-discharged member of the United States Armed Forces can receive one FREE regular admission ticket to Cedar Point or Soak City on either Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, July 4-7, 2013.
Valid forms of ID include Active Duty ID, Retired Personnel ID, VA ID, or a copy of DD-214 discharge papers and photo ID. Additional tickets can be purchased for spouse and children at normal military discount price of $39.99.
Giveaway!
Ready to try out the GateKeeper or one of the other amazing Cedar Point roller coasters for yourself?
I’m going to help get your summer started off right by giving away a family four pack of Cedar Point single-day tickets for one lucky reader!
For those who may not know, Cedar Point is in Sandusky, Ohio, right on Lake Erie. (I’ve heard you can see Canada from the top of the Millennium Force on a clear day.) It’s a great day trip for those in the Ohio-Michigan-N. Indiana areas, but even if you’re not in those areas, it can be a fun mini-vacation as well. There’s so much to do in and around Cedar Point that you could easily fill up 2-3 days.
To enter, complete the mandatory entry in the Rafflecopter widget below. (You may need to wait a moment for it to load.) Additional entries can be earned by completing the other activities, but they are entirely optional.
I’ll select a winner after June 26, giving you plenty of time to use your tickets before summer is over. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be selected. Tickets are good anytime during the 2013 Cedar Point operating season – check their website for days and hours of operation.
Good luck!
Full disclosure: Giveaway prize is provided by Cedar Point. No compensation was received for this post – my family genuinely loves Cedar Point and I was the one asking Cedar Point if I could help share the love.
I also love going to Lake Erie! Marblehead is my fav!
Yay for giveaways! My favorite childhood vacation memories are of going to visit my huge extended family every summer (read: 27 first cousins just on my mom’s side!) The grandkids would put on talent shows and now that we’re all starting to have kids the tradition is continuing. Love!
We took our young boys on a cruise a few years ago and they had a blast, can’t wait to do something like that again. There weren’t many kids on the ship so the staff basically catered to any and all of their needs, yeah they soaked it up quite well!
My daughter has yet to visit an amusement park in Ohio and she’s been asking. She would love Cedar Point!
I love Cedar Point!
At a family reunion on a lake, one of the cousins as she was getting into a canoe while talking about how much she liked canoeing and was good at tipped the canoe and fell into the lake from practically from the dock. She was OK. We teased her about it all weekend.
My best vacation memories probably are at Cedar Point. My dad and stepmom took us a couple of times while I visited them in the summer. I also have fond memories of going to the local county fair and having Junk Food Night – where we could have whatever we wanted for dinner, nutrition be damned. It's my favorite thing to do and I love sharing that memory with my kids.
Never have been to Cedar Point…so this would sound like a fun vacation to win! Wish me luck!
awesome park. my favorite park
Tammy just keep your fingers crossed for me to win this!! I need a mini vacation!!
going to daytona beach as a family
we always go to the beach on Lake Michigan. But my kids are *just* getting big enough to do a trip to Cedar Point (which is my favorite memory from growing up in the early 90’s)
I loved cedar point growing up and can’t wait to introduce my kids.
Cedar Point is hands down by far the best amusement park in existence! Would love to go!
My boys would live it!
going to an amusementpark.
Lake Erie was one of my family’s vacation spots. It was close and a nice location. We would rent bikes while we were there too. We also went to Cedar Point a few times. We would hit all of the roller coasters. 🙂
I still read your blogs even though we are no longer in the same work environment! I havent been to cedar point in YEARS! I hope all is well with you and your family.
taking our kids to the ocean for the first time
We only took 1 family summer vacation when I was a kid – a road trip to Missouri to visit my uncle. While there, my sister and I both caught a stomach virus. Needless to say, I’d love a better memory to replace that one!
a day at Sea World Aurora ohio many years ago
best vacation?… any vacation!!! any time away from the same old same old would be the best vacation!!!
Honestly, Cedar Point is about 45 minutes from where I grew up, and I still frequently visit! I haven't been able to go in the past 2 years due to having my son, but I am ready! Raptor here I come!
I am moving to Ohio next month. This would be a great win for the family in a new place!
We would go boating with my grandparents!
Going to Disney for the first time
Love love love Cedar Point. So much better than Kings Island. We try to go every year just to ride the coasters!!
My best summer vacation memory was traveling to Atlanta,Georgia with my family. We drove the entire way, a day trip! It was lots of fun even though I was ready to get out the car. I remember us laughing and playing games the entire way. We went to go visit family and I can say that although I had fun in Atlanta, the drive was the most exciting part of the trip.
My best summer vacation memory is our family going to Wisconsin Dells two years ago. It was our first family vacation. We stayed in a nice hotel that had a water park. I wish we could’ve stayed longer, but we were on a tight schedule moving from one state to another. But overall, it was the best time ever!
When we were children and my grandparents had a cottage in canade…we went there every year and I loved it
I haven’t been there in years! I’m dying to take my 4 kids. I know they’d love it.
My best summer vacation memory is AT Cedar Point! My husband and I went in 2000 and he proposed to me there. 13 years and 4 kids later, we STILL love it there.
My fondest family vacation memories revolve around a week spent on a lake in Petosky Michigan each summer. Cedar point was also a yearly family getaway, and now is for my son! Love it there.
Going to Disney World was my best
my best summer vacation memory from when i was a kid was driving up to mackinac island
My best family vacation was going to visit extended family in Ky. We always had so much fun, playing in the hills, creeks, and playing cards or dice every night. Lots of great memories <3.
I have great chilchild memories of going to Cedar Point with all my cousins!
My best summer family vacation memory was travelling to Ohio with my parents and brother to visit Cedar Point AND King’s Island. We very rarely took real vacations (usually just day trips), and it was a big deal to be gone for 5 days, staying in hotels, eating in restaurants.
gping to orlando in an RV
2 years ago we spent a week in Florida
going to florida as a family
A few years ago we rented a house during the cherry festival in Traverse City MI. The whole family came and we had a blast! Thanks!
When my wife & I went to Cedar Point on May 14th 2000. I proposed to her on 1 knee in line for the Raptor. We drove to Williamstown, KY & were married in the courthouse.
Going camping with my husband & kids in Holland, MI at Lake MI Aug of 2007.
Haven't been in years! Would live to go back 🙂
I wanted to go last year, but I was preggers. Would love to go this year!
going to ny when i was kids it was fun
Great memories that the kids remember forever! 🙂
Did Mike tell some stories from his days working there for old times sake. 😉