If you go... Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom Noah’s Ark Waterpark Canada’s Wonderland .
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July/Aug 2008 - Julia Browne
Whatever your level of thrill-seeking is, there are many nearby theme parks to offer up short vacations of chills, thrills, and flat-out fun.
The No. 1 theme park in North America is within easy driving distance from southwestern Ontario: Cedar Point Amusement Park juts into Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio and offers up a boggling 75 rides and two water parks. If you relish the feeling of your heart lurching into your throat, the park holds the world record for the most roller coasters: 17 in total; four of them soar to over 200 feet. Think you can handle 120 mph in four seconds from 400 feet up? Then brace yourself for their Top Thrill Dragster.
The park also has lots of activities for the younger crowd. Updated for 2008, Linus, Charlie Brown, Lucy and the rest of the Peanuts gang make Planet Snoopy a tamer, but no less exciting, spot for kids. You’ll be running to keep up as they tear between any of the seven rides, including a mini-teacup and a crazy submarine ride, plus a mini-train, 4x4 trucks, bouncing tower and rocket ships. The themed decor leads visitors through the world travels of the Peanuts characters, who also make live appearances. In addition, Joe Cool’s Café restaurant, a family centre and quiet areas make for stress-free meal times.
Once you’ve built up some substantial heat on the rides, you can run or stroll it off on the mile-long white sand beach, or dunk it at two water parks, Soak City and Castaway Bay.
Being No. 1, unfortunately, can spell long lineups for rides during the summer, along with delays due to inevitable machinery breakdowns.
More manageable, as far as wait times and the scope of attractions and shows for all ages, is Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom near Cleveland. Once known as Six Flags, it can’t claim the sheer thrill level of Cedar Point, but Geauga still boasts many heart-pumping rides, including old favourites like the Tilt-o-Whirl and the Scrambler. Much appreciated by visitors are the free attractions such as the foam factory foam ball shooting range, Happy Harbor Nets, and a lofty net/slide combination for older kids who are into climbing. The park offers a twilight pass that allows people to enjoy the rides in the evening, and then spend the entire next day at the water park. On the water, try the Liquid Lightning 253-foot funnel, the 10-storey high tube of Thunder Falls, or Riptide Run in an inner tube.
A practical solution to centralizing everyone’s comings and goings is to rent a cabana ($55-$75 for four people) that comes complete with lounge chairs, shaded dining tables, and food and beverage service.
Driving in the opposite direction, Wisconsin Dells calls itself the Water Park Capital of the World. This area of south-central Wisconsin boasts 18 indoor and three outdoor water parks, a mix of stand-alone amusement parks, and combination resort/indoor water parks, most of which are restricted to the hotel guests. The Kalahari Resort, an African-themed resort, offers one device known as the Pro Bowl that propels riders through a funnel structure at 40 mph then shoots them into a pool below. More atmospheric, Blackbeard’s World has riders navigating a meandering river in inner tubes only to find themselves smack in the middle of a pirate’s lair complete with fire and animated buccaneers.
At the heart of the Dells, at the nearby sister city of Lake Delton, is the 70-acre Noah’s Ark Water Park, reputedly America’s longest water coaster (the Black Anaconda), the world’s largest bowl ride (Time Warp), and the only 4-D dive-in theatre anywhere. With a team of 200 certified lifeguards standing watch over the 49 waterslides, two endless rivers, two huge wave pools, and four kiddie pools, Noah’s Ark is suitable for all ages.
Wisconsin Dells is actually a city located in south-central Wisconsin, and takes its name from the dells of the Wisconsin River, a spectacular glacier-formed gorge. To make the 10½ hour road trip (691 km) from London worthwhile, plan to stay several days and take advantage of the Chamber of Commerce’s three-day pass that lets you visit nine of the area’s best attractions. Check online for package deals and discount coupons.
And of course, almost in our own backyard, there’s Canada’s Wonderland. With more than 200 attractions, a 20-acre water park, and 65 rides catering to the wildest or the mildest thrill level, it’s an ideal and conveniently close amusement park. This year, it’s added the Behemoth – Canada’s tallest (230 feet) and fastest roller coaster, hitting almost 78 mph in four seconds.