Amusement and theme parks are by no means unique to the United States. Some of the most interesting attractions can be found on the other side of the planet, such as Nintendo World & the new Studio Ghibli! However, if you're looking for that thrill of twisting, turning and your stomach attempting to leave your abdomen then the best place to go is none other than Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, USA.

I may be biased here as I was fortunate enough to grow up about about an hour and a half from this fine establishment but that doesn't belittle its prestige. Cedar Point earned the Golden Ticket Award for "Best Amusement Park in the World" sixteen years in a row from Amusement Today from 1997 to 2013. Additionally, as a seasonal amusement park it continuously ranks the second-most visited in North America with approximately 3.44 million visitors in 2022 just behind Canada's Wonderland. Many of its buildings are also listed on the Nationals Register of Historic Places. 

So has this convinced you yet? I know Ohio is the butt of many jokes, but I promise a trip there for this little island is worth it. Oh yeah. Cedar Point is on an island.

Recently, I got to return to this great place as I had to fly into town for a very special wedding. My sisters and I all flew in from around the world and were together for the first time in about three years. We determined it would be perfect to use some of our time to re-live our childhoods and ride the coasters!

A lot of things have changed about this park over the ten plus years I have visited and other than coasters coming and going and new restaurants to try, I would say the biggest one is the creation of the Fast Pass and the Fast Pass Plus. Yes. You read that correctly, there are two tiers of the infamous fast lane system and what's the difference? Four coasters. That's it. The most popular of course are the "plus" exclusives. 

I will not lie to you, it's an EXPENSIVE add-on to your already pricey day, but if you want to ride as much as possible I do recommend it. This can truly be the difference of waiting 3 hours vs 30 mins for some of the biggest coasters. I do not visit anymore without it. Of course I only go once every few years now, so to me the added cost improves the experience for me. If you're a local or have a season pass? You can probably skip it.

It's also important to point out that the fast passes DO NOT include admission to

the park. You have to pay for that separately. I know, it's awful. Make sure you also purchase the pass for the exact day you're attending the park. Triple check everything if you're buying online! Once you arrive you also have to redeem your fast pass purchase at a special counter near the entrance for your wrist band. Do not lose the receipt they give you because if you do and your band falls off they can't replace it for you and you're SOL.

Once you're through the gate and have your fast pass (if you took the plunge), you are ready to rock one of the most amazing days!

I guess it's important to mention that Cedar Point does have more than rollercoasters, but it's not what they're known for. There's also a small section called Snoopy Land for the little ones who can't ride the big ones just yet. So now that that's been settled let's discuss the best and worst aspects of the park.

The Mobile App

If you have a smart phone, I would highly recommend downloading their app! Yes, it's another app but you can always delete it after your trip if you want. 

What's so nice about this is it can store digital copies of all your tickets and passes and even shows you how to get to rides and how long the estimated wait times are. You can also browse the different restaurant options or find the closest bathroom. So it's definitely a nice thing to have at least while visiting!

The Coasters

Blue Streak

This is a pretty decent coaster! I can't think of anything specific about it that makes it special, but if you just want a fun coaster, this is it!

Cedar Creek Mine Ride

This is a traditional wooden coaster but it has a pretty simple flow. You're not going to get whipped around too much so it's good if you want to get on a ride but need a break from the big guys.

Corkscrew

As its names suggests, there are lots of loops in this one! Definitely a fun one if you like going upside down.

GateKeeper

This ride is super cool as it actually goes through the gate of the park! There are two sides and each one is a slightly different experience so don't be afraid to get back in line and go again. This is one of my favorites!

Gemini

This is one of the OG wooden coasters in the park! It's a double track and the blue and red cars race each other to get back to the starting point. It's not the same car that wins every time so it's always fun to see who pulls through at the end. It's a pretty easy ride overall and I recommend it!

Iron Dragon

This was one of my favorites as a kid! It's a hanging coaster and a pretty easy ride if you're not into the BIG ones. It takes you over a little bit of water and the overall theme is just a ton of fun. I still like this even as an adult.

Magnum XL-200

This one hurts my thighs. The way the bar comes down on your legs and as you get a little lift from some of the drops really pushes on them and it's not comfortable. I'd skip.

Maverick

This one almost always has a long line, even for the fast pass! It's seriously awesome but sadly breaks down quite often. Still get in line for this as it's one of the best rides in the park and super smooth!

Millennium Force

THIS IS THE RIDE!!! I'm serious. The line can be soooo long but it's worth it! The drop and speed of this thing is unreal as it goes right over Lake Erie. If you're a coaster junkie, you must give this one a go.

Pipe Scream

Never been on it, sorry!

Raptor

This one to me is the classic one that starts off my whole day as it's right at the front of the park. The cars hang instead of being on a traditional track and you get whipped around and semi feel like you're flying. It can be a bit rough but it is named after a dinosaur!

Rougarou

Honestly. When this first came out, I loved it. This past time my head got whacked back and forth while it was running and I left with a killer headache so I'm swearing off this one from now on. 

Steel Vengeance

I finally got a chance to ride this on this past trip as my hesitation is they don't allow bags of any kind and nothing in your pockets. There is actually a check person, metal detector, and special lockers in the line for you to put up your things. So this has always been a deterrent as I like to keep my fanny pack (or bum bag as the British like to call it) with me. I gave my things to one of the people in my group that didn't want to ride this and I would say it was a hell of a ride. Great speed, drops, and turns. Don't skip this one!

Valraven

Many people get turned off by this as it has a 90 degree drop but that's the thill! You go straight down and it's a ton of fun. This is one of those really long but short style of coaster cars compared to traditional set ups.

Wild Mouse

This was new to me and it's honestly pretty cute. You're in a private coaster car that looks like one of the mice and you're essentially running away from the cat trying to get you. This also spins so it reminds me a bit of a teacup ride. If you get easily nauseous maybe skip it, but I otherwise enjoyed this for the simple ride it was.

Wilderness Run

I've never ridden this. Sorry!

Woodstock Express

Haven't been on this one either!

The Restaurants

There's so much food to choose from your head might spin. I'm going to focus on the places I've tried. I've also been to a ton of the little stands for ice cream and drinks, but those are pretty standard all over the park.

BackBeatQue

If you're looking for Southern style smokey meats, mac & cheese, and collared greens, this is the place! You get a meat, sides & roll for about $15 or so and overall it's not bad. This place is point and they fill your plate style. I had the steak, smoked sausage, and pasta salad. My recommendation here is look at everything available before making a decision because I totally missed the green veggies down the line and I was not happy about that.

Chickie's & Pete's

This place I visited many years ago but it's a sit down style restaurant, so be prepared to tip your server. I had the seafood pizza and remember liking it a lot! It is on the higher end price wise compared to some of the other food spots. It's a nice break from the heat though!

French Quarter Confections

I've been here once to get a last minute funnel cake as I didn't want to go back all the way to the rear of the park and it was pretty good! I don't recall it being freshly fried though, I believe they had them sitting in a warmer, so maybe take that into consideration.

Melt Bar & Grilled

Ok. So I haven't been to the one in the park. I have, however, been to the original location in Lakewood, Ohio, many times. They're super extravagant grilled cheese sandwiches. If you're looking for something wild, heavy, and cheesy. Go here.

Panda Express

Ah yes. The McDonalds of Chinese food. Is it great? No. Does it satisfy your craving for American Chinese food? Yes. Do they pump the smell out like crazy as you're walking by and it makes you want it? Also, yes. The food is priced pretty reasonably here but don't think you're going have some gourmet meal. The orange chicken slaps and I usually get the noodles. I recommend a plate over the bowl as you can get two mains instead of one. Egg rolls? Trash. Skip em.

Other Attractions

Celebration Stage

This is out in front of the Iron Dragon. All kinds of different performances can happen throughout the day and into the evening. There's usual a schedule near the stage so you know what's happening and when!

Coliseum Arcade

This place is a classic game players dream! There are tons of arcade games to choose from and they have plenty of other classics like basketball and my favorite, Skee Ball! You load credits onto a card, wins tickets, and then redeem them for prizes! When I came here as a kid we always finished the day here. Of course back then the games took quarters.

The Barnyard

Cedar Point's very own petting zoo!! They have all kinds of animals from chickens, rabbits, goats, and even alpacas! This is one of my favorite spots as you can get close and personal with them and even feed the animals if you want. It is a little smelly but that's nature! 

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Point

15+ years of Cedar Point experience