Riding the Rails in Ohio!

The Diamondback at King's Island ends with a
spectacular splashdown.

Roller coaster and theme park enthusiasts are lucky to live in Ohio which ranks third in the country for theme park visits. Ohio boasts two of the top 15 amusement parks in the country, Cedar Point and King’s Island. Each park drew over 3.2 million visitors in 2012, and major roller coasters are part of their appeal. If you’ve been considering a trip to these two roller coaster hotspots, here are a few highlights to entice you.

Cedar Point. Cedar Point holds the title of, “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World,” and with 16 coasters, it’s an appropriate designation. Cedar Point bills its newest coaster, the Gatekeeper, as the world’s longest, fastest, and tallest winged coaster. Reaching speeds of 67 mph, this monster greets visitors at the front gate with a 164-foot drop and two keyhole passes.

After riding the Gatekeeper, consider the Millennium Force. An elevator cable system pulls riders up 310 feet and then drops them at speeds of up to 92 mph. Not to be outdone is the Top Thrill Dragster. It launches riders from zero to 120 mph in a mere three seconds and then shoots them up a 420-foot vertical tower. Rounding out this trifecta of bad boys is one of the earliest mega coasters, the Magnum XL-200, which still thrills with a first hill of over 200 feet and reaching speeds of 72 mph.

Fans of wooden roller coasters will find plenty to keep them occupied at Cedar Point. The Gemini, a wooden racing coaster, reaches speeds of 60 mph. Also watch out for the Mean Streak. With 1.7 million feet of pine to provide the structure, the Mean Streak takes riders on a rip-roarin’ trip at 65 mph. Don’t forget an old favorite, the Blue Streak. This classic from 1964 still offers riders plenty of air time, bumps and jostles.

Are you brave enough to ride these coaster giants in Ohio?

A trip to Cedar Point wouldn’t be complete without a ride on the Raptor, a suspended coaster that’s situated on the midway. Its riders’ feet hang free as they endure six inversions at 57 mph. From there move to the Mantis, one of the world’s great standing coasters. Riders stand for a 145-foot climb that dives into a 119-foot loop while traveling at 60 mph.

If roller coasters don’t appeal to you, there’s still plenty to enjoy at Cedar Point. 72 rides dot the property, from wild to mild. The park also boasts live entertainment, midway games, a kids’ area, a water park, a campground, several resort hotels, and a beach. Find out everything you need to know for your trip at www.cedarpoint.com .

King’s Island. King’s Island is the midwest’s largest amusement and water park, boasting 14 roller coasters and over 80 rides. Two headlining coasters, the Diamondback and the Beast, dominate the park’s major attractions. New in 2008, the Diamondback towers as the tallest and fastest coaster in the park, and it treats riders to a 215-foot drop and speeds of up to 80mph. It features six drops and concludes with a spectacular splashdown ending. The open stadium-style seats provide riders with superb views of the park as they ride.

Not to be overshadowed is the Beast. This classic wooden coaster still holds the world record as the longest wooden coaster with 7,400 feet of track and more than four minutes of ride time. With two lift hills and a 540-degree helix tunnel for the grand finale, the Beast is consistently voted as one of the world’s greatest coasters by coaster enthusiasts worldwide.

These two giants aren’t the only ones lurking at King’s Island. In addition to three kiddie coasters, wooden coaster fans will enjoy the Racer, a racing-style coaster that’s been at King’s Island since the beginning. After a turn on the Racer, head over to Invertigo, a steel coaster where riders face each other as they move through three inversions forward and again backward. Thrill seekers also won’t want to miss Firehawk where riders flip through five inversions all while facing the ground as if flying. The Flight of Fear coaster features a catapult launch taking riders from zero to 54 mph in just four seconds. Keeping riders in the dark is part of the fun since the entire ride is enclosed. The Vortex, another steel coaster favorite, flips riders upside down six times and was the first coaster in the world to do so.

Plenty of rides are available in both parks for
non-coaster riders.

Just as with Cedar Point, non-coaster riders will still have plenty to do at King’s Island. Live entertainment, midway games, a water park, and a wide variety of other rides will keep the entire family busy. The kids’ area at King’s Island has been voted as the world’s best by Amusement Today magazine 12 years in a row. Go to www.visitkingsisland.com for more information.

With all this excitement packed into two amusement parks, no wonder Ohio ranks third in the U.S.A for theme park visits. Take time this summer to ride a few of the rails in the Buckeye State and see for yourself why Ohio is a hot spot for amusement park fun.

LEGOLAND Florida is a LEGO Fan's Dream Come True!

The main entrance

LEGO. Approximately 19 billion LEGO elements are produced every year. Over 400 billion LEGO bricks have been sold since 1958. That’s 62 bricks for every person on Earth. Considering these facts it’s no wonder that a place like LEGOLAND Florida is a huge draw for LEGO fans, both young and old.

LEGOLAND Florida is the newest LEGO theme park to hit the United States. With the only other U.S. LEGOLAND park being in California, the Florida park is a great asset to Midwestern travelers who’d like to have the ultimate LEGO experience. Located In Winter Haven, Florida, LEGOLAND Florida is a just an hour’s drive from Orlando or Tampa which means that a day at LEGOLAND Florida can easily be included in a vacation that’s based out of either of those cities.

LEGOLAND Florida sits on the site of the old Cypress Gardens Park, and it still includes some of the past features of that park. The beautiful botanical gardens are still intact, as well as the waterski show. The water-skiers now include the famous LEGO minifigures zooming around on water skis alongside other performers doing the traditional tricks and flips.

Rides are mild but still fun!

But what about the LEGOs? Indeed, this is the place for the ultimate LEGO fan. The park is designed for kids ages 2-12, but for true fans of the LEGO, there will be something for all ages. The park’s areas are designed to focus on some of the more popular LEGO sets, including LEGO City, LEGO Technic, and LEGO Kingdoms, just to name a few. All the rides and theming for each area revolve around the LEGO sets.

The rides at LEGOLAND Florida are mostly mild. Height requirements on the majority of the rides are 48 inches or less. This park doesn’t focus on big heart-stopping thrills. The draw here is how cleverly LEGO has been incorporated into every ride in the park. Theming is king here, and LEGOLAND Florida has mastered that aspect.

Even caped crusaders are made from LEGO's at LEGOLAND.

No LEGOLAND Florida visit would be complete without a stop in the Imagination Zone. Here kids can spend hours building LEGO cars and racing them on a track. There are endless possibilities for building and testing kids’ own creations. Builders are issued a set of wheels at the door which must be returned at the exit, but beyond that requirement, thousands of LEGO pieces wait to be turned into the next racecar. This is a spot where the creative juices can flow.

Kids and parents alike will marvel at the LEGO creations throughout the park. At every turn there is a new LEGO figure that boggles the mind. In Miniland USA, visitors can view seven themed scenes that mirror their actual counterparts from around the United States. Have cameras ready when viewing places such as New York City, Washington DC, and Las Vegas all created out of those famous LEGO bricks.

The newest section of LEGOLAND Florida is the water park, which just opened in summer 2012. This is a great way to beat the Florida heat. The park features a wave pool, lazy river, multiple slides, and a splash element. Again, the LEGO rules the theming here, and it’s definitely a unique water park.

You never know which characters will get
the LEGO treatment.

What would a visit to LEGOLAND Florida be without a little shopping? LEGO fans will salivate at the number of different LEGO sets and pieces that can be purchased at LEGOLAND Florida. The various stores around the park provide all the sets, plus many other LEGO themed souvenirs. LEGO sets can be expensive, but the selection at the park is unmatched.

LEGOLAND Florida is a family-friendly park that will delight LEGO fans young and old. A one-day visit is usually sufficient for most visitors, although season passes are available for those who want to be frequent visitors.  Start planning your LEGOLAND Florida trip at their website, http://florida.legoland.com/ , and get ready to enjoy a fun-filled LEGO kind of day at LEGOLAND Florida.