A visit to the Point from Australia....

Hi all,

I'm a new user on this forum but have been happily reading Pointbuzz for some time!

I was just after some advice please. I live in Australia, and my girlfriend and I are heading to NYC for a holiday in October, and given the proximity of NYC to Cedar Point (don't laugh at that comment - NYC is a lot closer than Australia!) I've decided I'm going to make the effort and pay a visit to Cedar Point (which I've wanted to do for many a year). Looks like the Halloweekend beginning Oct 27 will be the time...

Can anyone give me some hints as to the best way to travel to CP from New York City? From my research, I understand LaGuardia (spelling?) is the NYC domestic airport.. Would a flight to Cleveland from there, and a hirecar to CP be the best way to get there? (I understand CP is about a 1 hour drive from Cleveland airport?) Unsure if flying to Chicago would be a better option? (Please forgive my disastrous geographical knowledge of the US!!)

Thanks for the advice!!

Cheers

Andrew

Chicago is a pretty cool city to visit, but if you just plan to go to Cedar Point, you should probibly fly to Cleveland.
*** Edited 7/25/2006 1:17:18 AM UTC by CoasterDevil***

If you must fly some where pick Cleveland Hopkins, But I would Suggest Takeing Someway from NYC to the ohio Turnpike then that to cp. I dont know new york and I understand that you dont have much of an understanding on the us either. But chicago is 2 states away from ohio.

There are three possible airport options from New York (JFK, LGA, and EWR - all have daily flights to Cleveland). You may have good luck (and a good price) if you look into flying Continental Airlines from Newark International Airport (EWR) to Cleveland (CLE), as both are Continental hubs. There should be lots of options, though, from any of the three New York airports, but flying into Cleveland will no doubt be the best option.

It's not even an hour from CLE to Sandusky and it's an easy drive. Depending on your plans. timeframe, and budget, you can rent a car. Another option would be a Sandusky-based shuttle service, which will run you about $60US each way. There are bus and train options from Cleveland to Sandusky, but neither are convenient ... especially if you're short on time.

*** Edited 7/25/2006 1:27:07 AM UTC by Walt***

Hi all,

Thanks so much for your prompt posts. You guys obviously live and breath CP! Great to see.

Yes I was planning on grabbing a hirecar from Cleveland airport (probably the cheapest bet?) and staying at one of the Point hotels. My g/friend is staying in NYC shopping while I do the CP thing, so I'll be doing it solo! Need all the advice I can get!!

In terms of crowds, given Oct 27 w/end will be the final weekend of the CP season, can people give me an idea of the best days in terms of crowds? I'll definitely do Friday night, and maybe a little of Saturday (before heading back to NYC) depending on how the crowds typically are that weekend I may stay a bit longer...

Thanks again!

Andrew

Let's just say that HalloWeekends Saturdays are very popular, as long as the weather is good...

^I made that mistake once. 9 rides in 12 hours (no TTD, maXair, Magnum, or MF).

Sundays are much better.

But there's no Fright Zone on Sundays :(

From growing up in Akron and also living in NYC for three years, I'm a HUGE fan of flying from LGA into CAK. That would be Laguardia into Akron/Canton on Airtran. www.airtran.com. They have CHEAP flights and the drive to CP take almost the same amount of time from Cleveland. Plus, it has WAY less traffic. My friends are meeting me in Akron in August for my CP trip and they got $150 RT tickets on Airtran into Akron.

Where are you staying in NYC? Newark airport is a pain in the a$$ to get to from the city, so I would recommend LGA. But, if you can't get an affordable Airtran flight, like Walt said, Continental to Cleveland is your second best bet. They fly from LGA or EWR.

Are you thinking about getting a car service or cab? Or is that your way of saying you're going to rent a car? Aussies can drive in the US with an international license, right? Or am I mistaken? Since I've always driven from Akron to CP, I don't know of any car services or anything like that.

Wow, thats awesome that you are coming from Australia and you want to visit Cedar Point!!

Usually people from out of the country want to go to Disney World or something like that. Not usually Cedar Point. So I applaude your decision! haha.

I hope you have an amazing time, and when you go back down under, you have to let us all know what you thought of it.

I think you'd be surprised, Bodes...

Hi all,

Thanks for the kind words! Well, I'm not 'exactly' coming all the way from Oz to Cedar Point =). I'll be in NYC (Manhattan) and I've always wanted to go to CP.

I have a sister who's lived in San Francisco for many years, so I've been to the States quite a few times. Done SFMM in L.A. about 3 times, Disneyland/World, blah blah.. but.. Cedar Point's the one beauty I've never quite managed to get to! It's... kind of a bit out of the way for an Australian on holiday, if you know what I mean! Went to NYC in 2000, but didn't make it to CP on that trip (but wanted to.) Always vowed I should have, and this time I will!!

Yeah going to hire a car from the airport and drive (I assume I can hire cars from the airport?! That's the plan anyway). Thanks for the advice halltd - I'll go with LGA given I'll be staying in Manhattan (Times Square). Excuse my ignore - but what is CKA airport? Where is that?

Thanks again.

Andrew

Well you won't be disappointed that you made this decision!! I'm sure you'll love the park.

and DBCP, you're probably right. I'm mostly wrong with what I say! haha.

But like I said Sterlo, have fun, and let us all know what you thought of the park!

Actually you're half right Bodes..:) My best buddy who I went to the US with on two separate trips is the only other person I know who's been to Six Flags Magic Mountain. You're right - most people know Disneyland/World and Universal Studios.

The ocassional Aussie has 'heard' of SFMM but would never have been there, and Cedar Point? HA! Most people wouldn't even know what that meant. CP could be the name of some weird tropical plant for all Aussies know! =) The major reason being frankly is its location. If it was in LA (touristy city for Aussies) you could bet many people would have been there.. But, Cleveland.. yeah.. it's very off the beaten track for Aussies!! Most Aussies head to NYC, LA, SF, maybe Miami if they're lucky. That's pretty much it.. unless for some reason an Aussie has family elsewhere in the States.. But yes Bodes, you're pretty much correct in your statement!

Well thanks for tryin to make me feel like I was semi correct! haha. I appreciate that.

I was just saying, it seems weird for someone who lives SO far away to know of Cedar Point. Thats awesome. Cause like you said, I'm sure not many Aussies have heard of Sandusky, Ohio! haha.

And I'm sure none of them know about Pennsylvania (my state) haha. Not much in PA. Other than a few big cities, its not much. Kennywood is something to visit if you're even in western PA. It's truly a great park.

LGA to CAK (or the reverse) is an absolutely awesome flight. Just don't do it on United.

Actually, now that I think about it, the last 3 or 4 flights I've had on United have been HORRIBLE.

Anyway, CAK is Akron Canton airport. You most certainly can rent a car from there, and its a pretty short drive to Cedar Point. If you want to avoid the tolls, I'm sure one of us on here can give you the best directions.

Thanks exit english.. I might take you up those offer of directions.

Funny that takes me back to my first trip to SFMM in L.A. Jumped on www.randmcnally.com to give me directions there.. which of course gives you the fastest route (freeways). My first time in a car in the US, driving in a hirecar on the wrong side of the road (for an Aussie) straight onto the 101/5 freeways at 5pm on a weekday. Bad Aussie driver in very fast LA freeway peak hour!!! Funny stuff. Managed to get there in one peace and calmed my nerves down with my first ride on Goliath =)

I was probably going to do the same thing (www.randmcnally.com) to get directions from Akron to Cedar Point. I'm not sure I could handle the 'short cuts'! I may get myself lost =) Any hints though would be appreciated!

Cheers

Andrew

Well, if you jump on (I know you won't know road names but stay with me here...) 224 from Akron, you can take that straight out to 250, and 250 goes right into Sandusky.

It's really less confusing than taking the toll roads, and there's some nice scenery, too.

If you're coming in on a day that I don't have to work, I might be up there, so if you want to say hi, let me know and I'll show you around the park or something if I can.

Thanks exit english...

Having been to the States a number of times I'm familiar with the freeway system. This does make sense. Thanks again.

Cheers for the offer of a bit of a tour around the park too.. yeah as I said my girlfriend will be staying in NY shopping because she hates theme parks/rollercoasters. I'll be heading to CP by myself, so yeah.. maybe if you're gonna be around give me a yell! Love to have a bit of a tour of the park - wouldn't wanna cramp your style though =)

Sterlo said:
Thanks exit english.. I might take you up those offer of directions.

Funny that takes me back to my first trip to SFMM in L.A. Jumped on www.randmcnally.com to give me directions there.. which of course gives you the fastest route (freeways). My first time in a car in the US, driving in a hirecar on the wrong side of the road (for an Aussie) straight onto the 101/5 freeways at 5pm on a weekday. Bad Aussie driver in very fast LA freeway peak hour!!! Funny stuff. Managed to get there in one peace and calmed my nerves down with my first ride on Goliath =)

Any hints though would be appreciated!

Cheers

Andrew

Well Im not that familiar with Akron/Canton... as I have lived in Northwest Ohio my entire life, which is VERY flat farmland mostly, but I can assure you there is NO place in Ohio with traffic like the freeways of southern California... I had the joy of spending 3 days in LA/SanDiego and neary crapped myself driving 110 Miles per hour in an "HOV" lane... I had never driven above 75 MPH before... and there are no 10 lane freeways here, not even in Cleveland or Columbus... i think 6 lanes is about the limit in Ohio... I, for one, am accustomed to driving in Toledo as I live in Bowling Green (pop. 15,000 in summer/ 35,000 in academic year) which is about 15 minutes south of Toledo, and even in afternoon "rush hour" It is easy to go from one side of the metro area to the other...

I ought to note that after a decOde of living on the wonderful northwest ohio ""gridplan of flat straight roads that all intersect at 90 degree angles, I find driving in Sandusky difficult, even after all these years... I have never been able to form my "mental map" of the town and ths can only go in to CP the same way and come out the same way or I get horribly lost... if you are wondering why, look at the crazy streetplan for Sandusky on google maps or something... not a straight intersection in that town (not that I have found anyway)... Driving around Toledo/Bowling Green/Findlay is infinitely easier...

Oh, and Sandusky outside of Cedar Point and the Beautiful Downtown is essentially a slum... I'll never understand how a town with that much money being poured into it can ever get that bad... if you dont belive me, you really need to take a look at the Sandusky ghettos...

But I digress... the simplest way to get to sandusky is to take the Ohio Turnpike (Interstate 80/90) and exit on Ohio Route 4, taking that to US 2 and going to US 250... that takes you directly to the cedar point causeway basically... Route 2 is sort of the Sandusky "outerbelt" and US 250 is the 5-lane main shopping strip for sandusky with the mall, restaurants, department stores (including the new, evil, Sprawl-Mart SuperCrappyCenter... guess where I refuse to shop!)

I imagine you will find driving in northern Ohio to be VERY easy once you get out of the Cleveland/Akron/Canton metro sprawl...

I know you will have a GREAT time at Cedar Point, as it Truly is the Roller Coaster capital of the known Universe and a truly great park... Ive only been to one other park, Kennywood and it was... well... let's just say I was not even remotely impressed (sorry Pittsburgh folks)

Ok, Im done now... HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!
*** Edited 7/25/2006 5:45:57 AM UTC by Andrew VanAtta***