NORTHWEST OHIO ATTRACTIONS

5/29/2011
  • Engineer-It-Imagination-Station

    The New Engineer It! exhibit at the Imagination Station in Toledo.

    The Blade
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  • Here’s a sampling of popular summertime activities compiled by Columbus Dispatch staff members:

     

    THEME AND WATER PARKS

    CEDAR POINT, SOAK CITY, CHALLENGE PARK

    Description: With 75 rides, including 17 roller coasters, Cedar Point has more rides and coasters than any park in the world; the 18-acre Soak City water park has slides, inner-tube rivers and a wave pool. Cedar Point and Soak City border Challenge Park, which features rides, go-carts and miniature golf. Castaway Bay, only minutes from Cedar Point, offers 237 rooms and suites and a large water park that features a water coaster, body slides, a wave pool and more.

    Cedar Point
    Cedar Point

    Location: 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky (Erie County).

    Open: open daily, operating hours vary through Sept. 5; weekends only Sept. 9 through Oct. 30.

    Admission, Cedar Point: $46.99 for those age 3 and older, 48 inches or taller; or $21 for senior citizens 62 and older and those age 3 and older, less than 48 inches tall in shoes; free for children 2 and younger; military, evening, combo and group rates available.

    Challenge Park: open daily, operating hours vary through Sept. 5, weekends only Sept. 9 through Oct. 30 (call for details).

    Admission: prices vary per activity.

    Soak City: open daily May 28 through Sept. 5, operating hours vary.

    Admission: $31.99 for those age 3 and older, 48 inches or taller in bare feet; or $17.99 for senior citizens 62 and older and those age 3 and older, less than 48 inches tall in bare feet; free for children 2 and younger; $17.99 after 4 p.m. when Soak City closes at 7 or 8 p.m.

    Castaway Bay: indoor water park resort open year-round.

    Admission: $29 day passes; free for children 2 and younger; availability based on occupancy, call 419-627-2500 or visit www.castawaybay.com.

    Parking: $10; $15 for oversized vehicles requiring more than one space.

    New attractions: WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall tower on the Cedar Point beach that will spin riders almost 30 stories high. Seated in two-passenger swings, riders will rotate in a circular motion as the swing ascends the rower. At the top, the ride will reach speeds of 25-30 mph, flaring out at amost 45 degrees from the tower; and Pink’s Hot Dogs, a Hollywood legend for more than 70 years, will open its first franchise east of Las Vegas on the Cedar Point Midway.

    Least-busy days: Tuesday through Thursday.

    Wheelchair access: A guide for disabled guests is available at the park operations office.

    Information: 419-627-2350, www.cedarpoint.com.

    GREAT WOLF LODGE

    Description: An indoor water park including slides, pools, a dumping bucket, a lazy river and an outdoor pool area.

    Location: 4600 Milan Rd., Sandusky (Erie County).

    Open: year-round.

    Admission: must be an overnight guest; various rooms and suites available.

    Parking: free.

    Least-busy days: midweek May and September.

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Information/reservations: 419-609-6000, 1-800-641-9653, www.greatwolflodge.com.

    KALAHARI RESORTS

    Description: An indoor water park including a large wave pool, two indoor surfing attractions, a lazy river, tube rides, body slides and family raft rides as well as the Safari Outdoor Adventure Park — including rope courses, zip-line tours, climbing walls, Zanzibar Grille and an animal park.

    Location: 7000 Kalahari Dr., Sandusky (Erie County).

    Open: year-round, operating hours vary; water park availabilty to nonguests based on resort occupancy; call first.

    Admission: $39 to $45, all-day admission includes indoor and outdoor water park for age 3 and older, free for children 2 and younger, spectator pass available for $10, evening discounts available; check website for availablitiy; Safari Outdoor Adventure Park admission is $24.95.

    Parking: free; valet parking $12 a day.

    Least-busy days: Tuesday and Wednesday.

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Where to buy tickets: for nonguests, at the waterpark entrance when available

    Information: 419-433-7200, 1-877-525-2427, www.kalahariresorts.com.

    MONSOON LAGOON

    Description: A three-story slide, an interactive water-play area, go-carts, a miniature golf course and a bumper-boat pond are among the park’s attractions.

    Location: 1530 S. Danbury Rd. N., Port Clinton (Ottawa County).

    Open: daily, operating hours vary May 28-30, June 4-5, June 9 through Aug. 28 and Sept. 3-5; call for details.

    Admission: water park, $15.95, or $9.95 for senior citizens 62 and older, free for children 2 and younger; mega-tickets, including all activities, $20.95; late-afternoon discounts available.

    Parking: free.

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Where to buy tickets: at the gate and at participating AAA offices.

    Information: 419-732-6671, 1-866-732-6671, www.monsoonlagoonwaterpark.com.

     

    OUTDOOR MUSIC

    CENTENNIAL TERRACE

    Description: An intimate outdoor venue with a seating capacity of about 1,000.

    Couples dance the night away at the 70th anniversary celebration of Centennial Terrace in 2009.
    Couples dance the night away at the 70th anniversary celebration of Centennial Terrace in 2009.

    Location: 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania, near Toledo (Lucas County).

    Performances: June 11 (4 p.m.): Blues & Jazz Festival featuring Janiva Magness, Tony Monaco, Ron Yarosz and the Vehicle; June 17 (8 p.m.): Eric Church; July 7 (8 p.m.): Umphrey’s McGee; July 24 (7:30 p.m.): Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks; 7:30 p.m. (Aug. 5): the Happy Together Tour featuring Flo & Eddie of the Turtles.

    Parking: free to $5, depending on show.

    Tickets: $20 to $47.50 at Ticketmaster outlets (1-800-745-3000) or www.ticketmaster.com.

    Information: 419-885-7106, www.sylvaniarecreation.org.

     

    MUSEUMS

    ARMSTRONG AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

    Description: A museum chronicling Ohio’s contributions to the history of space flight including the accomplishments of Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon.

    Location: 500 Apollo Dr., Wapakoneta (Auglaize County).

    Open: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and holidays Memorial day through Labor Day.

    Admission: $8, or $7 for senior citizens 60 and older, $4 for children 6 to 12, free for children 5 and younger.

    Parking: free, on-site.

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Information: 419-738-8811, www.armstrongmuseum.org.

    The New Engineer It! exhibit at the Imagination Station in Toledo.
    The New Engineer It! exhibit at the Imagination Station in Toledo.

    IMAGINATION STATION

    Description: A hands-on science and learning center also featuring a simulation theater.

    Location: 1 Discovery Way (corner of Summit and Adams streets), Toledo (Lucas County).

    Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

    Admission: $9, or $8 for senior citizens 65 and older, $7 for children 3 to 12, free for children 2 and younger.

    Parking: nearby surface lots.

    Special exhibits: “Bodies Revealed,” featuring 10 human specimens and more than 150 organs, which helps tell the story of how the body works (through Sept. 18).

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Information: 419-244-2674, www.imaginationstationtoledo.org.

    TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART

    Description: The main museum covers 41/2 acres on two levels, with 45 galleries; the Glass Pavilion features five galleries.

    Location: 2445 Monroe St. at Scottwood Avenue, Toledo (Lucas County).

    Open: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

    Admission: free, fees charged for some special exhibits.

    Parking: $5.

    Special exhibits: “Frank Stella: Irregular Polygons,” featuring one of each of Stella’s 11 compositions for the Irregular Polygons series (1965–66), along with preparatory drawings and the 1974 print series “Eccentric Polygons” (through July 24); “The Baroque World of Fernando Botero,” featuring 100 of Botero’s paintings, sculptures and drawings (through June 12); “Selections from the 18th-century Galleries,” highlighting 16 masterworks by European artists of the 18th century, including Blind-Man’s Bluff by Jean-Honore Fragonard, The Washerwoman by Jean-Simeon Chardin and The Mill at Charenton by Francois Boucher (through June 19); “The Dramatic Image: Baroque Prints of the 17th Century,” featuring a wide range of styles and techniques by leading European artists of the period (through July 31); “The Egypt Experience: Secrets of the Tomb,” featuring more than 150 objects spanning 3,000 years (through 2011).

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Information: 419-255-8000, 1-800-644-6862, www.toledomuseum.org.

     

    SPORTING EVENTS

    BASEBALL

    TOLEDO MUD HENS

    Description: The Detroit Tigers’ Class AAA affiliate is an International League rival of Columbus the Clippers.

    Location: Fifth Third Field, 406 Washington St., Toledo (Lucas County).

    Home games: June 7-10 vs. Gwinnett; June 11-14 vs. Rochester; June 22-23, vs. Columbus; June 24-27 vs. Louisville; June 30-July 1 vs. Columbus; July 2-3 vs. Indianapolis; July 9-10 vs. Columbus; July 14-17 vs. Scranton/Wilkes Barre; July 26-29 vs. Norfolk; July 30-Aug. 2 vs. Syracuse; Aug. 8-9 vs. Indianapolis; Aug. 10-11 vs. Louisville; Aug. 20-21 vs. Louisville; Aug. 24-27 vs. Buffalo; Aug. 28-29 vs. Indianapolis; Sept. 4-5 vs. Columbus.

    Admission: $9, or $7 for senior citizens and children 3 to 12; free for children 2 and younger.

    Parking: various lots near the stadium.

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Tickets: available at the Mud Hens office, 419-725-4367; at the park; or online.

    Information: 419-725-4367, www.mudhens.com.

    GOLF

    U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

    Description: Established in 1903, Inverness Club has played host to several memorial major tournaments, beginning with the 1920 U.S. Open.

    Location: Inverness Club, 4601 Dorr St., Toledo (Lucas County).

    Dates: July 25-31

    Admission: tournament badges $130 and $260; free for those 17 and younger with accompanying adult

    Parking: free (included in tournament badge)

    Tickets/information: 419-536-2011; www.2011ussenioropen.com

    MOTOR SPORTS

    MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE

    Description: A comprehensive motorsports facility, Mid-Ohio features a permanent road-racing circuit with a 2.4-mile, 15-turn, and a 2.25-mile, 13-turn circuit.

    The 2008 Honda Indy 200 auto race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
    The 2008 Honda Indy 200 auto race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

    Location: 7721 Steam Corners Rd., Lexington (Richland County).

    Events: June 24-26: Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio; July 8-10: Honda Super Cycle Weekend; July 22-24: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days; Aug. 5-7: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge/The Honda Indy; Sept. 9-11: NASA Championships; Sept. 16-18: EMCO Gears Classic.

    Admission: $10 to $110, depending on event; free for children 12 and younger when accompanied by an adult.

    Parking: free, non-infield.

    Wheelchair access: yes.

    Tickets: available by calling the track office, 1-800-643-6446, or online

    Information: 1-800-643-6446, 419-884-4000, www.midohio.com.

    HARNESS RACING

    RACEWAY PARK

    Description: Originally built for auto racing, it now has 5/8th-mile track for harness racing.

    Location: 5700 Telegraph Rd., Toledo (Lucas County).

    Season: Saturdays and Sundays (post time 7 p.m. Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday) through Sept. 18; simulcasting daily

    Admission: Saturdays: $2, or $1 for senior citizens, free for youths 12 and younger; Sundays: $1

    Parking: free

    Wheelchair access: yes

    Tickets: available at the gate; 419-476-7751

    Information: 419-476-7751, www.racewayparktoledo.com

     

    ZOO

    TOLEDO ZOO

    Description: More than 9,000 animals representing more than 800 species live on the 70-acre grounds.

    Location: 2 Hippo Way, Toledo (Lucas County).

    Big attractions: Phase one of the new elephant facility in the “African Savanna,” including three African elephant; “Nature’s Neighborhood” children’s zoo with goats, exotic birds and insects; “Arctic Encounter,” with underwater viewing of polar bears.

    Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Memorial Day through Labor Day.

    Admission: $11, or $8 for senior citizens 60 and older and children 2 to 11, free for children younger than 2.

    Parking: $6, $10 for vehicles that take more than one space.

    Wheelchair access: yes; rental: $5, or $20 for motorized scooter; single-stroller rental: $3.50, or $5 for wagons.

    Information: 419-385-4040, www.toledozoo.org.