Written by Mike

Cedar Point started off in the late 1800s like many amusement parks of the day.  It was a boardwalk on a scenic waterfront complete with picnic grounds, an amusement arcade and even a ballroom.  While some of this past is visible in the park still (the ballroom still stands), Cedar Point is now known better for one thing, it’s “America’s Roller Coast”.  That may be their slogan, but it’s pretty accurate.  With some 14 roller coasters, including some big firsts of their day and the second tallest and fastest coaster in the world as of this writing, its got a pretty good reputation among coaster lovers across the world.

When I knew i wanted to book a trip there, I started looking around for local hotel options.  To my surprise, some of the best places to stay in the area were in the park itself.  This includes some serene log cabins that can hold up to 10 people (which if split among some friends or a family turns out to be a pretty decent deal).  The food in the park is comparatively good for amusement parks, but staying in the cabins allowed for us to do some BBQing at night while taking a coaster break before one last evening push.  Staying in the resort also lets you into the park an hour early, plus when else can you say you slept in a cabin at the foot of a giant wooden coaster?

The park is really clean and has plenty of family entertainment including an old frontier town section that does glass blowing and blacksmithing.  The Gemini is a wooden/metal racing coaster hybrid that was one of my favorites there, as well as a newer magnetic launched coaster called the Maverick.  A day pass includes a trip to the water park, which is a nice break especially on a really hot day like it was when we were there.  If you get sick of the 13 or so coasters, they also have a great arcade with some classic games, and some lesser known old ones with some awesome cabinet art.

All in all it was one of the most pleasant amusement park trips I have ever had and a great trip for roller coaster lovers and fun lovers alike.

On a side note, if your looking for an interesting place to eat one night outside of the park or on your way home, I would recommend local Czech favorite, Old Prague Restaurant in Vermilion OH.  We actually found this place thanks to the use of a “where to eat nearby” iphone app and were not disappointed.  Not only was there an older lady playing standards on a Casio, but they had good beer and even better Sauerkraut balls.

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See more: Places to Visit Amusement Parks Guest Writer: Mike Middle America

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Posted on February 24, 2011

6767 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

No one really goes to the Hollywood Wax Museum. But Jim and I are suckers for this kind of thing and the grimier the better. There are plenty of opportunities to ham it up with all your favorite celebrities like a frightening Jim Carrey, the Crypt Keeper, and a demented Will Farrell. The wax sculptors are not always generous to the famous people they’re creating – if I were Gwyneth or Toby Maguire I’d develop some serious issues after one visit (the former with the idea of inhuman all-body cellulite, the later with a completely dimwitted expression). If I remember correctly, it’s a bit expensive (as to be expected from a tourist trap) but so worth it to show our child photos of us hanging out with Austin Powers and Samuel L Jackson – he’ll think we are sooo cool.

There are lots, maybe too many, photos below/after the jump including an up shell shot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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See more: Places to Visit California Galleries/Museums Los Angeles

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Posted on October 15, 2010

Thurman, NY – Guest Written by Mike Stermer

Hidden away on a rural route in the Adirondacks, Nettle Meadow is an idealist goat farm.  Founded 5 years ago by a couple in the midst of mid life crisis, Nettle Meadow is farming at it’s best.  Not only do each of their 300 goats have names, but Lorraine, one of the co-owners who gave us a free tour, knows each and every one of their names.  The goats, along with their sheep neighbors, all lend their milk to their artisan cheeses made on the farm.  They make several varieties.  The flavored chevres that we tasted were only two days old, fresh from the goats.  They even have 3 varieties of ages cheeses, aged in the 200 year old stone basement of the farm house.  Their “Kunik” is a not to be missed semi-aged cheese with a super creamy texture.

It’s really nice to see a small family owned farm doing things with care, and worrying about quality and not quantity.  The goats are all treated quiet well.  Unlike many other farms they allow their goats to naturally grow their horns out. In the back of the farm they have 7 acres of free range roughage to roam through.  The largest and oldest of the barns they use as a sanctuary for rescue animals including a thoroughbred horse with an injured leg, cow calves, chickens, roosters, ducks and even a peacock. They even use llamas as sheep dogs to help the keep away the wilds.
Of course their cheeses can be found at local restaurants in the Lake George, but they also venture out much future than that.  NYC’s Murray’s cheese as well as many local eateries carry lines of their cheese as well.  So if you can’t make it up there for a Saturday or Sunday free tour at noon, be sure to search out some of their cheese and taste farm food done right.

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See more: Places to Visit Animals Cheeses Farms Guest Writer: Mike Upstate New York

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Posted on August 8, 2010

Vermont Tranquility

As native Vermonter and dear friend Stacy told me, being in Vermont is all about a state of mind, not doing things. Considering that we were game for a full week of peaceful, pre-baby relaxation, nothing could have been better. Sure there are places to explore and activities to partake in (such as the Shelburne Farms, where we bought some incredible cloth bound cheese but were too late for tours) but mostly, with a view like the one we had, it was all about lounging lake side, taking in the trees and the breeze. Our rental house was on Rescue Lake in the town of Ludlow. It’s a tiny town, but there’s a Shaw’s for all you need to make your own meals, a cute spot for breakfast called The Hatchery, and, while we were not happy to have to find out, an extremely friendly Chevy dealership that was able to fix our car after it freaked out within hours.

The house itself, which we found on cyberrentals was clean, well appointment, comfy and perfectly located with a private dock and hot tub that we took full advantage of. It’s large enough to share with another couple with a second bedroom and the owners, who live next door are un-invasive but there to help if you need them. We spent full days on the dock, making friends with an adorable family of ducks. It was such a simple joy and one I could never experience in the city. As another reminder that we were far from the streets of Brooklyn, as if we needed one, the local paper declared the city’s biggest wedding – between a teddy bear and a rag doll.

While the house, with it’s view and amenities offered so much relaxation, we did venture out sometimes. Nearby are the gorgeous Buttermilk Falls, a winding park featuring several swimming holes and falls under green shade. It was empty early in the morning, but later in the season – when you can actually go into the water, it’s a favorite local attraction. We also took the scenic drive up Okemo Mountain, the nearby ski resort that looks like a 1960s abandoned space station in the summertime. I am a tad embarassed to say I was too lazy (and pregnant) to take the trail to the top, but am sure the views would have been worth it otherwise.

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Posted on July 18, 2010

Rte 301, Carmel NY 10512

While Jim and I wimped out and only opted for day camping (a four month pregnant belly and ground sleeping don’t equal happiness), I must say the Clarence Fahnestock State Park is a lovely spot to get in tune with nature, build a comforting and perfect smelling wood fire, throw hot dogs (in this case, incredible ones from Schaller and Weber) on the grill, laugh with friends, and roast some mega sized marshmallows.

While eating and relaxing under a canopy of high trees plus a few games of bocce ball was about all we took part in, the nearby State Park (only about an hour and twenty minute drive in regular traffic) offers lots of hiking trails, and ponds for canoeing. Our camp mates even found some caves on a short hike nearby the camp site. Unlike the better known Bear Mountain across the river, here beer is welcome (of course so long as you are respectful and clean up after yourself). Once I am in more rugged mode, this would be a great place to return to for a couple nights of real, if not too tough (other campers are within shouting distance, the highway’s only a short ride away and running water bathrooms are available nearby) nights of roughing it in the kind-of wild.

Stop by Stew Leonards on the way up for provisions, make sure to bring along someone as handy with a tiny stove and a dutch oven as our friend Mike (who made a kicked up chicken chili verde and a blueberry cobbler with little more than a knife and ingredients) and make sure to pack some seats (which was the one of the only comforts we forgot).

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See more: Places to Visit Outdoor Activities Parks Upstate New York

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Posted on May 23, 2010