2700 miles in 9 great days (Cedar Point, Mammoth Caves & Stone Mntn)
FLterri
Family road trips are great to teach our kids the diversity of the USA
13 Aug 2007
based on 5 votes
Family travel with 12 & 14 yr old boys. Started in Tampa, River Gorge Bridge in WV, time w/ family in Pittsburgh then 2 days at Cedar Point, OH, 2 cave tours @ Mammmoth Caves, trip to National Corvette Museum and the summit ride & laser light show @ Stone Mountain, GA
-
Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Beckley, Fayetteville, Industry, Pittsburgh, Sandusky, Huron, Mammoth Cave National Park, Horse Cave, Bowling Green, Stone Mountain, Atlanta
- Category: Roadtrip
-
Traveler type: Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Never been before
-
Appeals to: Families with teenagers, Students, Budget travellers , Active/adventure, Tourists
- Seasons: Summer
- Tags:
|
|
1. Howard Johnson Express Inn
|
Ave price:
$84
|
| Older hotel with a large room with microwave, refrigerator & Queen size beds but had a very strong unpleasant odor of disinfectant in the room. Staff was pleasant & made good restaurant recommendations, continental breakfast was average and pool was closed - not a good thing after a long ride. |
|
|
2. New River Gorge Bridge
|
|
| Great quick stop to appreciate the beauty of WV, the creativity of people & exercise your kids running up & down the overlook steps. Located on a beautiful scenic drive providing a great shortcut between roadways |
|
|
|
|
|
| Older motel with clean rooms, full size beds, microwave & frig in room. Polite staff, evening cocktail lounge, coffee only in the morning. |
|
|
|
|
|
| While in Pittsburgh visiting family we took an afternoon to visit a few microbreweries with Belgium style beers. The Church Brew Works is a converted Catholic Church with an interesting story. They had rootbeer and served some great pizzas. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Penn brewery is all Belgium & has some festivals & music but we weren't there for either. Good apple strudel, no rootbeer for kids |
|
|
6. Cedar Point Amusement Park
|
|
| Bought the 2 day pass including the amusement park & water park. The first day we waited in lines & made it on quite a few coasters (avg wait of 45 - 60 minutes/line - too long!). Unfortunately they had changed the length of the seat belts on a few rides excluding people over the size they claim on their website. The second morning we went straight to the coasters we missed only to find the lines long already. We enjoyed the second afternoon in the waterpark letting the boys go their way while we relaxed in the adult only pool area (QUIET!) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great sleeping stop - staff was great, view on the river looks out to Lake Erie, avoided the commercial feel of Sandusky. Had 2 great casual family meals at restaurants on either side of the inn. 15 minutes to the park & worth the ride. Continental breakfast was average but the coffee was good, especially in a seat next to the river in the morning before the rest of the family woke up! |
|
|
|
|
|
| Enjoyed 2 great cave tours, walked through one of the old cemeteries in the park, saw all types of wildlife up close & attended the evening campfire program one night. The Focus on Formations tour was beautiful and easy for entire families. The guides allowed us to take our time to take photos and answer questions. BY FAR our favorite was the Star Chamber tour (moderately strenuous) - into the cave by lantern light through much of the historic areas. Our guides (Rick & Bob?) loved telling old tales and the 2 1/2 hour tour lasted 3 1/2 hours. We really felt we had an outstanding memory - don't miss that tour!!! |
|
|
9. Hampton Inn Horse Cave
|
Ave price:
$93
|
|
By far the most comfortable beds (too bad they were only fullsize) on our stop and the best continental breakfast (plenty of hot breakfast foods). Staff was great, hotel was clean, has a gameroom and indoor pool (TOOOOO much chlorine - couldn't even sit and supervise kids) |
|
|
10. National Corvette Museum
|
|
| Great for ALL boys and as the mama I really enjoyed this museum (even bought a raffle ticket to win my own Corvette). I had no idea the Corvette has the history it does besides the beautiful lines on that vehicle! Worth the stop |
|
|
|
|
|
| Arrived later in the day & was able to take the ride to the top of the mountain & spend a few minutes prior to the laser show - very refreshing after a car ride |
|
|
12. Lasershow Spectacular at Stone Mountain Park
|
|
| Place was packed, show was enjoyed by all of us. Traffic was well managed after the show. Next time take a blanket or chairs. Worth the $8 car admission to get in |
|
|
13. TownePlace Suites Atlanta Northlake
|
Ave price:
$102
|
|
Parents treat time - splurged for the 2 bedroom suite so we could have some time from the boys. Room was clean, staff was friendly & the average continental breakfast was something you picked up and then ate in your suite. Boys enjoyed the pool |
|
Compliment FLterri
