For parents with younger kids, there is no better amusement park deal than Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom in nearby Aurora, Ohio. It's big, fun, clean and surprisingly uncrowded and affordable.
We took the girls there last year and had a BLAST. There are lots of kiddie rides (about 8 to 10), an entire water park with a giant kids play area and a lake full of ducks to feed.
I just received their 2006 brochure in the mail and they've actually lowered their admission prices. Now, it's just $24.95 for adults and $9.99 for kids under 48" tall (kids 2 & under are free) and seniors. This is the price for BOTH parks. And discount coupons are often available (I think I got some from my credit union last year). At $10 per kid -- it's cheaper to take the kids to Geauga lake than it is to Waldameer/Waterworld.
Some things to know if you decide to go:
* You have pay for parking ($9), but...keep an eye on the Erie Times-News' inserts -- they often have flyers that offer a free parking coupon. I clipped one out of the Val-Pack coupon pack three or four Sundays ago.
* You can buy beer and wine coolers in the park (reasonably priced too). This was a big selling point for my husband.
* You are not allowed to bring your own food into the park, but you can go in & out of the park, so you could tailgate -- which we did. If you decide not to tailgate, bring lots of money because it is highly expensive to eat there. Except for cotton candy -- which, according to the park's web site -- they are selling for just 25 cents all this season.
* There is a water fountain play area in the kid's area. You may just want to dress your kiddo in their suits and water shoes and put a shirt and shorts on top (don't forget sun hat & sunscreen! )...otherwise you may be dressing and undressing them all day.
* If you have little kids and you're planning to go to the Waterpark, bring a wagon. It is a LOOOOOOONNNNGGGG walk (along a really pretty boardwalk) to the waterpark.
* Leave your kids' water wings at home...the lifeguards are adamant that they cannot wear them. Which was pretty annoying to me...because I had to try to keep a 2-year-old within arms length the entire time. She slipped and fell under the water three times before I finally just gave up and left the water park. I'm not sure how they would've felt about a lifejacket, but...I suppose they wouldn't have allowed that either. They frown on floation devices of any kind because "they're not safe." Well...I disagree, but...
* It took 90 minutes to get there and was fairly easy to find. They offer driving maps on their web site at www.geaugalake.com
* If you're a member of AAA -- check with them for adult admission discount tickets.
* Smoking is very limited in the park (yay! ) and is not permitted on rides, while waiting in line for rides, anywhere in the kids area, anywhere in the indoor restaurants, gift shops or water park.
* There are lots of great adult rides too -- including several roller coasters.
We're definitely planning to visit the park again this year -- probably in August when it will be nice and hot enough to visit the water park.
BTW -- we went on a Friday or Saturday in July last year and were shocked at how seemingly empty the park was -- we rarely waited more than a few minutes for any ride -- that goes for kiddie rides and adult rides. Maybe everone was in the water park that day (it was a very hot day).