Cedar Point Amusement Park opened in 1870 and is the second oldest still operating amusement park in the U.S. It has 18 roller coasters, second in number only to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It is the only amusement park in the world with five roller coasters that exceed 200 feet in height. Cedar Point has many options for places to stay, including hotels and the Lighthouse Point Campground.
On our first full day at Lighthouse Point Campground, it rained off and on. During the off times, Pat did some laundry and Tim took a walk around the RV park and the nearby hotel on the beach. That evening, we watched LSU WIN the College Baseball World Series. Tim said it was the most baseball he has watched over the course of a couple of weeks ever!
On our second full day at Lighthouse Point Campground, we took advantage of the early entry tickets that Cedar Point provides for campers to visit the amusement park. We were at the park for most of the day, except for a brief midday break (nap for Pat) which is an old Disney strategy of ours for avoiding the highest temps and the largest crowds in the middle of the day. We are limited in what we can ride together at amusement parks (Pat doesn’t like heights, Tim doesn’t like going upside down or in circles), but we rode several roller coasters, including the Iron Dragon (a suspended roller coaster with no tracks on the bottom, with each individual car swinging side to side through various curves including one that does a complete 365 loop at the end); Gemini (built so that two roller coasters could race each other side by side, with a 125-foot drop and double helices at the end); and Cedar Creek Mine Ride (one of the oldest roller coasters there as it opened in 1969). We also rode two water rides before returning to the RV in the afternoon: Snake River Falls (a boat ride that ends with a 50-degree drop at 40 m.p.h. down the “falls” and into the river below for a big splash) and Thunder Canyon (think white water rafting that ends with a guaranteed soaking). Another perk of our afternoon break was that it allowed us to change into dry clothes! We also rode other rides at the amusement park that weren’t roller coasters (bumper cars, river ride, carousel, etc.). 
At the end of the evening, we enjoyed the show called “Summerbration,” which was very professionally done and included singers, dancers, acrobats, a light show, and fireworks. All in all, a great last night at Lighthouse Point Campground. 
The next morning, we started our drive eastward with a stop at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. We parked a few blocks away in the parking lot for First Energy Stadium where the Cleveland Browns play. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1995 to honor the history of rock & roll and the music that has evolved from that history. We spent a few hours at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but we could have gone there every day for a week and still not seen and enjoyed everything on display. In addition to thousands of items of clothing, instruments, pictures, etc., the exhibits also feature films, video, interactive kiosks, reading materials, and music you can listen to at listening stations. You could spend an entire day (or more) just listening to all of the music they have available. We really enjoyed our short visit and wished that we had more time there; oh, and we voted for Cher to be inducted into the Hall of Fame next (can you believe she isn’t there yet?) 
Leaving Cleveland, we stopped to fill the gas tank on the way to our next destination: Sun Retreats Geneva on the Lake in Ohio. Still on Lake Erie, this campground was a big change from Cedar Point. Our RV site was gravel, with a picnic table and fire pit/grill in one (we wondered why more campgrounds don’t have those). We didn’t have any shade to speak of at the RV site, but there was a lot of room between sites. It was also very quiet.
That afternoon, Pat’s cousin, Hal (their mothers were sisters), drove nearly an hour from Eastlake, Ohio, to visit us and see the RV. Pat and Hal had a great time catching up and reminiscing about their mothers and their childhoods. It was a great visit and could only have been better if we had more time together.
Prior to our arrival at Sun Retreats, we had called ahead to see if they recommended any repair persons so we could finally get our windshield blind mechanism fixed; and they did have a recommendation. So, the day after our arrival at Sun Retreats, we had an early morning appointment with Cyclone Mobile RV Repair. Nathan and his wife were as nice as could be, and Nathan quickly went to work repairing the windshield blind mechanism while his wife was very excited to show us pictures of her handsome gay son! The repair was all complete after about an hour and we hope that Nathan put enough screws in it this time to keep it in place as we travel on all of those bumpy roads. 
After the repairs were complete, Tim worked on some blog entries for you, bought some groceries at the onsite convenience store, and mailed a birthday card to his Mom. Pat caught up on paying bills. In the evening, we went to the onsite restaurant called The Loft Restaurant and Lounge; Tim had the teriyaki wings and Pat had the jalapeño burger. 
It was a short stay at Sun Retreats, but we accomplished a lot; finished a major repair, saw family, and found some time to relax.
You are literally “camping with the coasters” as the campground is just a short walk to the amusement park, and you can see and hear the rides. Campers also enjoy “early entry” to the amusement park one hour before the park opens. In addition, the campground is just a short walk to Cedar Point Shores Waterpark and Cedar Point’s Lake Erie beach, with unlimited beach access for campers.
Amenities for the campground include a swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor water play area, shuffleboard court, restroom/shower facilities, and laundry facilities. In addition, there is a convenience store and gift shop. Campers can also parasail, and jet ski rentals are available.
In addition to the campground, Cedar Point has a hotel on the beach with 669 guestrooms, most with waterfront views and balconies. The hotel is also home to a variety of restaurants and cafes, including a Starbucks, TGI Fridays, and a Perkins Restaurant. In addition, there is shuttle service throughout Cedar Point that can take you from the campground to the parks, hotels, restaurants, or the beach.
Although it rained a lot while we were there so we couldn’t take advantage of the pool and we didn’t have great water pressure, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Lighthouse Point Campground. We especially liked that the pool, restroom/shower facilities, and laundry facilities were nearby; and that it was a short walk to the beach at Lake Erie and the restaurants at the hotel. We also liked that there was a convenience store nearby and shuttle service if we got tired of walking. And of course, we enjoyed having the amusement park in our backyard and spending the day there. It was a bit more expensive than our usual campground, but we would definitely consider staying at Lighthouse Point Campground again if we are in the area.
Review of Sun Retreats Geneva on the Lake
Sun Retreats Geneva on the Lake (formerly known as Indian Creek RV Camping Resort) is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie. It is a true resort with most of the amenities you need located onsite or nearby. The campground is huge, with approximately 421 RV sites (many of these sites seemed to be for permanent or seasonal campers though). Tent camping is not permitted, but the campground has rentals available. All RV sites have full hookups, a picnic table, and a combination fire pit/grill. The RV sites are large enough to accommodate an RV and towed vehicle up to 75 feet.
Amenities include a pool, restroom/shower facilities, laundry facilities, fitness center, a giant “jumping pillow,” and a playground. Campers can also play baseball, basketball, bocce ball, horseshoes, pickleball, mini golf, and volleyball. Fishing is available nearby and campers can rent golf carts to more easily navigate this huge resort. In addition, there is a convenience store, gas station, restaurant, and ice cream parlor. Campers can also get propane. Uniquely, there is a chapel and a taxi stand. The website also boasts of a wine region nearby.
We really liked all that Sun Retreats had to offer, especially the large RV sites, pool, convenience store, and restaurant. It was a bit of a walk to the convenience store and restaurant since the resort is so huge, but we could have rented golf carts to make the distance less taxing. We didn’t stay at Sun Retreats for very long, so we missed out on taking advantage of the mini golf and pool; but we would certainly consider staying here again in the future if we find ourselves in this area.
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