10 Best Things to Do in Sandusky

Cedar Point is one of the most iconic amusement parks in the world, boasting superfast, record-setting roller coasters, games, food, and fun for the whole family. Whether you're thrilling to the 18 legendary coasters, including the Millennium Force, or grabbing some cotton candy, a funnel cake, or fries at the local food stands, you're sure to have a great day out.

Besides the rides, you can play to win a gigantic stuffed bear for your beloved, relax on the lazy river, take in some live entertainment, or visit the sports complex with its trampolines, rope courses, soccer fields, and other sports-themed entertainment. The park is on the shores of the lake, just minutes from downtown.

Kalahari Resorts features an indoor and outdoor water park with thrilling attractions for adults and kids, including waterslides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and a safari adventure park. The primary reason people visit is the massive collection of water rides, and these alone can occupy you and your family for days at a time.

The Safari Outdoor Adventure Park, however, offers a whole different set of thrilling activities, including a zip line, climbing wall, and ropes course. You can also take the kids to see the Safari Adventures Animal Park with its collection of exotic birds, camels, and other animals that will excite and thrill. It's just a 13-minute drive south of downtown.

The Merry Go Round Museum is a popular stop in Sandusky that offers a look at historic and nostalgic merry-go-round horses, artifacts, and memorabilia. The museum was first inspired in 1990 following the release of a series of postage stamps, and it has since acquired a vast collection of fun and unique attractions.

The artifacts include antique, hand-painted carousel horses, restored portions of merry-go-rounds, a miniature carousel exhibit, photos, and documents. You can check out a fully restored carousel from New York and visit the gift shop for a unique souvenir. Best of all, it's right in downtown Sandusky.

Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park offering traditional and tube slides, entertainment events, and magical family adventures to thrill adults and kids alike. For many, the standard and traditional waterslides are plenty, but the 4-story tube slides that allow you to race at lightning speed with a friend are a heart-stopping thrill.

The lodge also has tons to offer besides water rides. MagiQuest magic adventures for the family offer excitement throughout the park, live entertainment shows will get you singing and dancing, and the park even offers fun events like craft times and pajama parties. It's only 10 minutes south of downtown.

The Maritime Museum of Sandusky offers a wealth of interactive exhibits dedicated to exploring the entire maritime history of Sandusky Bay over the years. The exhibits depicted are focused on topics like shipwrecks, the fishing industry, and even piracy on the bay and Great Lakes. The museum is noted for housing artifacts from the famed Convict Ship, a floating prison that came to rest in Sandusky.

In addition to its wealth of exhibits and artifacts, the museum hosts guest speakers and educational programs all year long. The gift shop offers items related to pirates and lighthouses, as well as replica postcards from days gone by. It's located right in the heart of downtown Sandusky.

Castaway Bay is an indoor water park with a Caribbean theme that offers rides, slides, lagoons, and activities to thrill adults and kids of just about every age. The park offers everything from standard slides and relaxing lagoons to a wave pool and a 50-person hot tub. Kids can even enjoy a special splash area just for children.

In addition to the splash and wet areas, you can sign up for craft events, enjoy Caribbean games and entertainment events, or head to the 6,000-square-foot arcade to play video games. The Park is located right along Sandusky Bay on Cleveland Road.

Sandusky Speedway offers a thrilling racing experience for spectators and participants that covers everything from kids' bikes to stock cars. This racetrack shows races that involve hobby cars, modded hot rods, stock sports cars and muscle cars, street cars, kids' bike races, and other kinds of racing. You don't have to just be a spectator here, however.

The speedway also offers real rides in race cars for kids. Regular Fan Appreciation Nights reduce the admission fee, and you can even download an app that allows live timing and scoring right on your smartphone. The speedway is just 8 minutes from downtown to the south.

Shoreline Park is a recreation area that offers a playground, picnic areas, fishing, and food stands where you can grab a meal while relaxing the day away. The kids will love swinging and climbing on the playground rides, and adults can try for a big catch in the waters of Lake Erie.

Lake Erie is a popular destination for swimming and freshwater sports, and Shoreline Park offers a peaceful and enjoyable way to enjoy all that the lake has to offer. Pack a picnic lunch or grab one from the concessions area and enjoy a day out with the family. It's located in the city on the shores of the lake.