No. 3 theme park pick: Cedar Point

Cedar Point offers the world's best selection of roller coasters in a picturesque setting on the shore of Lake Erie, one hour west of Cleveland.

The drive up to Cedar Point sets the tone for the day, as the summits of the park's many coasters rise over the horizon, dominating the shoreline as you pass over the causeway from the mainland to Cedar Point itself. The park is laid out on a series of midways, more like the old-time amusement park at its core than the fanciful theme parks that dominate the tourist industry today. Nevertheless, Cedar Point is known among its fans for modern cleanliness and high quality of customer service.

Families have been coming to Cedar Point for a century, and there remain plenty of options for kids and parents who aren't coaster fans. Cedar Point is as much a northern Ohio institution as the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Terminal Tower and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

AGE APPROPRIATE

Ages 4 and up. Cedar Point offers two Peanuts-themed play areas, Camp Snoopy and Peanuts Planet, but height restrictions on rides throughout the park will keep the littlest ones from having as much fun as their older siblings.

TOO MUCH FUN

Put the pedal to the metal on the 100 mph-plus Top Thrill Dragster. Plunge 300 feet on the Millennium Force coaster. Chill out at Snoopy's ice skating show. Relax on the giant Ferris wheel with its expansive views of the lake. Or cool off at one of two adjacent water parks, or the beach.

BEST ATTRACTION

Maverick is Cedar Point's newest coaster, a $21 million Western-themed thrill ride with a 95-degree initial drop into a nearly milelong twisting adventure, including eight “airtime” hills that lift you off your seat.

KEEP ‘EM HAPPY

Point's Soak City water park offers 18 acres of waterslides, raft rides, kiddy splash zones and a wave pool, all on the Lake Erie beach. Castaway Bay is an indoor water park attached to a resort hotel, with day passes available for those not staying at the hotel.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Cedar Point is open daily, from early May through Labor Day. Weekends in September and October, Cedar Point offers HalloWeekends, with haunted mazes for the big kids and grownups and not-so-scary shows and attractions for little kids.

AVOID THE CROWDS

Tickets are available online, so arrive before the park opens to be the first on the park's top rides. Check the weather in advance; rain will clear the park of crowds, but it also shuts down many roller coasters, as well. The first clear days after a rainstorm are often the busiest of the year.

CAN’T MISS

Even if you don't ride on Top Thrill Dragster, don't miss the chance to stop and watch. This coaster thrusts riders from a standing start up a 420-foot tower at 120 mph. Just hang out by the starting line and watch the facial expression of the riders as they blast from zero to 120 in just seconds.

BARGAIN LODGING/DINING

Visitors can book online for a stay at Cedar Point's camping village or one of its hotels. Prices are reasonable and include the very valuable benefit of getting into the park one hour early for a head start on the park's popular roller coasters. That can eliminate hourslong waits later in the day.

INSIDE TRACK

Afraid of coasters? Fight your instincts! Keep your eyes open when you ride, follow the track in front of you, and pretend you're driving a car on a really twisty road. That’ll give you a feeling of control as you ride. (Heck, press your right foot to the floor, too.) You'll feel a lot less queasy when you're done.

-- Robert Niles, founder/editor of ThemeParkInsider.com