The weekend is fast approaching, and you’re wondering what kind of kid-friendly get-aways someplace not-so-far-away. Great news! Windsor, Ontario, is situated perfectly for just that kind of trip! Three awesome cities within a 2-hour radius are sure to please the whole family!
Get-away #1 is Sandusky, Ohio, only about 1-1/2 hour southeast of Windsor. It has a “vacation-destination feel into it! Get-Away #2 is Lansing, Michigan, located 1-1/2 hour west of Windsor. It is truly only a hop, skip and a jump over the border with some best-kept secret, kid-friendly spots. Third but not least, Ontario’s very own London, located only 2 hours north of Windsor. It is not just a medical hub but home to some great family attractions.
Sandusky Ohio: A Kid-Friendly Vacation Destination
Sandusky, Ohio is a unique lakeside destination with a rich history, maritime culture and a ton of family-fun things to enjoy! Whether you love raging roller coasters, zip lining and water slides, boating or just lazy-living at the lake, Sandusky is jam-packed with all of these great things and more! Sandusky’s gorgeous coastline is also outlined by a beautiful amusement park called Cedar Point.
Sandusky’s Cedar Point Amusement Park: the Roller Coaster Capital of the World®
Cedar Point was self-proclaimed “America’s Roller Coast®,” but the world doesn’t dispute it. In 2016, 3.6 million visited, and the numbers grow every year! The amusement claims it’s opening in the summer of 1870 with its first roller coaster built and ready to ride in 1892. With 71 total rides today, 18 of those being top thrill coasters, Cedar Point has been able to hold top amusement park ranks for decades. Against the shoreline, you’ll also find Cedar Point Shores Outdoor Waterpark for guests to take a break and cool off from the summer heat!
Sandusky’s Waterparks
Rivers of fun continue to flow at fabulous indoor water parks and resorts like Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay, Kalahari Resort, Maui Sands Resort and Great Wolf Lodge Resort, many of which have outdoor water parks attached. A visit to a water park is a taste of summertime fun in the winter for the whole family!
Sandusky Shores & Islands
A visit to Lake Erie’s Shores and Sandusky ports will make you feel like you are a world away. Take a ferry over to Kelley’s Island or Put in Bay for and wonderful, yet unexpected, kid-friendly experience. Once there, rent a bike or golf cart to visit Kelley’s island nature reserves or Put In Bay shops, museums and Perry’s Cave Family Fun Centre. The family fun centre also includes a Butterfly House, War of 18-Holes Miniature Golf, a rock climbing wall, Fort aMAZE’n Giant Maze, Gemstone Mining and much more! At Lake Erie Shores & Islands, you will not only forget you are only a couple of hours away from home but feel more like you are on vacation!
Lansing, Michigan: A Hop, Skip and a Jump!
Michigan’s capital of Lansing is really only a hop, skip and a jump from Windsor. It is home to Michigan State University, one of the top research universities in the world and a kid-friendly destination! Check out some of the great spots around town.
Explore your intellectual side in Lansing, Michigan. The Michigan Historical Museum & Library, three floors of fun, is a great place for families to participate in experiments and crafts together. Impression 5 Science Centre and Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum are designed with kids in mind and allow your child to explore their unique side.
Horrock’s Farmers Market is a well-known Michigan destination, with locations in Lansing and Grand Rapids. It is not just a food market but a food experience. Parents get a free coffee with all the fixings, just for visiting!
Nature lovers! Lansing’s Fitzgerald Park is reminiscent of all the glory Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula has to offer, but so much closer to home! Not so far from there are the Michigan State University Barns where you can bring your own apples and carrots to feed the horses. Your trip won’t be complete without a visit to Potter Park Zoo for some wild fun and the MSU children’s gardens & butterfly house. Last stop, Pruess Pets Store, welcoming the public to an exotic pet experience!
London, Ontario: More than a Medical Community!
London, Ontario is most-known as a medical hub, but it’s also a great stop for families! Check out the great experiences London has to offer!
Learning is Fun in London:
The London Children’s Museum has 3 awesome floors jam-packed with interactive exhibits, programs and activities that encourage children and adults to play and learn together! Kidbotix Robotics is a fun indoor centre where children can enjoy engineering and coding electronics! The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a place where medical heroes and accomplishments are celebrated and joining the medical field is encouraged.
Fanshawe Pioneer Village tells the story of rural communities in the City of London up to 1840. Is your child somewhat interested in pursuing a career in the medical field? take a visit to the village has events to support them.
Total Kids Stuff
Fairy tales come alive at Storybook Gardens. The setting is a beautiful village where tales of old come alive, with animals, games, rides, play areas and splash pad.
So you don’t need to go very far for kid-friendly get-aways and some awesome family-fun. Just jump in the car and take a short ride to Sandusky, Ohio; Lansing, Michigan or London, Ontario. Your family will thank you, and you’ll make some great family memories!
