Canada's Wonderland

Our last day and today we are heading to our last park, Canada's Wonderland.  A quick look at the website told us that they were opening an hour early for pass holders as an end of summer special.  We arrived just after 10, and made our way straight to the parks biggest ride, Leviathan.  Great ride, again very similar to Fury325, although feels like it is cut a bit short, still has plenty of speed when it hits the final breaks, also lacks the intensity.

Next up was Behemoth, which we also managed 2 rides on before the park started to get busy.

Being Labour Day weekend, the park got quite busy and the queues for most rides were around half an hour.  We managed to get everything done that we wanted to.

By half past 4 we were starting to get tired.  We stopped for an ice cream at a Dairy Queen stand and ate while watching a trampoline and diving Stunt show before heading for the park exit.

We stocked up on some drinks and milk for tonight and tomorrow morning, then drove back to the hotel.  Having saved on fast passes we decided to splash out on another meal at The Keg, this time walking distance from the hotel.

Another superb meal, we started with another baked brie and a portion of garlic shrimp then Keith had a blue cheese fillet steak, Sarah had blackened sirloin, Stephen had teriyaki sirloin again, and I had chicken and ribs.  Would highly recommend this chain if anyone is visiting canada.

Back to the hotel to chill in front to of the TV and check in online for our early flight home tomorrow.

Back to Toronto

Nothing major planned today, an amble back to Toronto.  I have decided we don't do very well without a definite plan for the day!

We started with breakfast in the guesthouse again, very tasty, Sarah and I had eggs benedict,  Stephen had omelette and Keith had maple syrup pancakes.

My eggs benedict! 

We packed the car, returned the house key and set off up the Gorge road towards Niagara on the Lake.  We made a couple of stops along the way, first at the Aero Car again.  We could also see one of the white water jet boats down on the river below.

We paused again opposite a hydro power station on the American side of the Gorge and also at the floral clock, maintained by the Canadian power station nearby and made up of thousands of small plants and flowers, the design is changed twice a year.

We travelled on passed fields and fields of vines, there are many small vineyards in this area.  The town of Niagara on the Lake was very pretty, lots of flowers and beautiful houses, but absolutely packed with tourists!  Lots of people cycling through the parks, presumably on hire bikes, and many more wandering the many shops along the main street.  We thought about stopping but so many people put us off a bit.  We carried on passed more vineyards and now lots of fruit farms.  We stopped at a farm selling fruit at the side of the road and bought a mixed punnet of plums, peaches, grapes and pear all grown on the farm.  We had thought about visiting a vineyard but the one we stopped at just had a bit of tasting and selling, maybe wrong, but we hoped to have a look at the vineyards and wine making, maybe we just chose the wrong one!

We drove on to Toronto and checked into our hotel for the next two nights.  After a rest we decided to head to Vaughan Mills for a bit of shopping.  Stephen was not keen and wanted to go to Canada's Wonderland to continue his coastering.  In hindsight he probably had the better idea, designer shopping isn't for us!  Plus it was packed!  We did have some fun in the Bass Pro shop.  Looking at all the life-size animals, shocked at the rows of guns for sale (plus hunting knives), and thinking about buying one of the boats in quad bikes for sale in there!  Totally bizarre shop!

Bored with shopping, and following another food tip from The Dibb, we decided on The Keg Steakhouse for dinner.  Wonderful food!  We started with baked bries to share, then Keith and Sarah had fillet mignon and Stephen and I had teriyaki sirloin.  Absolutely delicious, lovely, lovely quality steak.   We finished with a mocha ice cream cake,  can't remember it's name, and a cheesecake.  Our server was also excellent.  Our most expensive meal of the trip at c$196 but probably worth it.

We were lucky we got in early as there was a large queue waiting when we left.

Back to the hotel, we watched a big of TV before going to bed.

Last day tomorrow, more coasters!

Niagara Falls

Bit more leisurely this morning.  We had ordered breakfast for 9.15.  We helped ourselves to drinks, croissants and pastries while our breakfast was cooked.  Sarah had fruit crepes, huge and really stuffed with fruit.  I had eggs benediction and the boys had 3 egg omelette.   All was delicious.  We also placed our order for tomorrow morning.

We grabbed our bags and cameras and walked into Niagara.  Another lovely day.

First stop was the Hornblower boat tour.  Keith and Stephen weren't really bothered about this so it was just Sarah and I.   We took the elavator to the boat level and put on our ponchos.  We were straight out onto the waiting boat.  Brilliant, we both loved it.  Sarah managed to keep dry with her shorts under the poncho but my 3/4 lengths got soaked.

We met up with the boys again and walked further along towards Horseshoe falls to buy tickets for the Behind the Falls Tour.  We had to wait 40 mins for our alloted time so wandered out to view the top of Horseshoe falls.

Back inside, we were issued with yellow ponchos, and taken down  in another elevator.  We then followed the signs through the tunnels to two outlooks behind the falls.  Not sure what I was expecting but we were all a bit underwhelmed!

There was also an observation deck, where you could get a good view of the Horseshoe falls.

Back up at Street level, we wandered round the gift shops before making our way back towards the guesthouse via the Hershey shop where we bought some chocolate bars, some jellybean and a chocolate milkshake.

We relaxed and watched some TV for a while then ordered Domino's for delivery, After dinner Keith,  Sarah and I drove a couple of miles north to the White Water Walk.  A lovely boardwalk, down yet another elevator, along the Gorge rapids.  The current and sound was incredible.

We carried on a little further along the Gorge road til we found the whirlpool aero ride.  Looking was enough here, didn't fancy the cable car trip across the Gorge.

We found a convenience store for some drinks and milk then headed back.

At 9.30 Sarah, Stephen and I walked the 10mins back into Niagara to watch the 10pm firework display above the falls.

Have had a great day, shattered again but we have been soo lucky with the weather.  Would definitely recommend the Hornblower boat trip and white water walk on the Canadian side.

Goodbye Cedar Point

With our season tickets itching to be used again,  and Stephen desperate to get every possible moment of ride time available, we had breakfast (muffins from Perkins again), packed the cases, loaded the car and we're back at park entrance for 9am.  With the plan to be out of the park before 11 we started at the front of the park with a final ride on Gatekeeper, we missed Valravn because of the queue, did Millennium Force, then off to the back of the park for Stephen's favourite, Maverick, before one final ride on Top Thrill Dragster.

Although it was tempting to keep riding, we sadly said goodbye to Cedar Point and headed east to Cleveland, about an hour away.

The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame stands right beside lake Erie,  between the Chicago Bears NFL stadium and Burke Lakefront Airport, which today had an airshow so lots of military aircraft flying very low across the city.

Keith, Sarah and I could have spent quite a while visiting get the exhibits and watching the documentaries and videos in the hall of fame.  An eclectic mix of memorabilia from a whole range of musical eras, including The Hollies, Elvis, Otis Redding, The Supreme,  Madonna, Deep Purple, lady gaga and Taylor Swift.

Leaving the city of Cleveland we headed on eastwards.  Our initial plan had been to stop for a late lunch check picnic at a park called Waldameer to ride their wooden coaster, but with our early ride session at cedar point making us later than intended we gave it a miss, grabbed some sandwiches at a gas station and arrived at the border crossing of Rainbow Bridge at about 7pm.  The crossing back into Canada was less stressful than our American entry and we were on our way within a few minutes. 

We had booked a guesthouse for our Niagara Stay.  Grandview Manor overlooks the Niagara Gorge.  As well as onsite rooms it also has a 4bed house just behind the main guesthouse which is where we had booked.  It was lovely and clean and peaceful away from the main Niagara tourist hub.  Sarah and Stephen had initial reservations as it was quite old and in their words "like something out of scooby doo".

We drove into the tourist area to find Outback Steakhouse for dinner.  Keith wanted a bloomin onion!

Keith and Stephen then had a chicken main course while Sarah and I had steak and ribs.

Cedar Point day 3

The park today seemed slightly quieter than yesterday and we rode all we wanted to with relative ease.

We took a break again mid afternoon and like yesterday had a late lunch/early dinner although Keith wasn't feeling great during the afternoon so had a snooze while the rest of us ate.  He also didn't do much riding on our return to the park so we took the camera back in with us.

Twister

 

Raptor

from the sky ride

Millenium Force

Magnum XL220

Power Tower

Iron Dragon

Valravn

Rougarou

 

Millenium Force

Blue Streak

Raptor

Twister

Maverick

 

Stephens favourite ride was Maverick

Rougarou

Highlight of the day - Sarah and I next in line to ride Top Thrill Dragster when the car in front didn't make it over the hill and had a roll back!   We were so excited!  Big cheers on the station and lots of clapping when the relaunch just made it over.  Down side to this was a fault occurred on the next car and they shut the ride for a short while. We left the queue to go and do other rides.

General thoughts about Cedar Point.

Coasters  - all seemed very well maintained, most ran smoothly and all looked in good condition with bright paint work.  Everything was operating that we wanted to go on. I think the only the not open was the log flume.  All rides were riding with multiple trains despite the short queues.

Staff were amazing, all smiled and greeted you as you passed them.  Some were exceptional with great conversation and helpful advice.  There also appeared to be a great rapport between the team members on each ride.

The park was very clean, no rubbish anywhere, even saw the cleaners scrubbing the walkways under trees to get rid of bird poop!  The gardens and flower beds were also beautifully kept.

Park food - expensive.   Took a look at chicken tenders and fries but decided $15.99 plus tax was stupid for one portion.

Hotel food and drink -  Breakers Hotel has a Perkins and TGI Fridays on site.   Perkins opens at 7am, great if you want breakfast, but closed at 8pm, same time as the park closed!  TGI ended up very busy as the only eatery in the hotel open after the park closed.   There was also a Starbucks, but this closed at 8pm too. There is a small bar open til late but there was nowhere in the hotel to get hot drinks after 8pm, not even a vending marine  - as tea drinkers this was not great.  Although the room had a fridge and microwave, there was no kettle or even cups to put in the microwave, or any other utensils.  I did ask/moan at reception but was told as they had signed a deal with Starbucks they weren't allowed to offer tea/coffee making facilities. I think I may be writing to them about this!

Funpix - had ordered this prior to visit - meant that all ride photos during our stay were stored digitally for download when we get home.  With individual ride photo costing $15, $40 for the pass seemed very reasonable.

Low crowds - so much better than expected, had assumed we would be queued for most rides so bonus not having to buy fast passes.

Hotel room - we had a lake view suite, bedroom with 2 doubles beds and lounge with kitchenette, sofa bed and small balcony plus bathroom. Whilst neither room was huge they were sufficient.  Everything was clean, fresh and modern.

Some of our FunPix photos ...