***Disclosure: We received a complimentary visit to the Castaway Bay resort in Sandusky, OH to facilitate our review. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Here in the greater Cleveland, OH area, winters can be brutal. No. I mean super-duper brutal. I officially live where I cannot feel my face, and I'm not even exaggerating a little bit.
Much of this winter, we've had lower temperatures than Antarctica and Alaska. We've had tons of wind chills well into the negatives, which has made it WAY too cold to take the kiddos out to play. When little ones are cooped up indoors for too long? Well, Cabin Fever happens. It DID happen, and the kids were fighting like cats and dogs. Lucky for them, I had a plan hidden up my sleeve. You see, we were going to leave the ice and snow behind for Xander's 7th birthday, and head to a tropical paradise where it's always 82 degrees, and the waves are always crashing. Did I mention this magical place is only an hour or so away, and right here in Ohio? It's true! We were heading to Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark and Resort, right in Sandusky, OH! In case you're familiar with Cedar Point, America's Roller Coast, this is one of their properties. You KNOW it's going to be amazing when it's affiliated with Cedar Point!
We headed out into sub-zero temperatures the night before Xander's birthday. The drive was a bit treacherous, as we'd just had one whopper of a winter storm. Still, it only took us about an hour and a half to reach the resort.
Our room was perfect, and included a television, a balcony overlooking a pretty harbor, 2 double beds, and a full bath. Oh, there was also a fridge, which allowed us to bring packed snacks and drinks. Once we got all checked into our Starfish Bayview room, which was absolutely cozy and brightly colored, we decided to take a walk around and check out what Castaway Bay had to offer. Check out the slideshow above to see photos from the Lobby, our room, as well as the different shops and eateries located within the Resort. They have a lot of options for families, from a breakfast buffet to a coffee and sweets shop, to a general store and even a swimwear shop. There are also several vending machines located within the hotel. We had one not too far from our room, which was quite convenient! Another fun feature are activities for the kids, such as coloring T-shirts or backpacks. These activities are available for an additional fee, but are an amazing way to relax after a day of swimming! Yep, they've thought of it all, and do everything they can to make their guests comfortable.
We also decided to take a trip to Crabbie's Quarterdeck Arcade to find the latest in arcade fun. From the latest video games, basketball, air hockey and ticket redemption games, there is something for the entire family to enjoy. Arcade cards are available for purchase at the redemption counter of the arcade. Cards are reloadable and be loaded with various dollar amounts equal to chips that can be used to play the games. Many games award tickets that can be redeemed for awesome prizes.
We then headed to Quaker Steak & Lube for a special Birthday dinner. The restaurant is conveniently connected to the resort, so we didn't have to put on coats and bundle up to get there. This was a HUGE plus, as little ones are a hassle to put 3,592 layers on. The folks at Castaway Bay get it, so they made it easy.
We enjoyed an Appetizer Sampler, as well as burgers all around. The food was fantastic, and the atmosphere was funky and fun. (Check out the slideshow above and see!) The best part? The awesome folks at Quaker Steak & Lube presented Xander with his very own Birthday Hot Fudge Sundae. He was so happy! After our bellies were full and happy, we headed back to our room for the evening. We played some UNO, and then settled into bed for some sleep. We had a big day at the waterpark ahead of us, and we wanted to be well rested!
On the morning of Xander's birthday, we got up bright and early. We checked out of our room, and had our belongings stored in a luggage room while we hit the waterpark. This is a secure area that is attended to by resort employees, and is offered as a courtesy to guests.
The water park itself was SO much fun! Even at 9:30AM, it was poppin', and there were loads of happy families splish-splashing their cares away. We had a blast checking out all of the different areas of the waterpark. With a tropical Caribbean theme, guests at Cedar Point's Castaway Bay will feel like they have just landed on an island paradise upon entering this lush indoor waterpark resort. The centerpiece of Castaway Bay is its elaborate enclosed waterpark with a five-story structure featuring a vaulted wood ceiling that covers a natural setting of palm trees, huts, inland lagoons and plenty of wet and wild water adventure. With everything from the thrilling plunges and twists of the Tropical Tube Slides, Pineapple Pipeline to splish-splashin' fun of the Toddler's Tide Pool, to the Lookout Lagoon to the Wave Pool or Creature Cove, there are SO many ways to enjoy the day at Sandusky's own, Castaway Bay! Check out our video and slideshow for waterpark highlights!
Overall, we had an amazing time celebrating our little man's 7th Birthday at Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark and Resort. Our room was comfortable and vibrant, and the amenities were perfect. We didn't want for anything during our stay, as this resort offers it all.
And of course, the 82 degree waterpark was pretty awesomesauce, too. I especially loved the Rendezvous Run! If you're local and sick of the deep freeze, or you don't mind a day or weekend trip and can get to Sandusky, Ohio, I'd definitely recommend checking out all of the fun that Castaway Bay has to offer! We will definitely be back, as this was the best time we've had as a family since...well...Cedar Point! Connect with Castaway Bay :
You can check out the awesomeness that is Castaway Bay on their website.
You can also follow along on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest news and promotions! Enter to WIN a Family 4 Pack of Day Passes :
I'm thrilled to announce that one lucky winner will receive a Family 4 Pack of Castaway Bay Day Pass Vouchers!
Please note: These passes are good for the water park ONLY, and DO NOT cover a hotel stay. They expire on 10/14/18. Terms and conditions apply, so be sure to read the info on the passes and check the operating hours when planning your visit. How cool is that?!
This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ until 12:00AM EST on February 15, 2018. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram in any way. Participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. If you have any questions, please contact Brandy at newlycrunchymamaof3@gmail.com Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!
24 Comments
Helen Nordstrom
1/26/2018 05:56:19 pm
This water park looks amazing. We typically stay at home during the winter months, but this would be a nice getaway for the fa ily.
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Jeffrey
1/28/2018 10:31:04 am
Its tough to do things outside in this part of the country during the winter months. We spend a lot of time playing games, mostly cards, and watching movies.
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Jeffrey
1/29/2018 04:16:51 am
We play games and watch a lot of movies during the winter.
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Jeffrey
1/30/2018 02:57:20 am
One thing we do year round, but more often in the winter, is have a sit down family meal. The kids are in a lot more activities in the spring, summer and fall which reduces the amount of times we can eat together.
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Jeffrey
1/31/2018 02:28:02 am
I'm a foodie and love to spend time in the kitchen. My youngest son has caught onto my passion and during the winter months we spend a lot of time baking, everything from desserts to breads.
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Antoinette M
1/31/2018 10:13:31 am
We play Bingo!
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Jeffrey
2/1/2018 04:02:37 am
One of the ways we spend quality family time is having a sit down meal for dinner at least 5 days a week.
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Antoinette M
2/1/2018 10:36:36 am
We play board games.
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Jeffrey
2/2/2018 02:44:43 am
My youngest son loves art and has been "recruiting" my wife and I to draw with him at night before bed. We pick out cartoon characters from the internet and try to replicate them on paper.
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Antoinette M
2/2/2018 07:28:01 am
We go bowling!
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Jeffrey
2/2/2018 11:38:24 pm
One of the places my kids love to visit is Sky Zone. My body doesn't really like the trampolines, but I do it anyway!
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Jeffrey
2/4/2018 06:31:42 am
On occasion we'll hit the bowling alley for some great family fun. It always turns into a bit of a friendly competition with my two boys!
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Jeffrey
2/5/2018 02:47:41 am
We like going to see movies at the theater, my kids love the popcorn!
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Jeffrey
2/6/2018 02:14:22 am
Many evenings you'll find the four of us at the dinner table playing a game of spades or euchre.
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Jeffrey
2/7/2018 05:11:17 am
We love taking the kids sledding, I can't stand the cold as long as they can, but still have fun for a while. Sometimes I'll just warm up in the car a bit!
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Antoinette M
2/7/2018 08:06:57 am
We love to bake cookies or brownies.
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Jeffrey
2/8/2018 02:50:19 am
During the colder winter months we like to go to movies and also watch movies at home. Nothing beats movie theater popcorn!
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Jeffrey
2/9/2018 04:20:54 am
One of the things we like to do in the winter is play with Legos, I'm a fan too!
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Jeffrey
2/10/2018 04:27:50 am
We spend time at the local trampoline park, the kids love it there. I like it too, but cannot physically jump as long as they can unless there's a chiropractor standing by!!!
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Jeffrey
2/12/2018 02:28:21 am
We play cards a lot in the colder months of the year, sometimes euchre, spades or rummy.
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Jeffrey
2/13/2018 04:30:03 am
We like going to the movies and also just snuggling around the TV at home watching discs or Netflix!
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Jeffrey
2/14/2018 02:57:34 am
During the colder months the kids and I like to cook/bake treats for night time snacks and for their lunches. We'll make cakes, cookies, jello, pudding, etc.
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Antoinette M
2/14/2018 02:32:38 pm
We love to read or watch a dvd.
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Jeffrey
2/15/2018 12:34:37 am
On occasion we'll take the kids bowling, we're not any good but have a lot of fun!
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I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
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