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This major amusement park entertains family travelers of all ages with classic and state-of-the-art thrills.

Parents inevitably reach a stage in their lives when they ask themselves: why are we planning a trip to a theme park? Is it for us, for the kids, for the grandparents, to tell the neighbors? Finding the correct answer is the only way to ensure either -- you'll never have to do it again, or -- you'll go every year! Follow along to sort out the major destination theme parks, with special attention given to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

Theme Park FAQs

If your youngsters are yearning to breakfast with Disney pals, stay at Orlando's Disney World Resort (407/939-6244). If they want to get behind-the-scenes of an action movie, spend a day at Universal Studios Hollywood (800/UNIVERSAL). How about befriending Shamu and other creatures of the deep? Visit one of America's five educational and entertaining SeaWorld (800/SEA-WORLD) marine parks.

Are Marvel comics characters their idea of the perfect theme? Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure has integrated favorite superheroes into imaginative and exciting rides. Is it the combination of carousels, log flume rides, wild animals, costumed entertainers, cotton candy and souvenir stalls? The Busch Gardens (800/343-7946) in Williamsburg, Virginia and Tampa, Florida offer European and African themes respectively, both carefully integrated into authentic architecture, beautiful landscaping and wild rides.

Are little ones more comfortable surrounded by familiar characters? Plan a weekend with Elmo at Pennsylvania's Sesame Place (215/752-7070) or New Jersey's Dorney Park (610/395-3724), home of Camp Snoopy. Are big kids looking for the fastest, steepest, most head-spinning thrill rides in the world? Try one of the 37 Six Flags parks in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and the United States. Does everyone in the family want something different from your theme park vacation? There's only one place that has it all, and more: Cedar Point (419/627-2350), in Sandusky, Ohio.

Theme Park for Mild Tastes

Cedar Point, a 364-acre peninsula in Lake Erie which opened in 1870 as a bathing beach, today is "the world's largest roller coaster park" by virtue of its collection of rides (69) and roller coasters (17). Each year, from its mid-May opening until its Labor Day closing, plus7 weekends through Halloween, Cedar Point welcomes over 3 million guests. For the past eight years, Cedar Point was rated "Best Amusement Park in the World" by Amusement Today, an industry publication. Critics love it, roller coaster enthusiasts love it, and families will find it the best park for those who want to sample the full range of theme park amusements.

Besides the park, the Cedar Point peninsula hosts Soak City (an okay water park requiring separate admission) and Challenge Park (pay as you go for thrill rides, speedway and minigolf), a marina, an RV campground, and the luxury Lighthouse Point campground. Cedar Point's old-fashioned layout encourages visitors to stroll by the enormous variety of amusing activities on hand, pick a meeting point should anyone get lost, then plan their attack. Movie buffs will love the Good Time Theatre indoor ice rink, the Frontier Trail Zone with Wild West-themed rides and crafts demonstrations, and a high-dive show. Animal lovers will find a petting zoo; comic aficionados and pre-schoolers will adore the Peanuts-inspired Camp Snoopy playland, and culture-lovers will be delighted with the three antique carousels and classic midway design.