Disclosure: We were invited on a multi-day media trip. Entry fees were included in our stay. Regardless, all opinions are my own.

Looking for FUN in Fort Wayne, Indiana? A stop at Science Central is a must! This very cool science museum isn’t particularly large, but it doesn’t need to be. There are a couple of floors to explore and it is sure to keep your family busy for hours like it did ours.

Housed inside a former power plant, this museum has an industrial feel. While it’s packed full of fun, it does a good job of incorporating learning exhibits. I love that you can actually see the pipes, gears, and other parts that made the plant work.

Most exhibits at Science Central are set up to be hands on, which is great for learning! This is a “do touch” museum which is perfect for kids (and adults) to mess around with different science concepts. In this museum, you won’t have to shout out, “Don’t touch that!” You can literally try everything out.

Looking for adventure? Try out their two-story slide! To protect your legs they’ll give you leg warmers and long sleeves for protection but you’ll giggle the whole way down! Keep in mind that there IS a height requirement so double-check that before promising your little ones that they can slide. My youngest was just shy of the restriction, so we’ll be back!

If you aren’t afraid of heights you’ll want to check out the High Rail Bike up on the third floor. While it looks scary, don’t worry you won’t fall. Best of all, you can read the signs on the way up and learn why you won’t tip.

Be sure to listen for announcements sharing the times of the science shows. We went to two and both were interactive. We oohed and aahed learning about the planets and were amazed in the demonstration about different types of matter. My youngest even got to be part of the show!

One of our favorite exhibits was the tilted room. I got in there and played with my kids as our center of balance became jumbled. It was an exhibit that they went back to multiple times. This area is located at the back of the bottom floor, so be sure to look for it!

We spent at least two hours at Science Central but could have spent a bit more time there. Science Central is definitely something to see while in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You’ll all have fun letting your imaginations run wild.

Science Central Admission:
Adults (ages 3 & up) – $9
Seniors (65 & over) – $8
Kids (0-2) – Free
Admission discounts are available for military, AAA, ASTC museum members, and more. See all discounts here

Science Central
1950 N Clinton
Fort Wayne
260.424.2400

Looking for more Fun in Fort Wayne, Indiana?

*** What to do in Fort Wayne, Indiana ~ Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
*** What to do in Fort Wayne, Indiana ~ Yummi Bunni 

Harbour Square Suites – Put-In-Bay, Ohio

Our family has visited Put-In-Bay several times but one thing we haven’t done is stay overnight… that is until last week!

We always plan a family day on the island (more on that later) but this year we wanted a full Put-In-Bay experience so I searched for a perfect family-friendly place to stay overnight. We wanted something big enough for our family of five (plus my nephew and brother), close to the downtown area, and affordable! We had it all at Harbour Square Suites.

We got to the island in the morning and headed right to the Harbour Square Suites office. While check-in wasn’t until later in the afternoon, they asked for our phone number and said they would call when our room was done. This gave us enough time to grab lunch at the Upper Deck (their Lobster Bisque is a must-try) and plan out our day. Just as we were wrapping up lunch, our room was ready – hours before usual (keep in mind, this was a mid-week stay and the island was less busy).

On our way to our room, I noted the gorgeous outdoor patio with views of Lake Erie. This area is open to all guests and is perfect for hanging with your group in the evening with a glass of wine or for eating breakfast that you may have brought with you the next morning.

Harbour Square Suites offers many room variations but since we were looking for space, we chose their largest, the Deluxe Suite. This suite offers two bedrooms and three bathrooms (four queen beds, two sleeper sofas – sleeps up to 10 guests). This large suite has a 2-story living room with two seating areas, a loft, and a hallway leading to three bathrooms!

Harbour Square Suites offers:

Deluxe Suite: 2 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms (four queen beds, two sleeper sofas, and it can sleep up to 10 guests) – It is one of their bigger suites.
 
Elite Suite: 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms (three queen beds, two sleeper sofas, and it can sleep up to 10 guests) – This room is closest to the bar, Margaritas on the Rock. 

Family Apartment: 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom (four queen beds, one sleeper sofa, and it can sleep up to 10 guests) – This room is upstairs. 

Family Room: 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom (two queen beds, one twin bed, one sleeper sofa, and it can sleep up to 7 guests) – This room is upstairs.
 
Junior Suite: 1 Bedroom, 2 Bathrooms (three queen beds, two sleeper sofas, and it can sleep up to 10 guests) – This room is closest to the office. 

As soon as we turned the key to our deluxe suite we knew we had made the right choice. The boys claimed the upstairs loft with two queen size beds and loved that they had space to spread out. Both beds came with four, extra fluffy pillows along with sheets and blanket. Since bedding isn’t included in some housing on Put-In-Bay, I thought it was worth noting.

This upstairs area has two large beds, a place to hang your clothes, and a nightstand with a lamp in between the beds. There were ample plugs for all of their devices and enough room for all four of them to move around. They just loved having their own space!

My husband and I shared the downstairs bedroom that looked similar to the upstairs loft but with an added TV. The beds were super comfortable and the pillows, oh, so soft! I love that Harbour Square Suites didn’t skim on decor or bedding.

Right outside our bedroom was a full bathroom and at the end of the hall, there was a double sink with a large mirror. There is an additional half bath and another full bathroom near the sink area. There were more than enough bath towels and toiletries provided such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap. On top of all of this, the third bathroom had a large walk-in shower.

After a fun-filled day in Put-In-Bay, our kids walked to the nearby park with their older cousin while we adults stopped at Margaritas on the Rock which is connected to Harbor Square Suites.

Margaritas On The Rocks offers Southwest American food and drinks and serves up delicious margaritas. They boast a wide variety of hand-crafted drinks, tailored to fit your tastes. If you dare, you may want to try out their famous, 42oz Monumental Margarita which includes a souvenir cup.

Overall, I give Harbour Square Suites a HUGE thumbs up and I would highly recommend it for both a couples trip or family getaway. It is a great place with a small resort charm

What we LOVED about Harbour Square Suites:

ROOM: Our room was clean, bright, and very comfortable. The beds were one of the most comfortable we’ve slept on away from home and there was a tone of extra space to move around in. While we didn’t use the microwave, and coffee maker, the mini refrigerator they were a nice added touch to the room.
STAFF: The staff was very courteous, friendly, and always welcoming. I noted that they always greeted guests (not only us) with a smile or wave. The bartenders at Margaritas on the Rocks were very good and loved to chit-chat. They exceeded our expectations.
LOCATION: While you are downtown and within walking distance of most action, you are at the other end of the street away from the “wild side”. This is important to note if you are staying on a weekend. Since we stayed during the week we had absolutely no issues at all and the downtown area was very peaceful, even in the evening. You can walk to almost everything, within 5 minutes.

Harbour Square Suites
185 Toledo Ave
Put in Bay, Ohio
(419) 285 – 3040
Harboursquarepib@gmail.com
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Is Put-In-Bay Kid Friendly?

I’ve heard it many times, “Put-In-Bay is a party island”. Unfortunately, if you think it’s just for adults, you are missing out… and so are your kids! Put-In-Bay offers so much to do for the whole family all summer long. I can attest, that my family has visited Put-In-Bay both on the weekend and during the weekend day time and we had a great time!

A couple of weeks ago, we planned a fun day out at Put-in-Bay. With so much to see and do, we left as early as I could drag my boys out of bed. Now that my boys are teens and pre-teens we bought along some of their friends. I was happy that it was a first-time event for some of them!

Put-In-Bay is the crown jewel amongst the Bass Islands and is just far enough away to make you feel like you are on vacation but close enough to home to make it a one day trip. Once on the island, you can enjoy a wide variety of dining options, shopping and adventure.

Getting to Put-In-Bay

The most family-friendly way to get to the islands is the Miller Ferry. They have the lowest prices which are perfect for the family. Kids 5 and under are FREE, while kids 6 – 11 are only $1.50 each way. Adults only pay $7.50.

You can catch the Miller Ferry at the Catawba Dock in Port Clinton which is an easy drive from just about anywhere. During the summer months, ferries leave every 30 minutes. You can choose inside seating, but we love sitting outside with the breeze in our hair.

Taking the ferry is part of the experience, for the kids! Mine loved the boat ride and looked forward to it as part of our day! Miller Ferries generally run every half hour during the summer season. You can see the schedule here.

Getting Around Put-In-Bay

When you get to the island you’ll probably want to take some form of transportation (besides walking) to get to downtown Put-in-Bay. Options include a taxi, golf cart, bikes or the Lime Kiln bus ($2.50/person and children under 6 are free – cash only). Our personal favorite are golf carts!

E’s Put-In-Bay Golf Carts is located at the top of the hill as soon as you step off the ferry. They offer 2, 4, 6 and 8 person carts and have a limited number of child seats for children who are under 40 pounds (no infant seats available). Keep in mind that you must be at least 18 years old with a valid drivers license in order to rent a cart. Best of all, if reserved online, you can use a $5.00 coupon! Got to love that!

If you aren’t familiar with the island, E’s can give you a map before you leave. While South Bass Island, is only approximately 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, this map makes it so much easier to get around.

Fun at Perry’s Cave and Family Fun Center

If you are looking for family fun on the island, Perry’s Cave and Family Fun Center has it all. This area is perfect for kids of all ages, even my teens that I brought along! Options for activities here include Perry’s Cave, Gemstone Mining, The Butterfly House at Put-in-Bay, War of 1812 Holes Miniature Golf, Gotcha Laser Tag, Fort aMAZE’n, Rock Climbing Wall, Antique Car Museum, gift shops and DanDee’s Snack Shack. You can choose one activity or grab the punch card where you can choose a few and save a bit of money!

This visit, we went deep into Perry’s Cave which is 52 feet below the surface of South Bass Island where we saw a rare underground lake, stalactites, stalagmites and cave pearls. This cave stays a cool 50 degrees year-round.

The kids also tried out Fort aMaze’n and the War of 18 Holes Mini Golf while us mamas sat nearby and relaxed. I loved seeing them laughing and having a great day out and about (and without electronics!).

FREE Things To Do in Put-In-Bay with Kids

Not only is Put-In-Bay family-friendly but there are a lot of things to do that are free on the island! Here are just a few of our favorites.

The DeRivera Park downtown Put-In-Bay is named after the founding father of the town, Jose DeRivera and is free to visitors. The park features two large play areas, picnic tables, BBQ grills as well as public bathrooms. My boys and their friends love this park as it offers an area for smaller kids and a separate area for older ones. We packed a lunch and enjoyed it under the shade of the trees before we explored the rest of the island. If your kiddos are little you may not want to make this the first stop or they may not want to leave.

The Aquatic Visitors Center is opening back up on July 8th. You can visit Wednesday – Saturdays through August 22nd and is free to visit. Inside you’ll learn about lake Erie’s rich history while you peer through microscopes, observe fish species and see some original fish hatchery equipment. Best of all, kids under the age of sixteen can borrow fishing gear and fish for free from the pier. Most Saturdays in the summer the visitors center hosts children programs at 2pm on the dock. 

South Bass Island State Park is one of two Put-In-Bay campgrounds. We found this area by accident a few years ago while we were exploring the island by golf cart but now we stop by every visit. It offers a boat launch ramp, picnic areas, a fishing pier and a small stone beach area. It was a warm day, when we visited which allowed us all to put our feet in the water… a few of the kids even jumped in! This area is FREE to visit!

The Antique Car Museum is free to visit also. Housed in a large barn at Perry’s Cave Family Fun Center, you can see rare Ford Model T’s, a popcorn truck and other auto-related memorabilia. We visited on a Sunday where around 2pm in the summer, an antique car parade tours the entire island. Be sure to wave!

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Monument is iconic to the island with its Doric column rising 352 feet over Lake Erie. It was established to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the war of 1812. The visitor center and any special events on the ground are always free. If you want to travel to the top of the memorial column, kids under 16 can visit for free while there is a small fee for adults (monument viewing deck currently closed because of COVID).

Lastly, Put-In-Bay offers family friendly summer festivals and events which many are free to attend. The popular Music Festival is held in June each year and my family was able to visit during the Pyrate Fest a couple weeks ago. In August there is an Island Green Week which will feature activities centerend on nature, wildlife and exploring the outdoors.

If you’ve heard that Put-In-Bay is too expensive or only for the 21 year old and older crowd, I’d say it’s time to explore the more family friendly, budget side.  Our group had a BLAST exploring this family-friendly island!

Thank you to Miller Ferry who invited me and my family to explore Put-In-Bay. I received ferry tickets, two golf cart rentals and tickets to Perry’s Family Fun Center. Thanks for helping me to create fun content like this for my blog.

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It’s no secret that my family LOVES Cedar Point! We’ve been season pass holders for years and we go to Cedar Point as often as possible with friends and family. Sometimes we go in and don’t even ride one coaster… from the shows to the beach, there is just so many things to enjoy at Cedar Point!

In 2020, Cedar Point will celebrate its 150th anniversary and they just released a HOT deal to celebrate. Right now you can purchase the 2020 Gold Pass for only $99!! This gives guests unlimited visits to Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores for the rest of the 2019 season as well as the entire 2020 season. Cedar Point has confirmed that the pricing will stay the same until the end of Halloweekends (at the end of October) but since you can use your pass RIGHT NOW, I would suggest grabbing it now!

The Gold Pass will essentially pay for itself in less than two visits. It includes several perks, such as free parking and special discounts. The Gold Pass is unlike any pass in the past. The previous regular season pass which was about $40 more, did not include the waterpark or free parking. Those perks were only available for the Platinum passes which were about $200.

If you are even THINKING about a Cedar Point pass, this is a no brainer! This is a CRAZY good deal! The hardest decision will be whether to choose from the Gold Pass or the Platinum Pass. Here are the differences.

2020 Gold Pass includes ($99):

• Unlimited admission to Cedar Point for 2019 & 2020
• Unlimited admission to Cedar Point Shores for 2019 & 2020
• HalloWeekends for 2019 & 2020
• Free Parking for 2019 & 2020
• Special discounts
• Early ride times – 30 minutes before park opens
• Exclusive ride nights

2020 Platinum Pass includes ($197):

• Everything above
• Early ride times – 1 hour before park opens
• PLUS entry into all Cedar Fair Parks across the country! ** Did you know there are SEVEN Cedar Fair parks within a 8 hour drive of Cleveland, Ohio? These include Cedar Point, Kings Island, Michigan’s Adventure, Canada’s Wonderland, Carowinds, Kings Dominion and Dorney Park.

Renewing Passholders:
On top of this hot price, renewing passholders (even if you are switching from a Platinum to a Gold) receive one free Fast Lane Plus and one free Bring-A-Friend ticket both valid 8/15/19 – 10/27/19 (Excludes Sunday, 9/1/19 and all Saturdays).

Important Things to Note About the Cedar Point Gold Pass:

** Cedar Point has confirmed that the $99 Gold Pass price will continue through the end of the 2019 season.

** You can use your 2020 Gold Pass NOW through the end of the season. This includes Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores (closes after Labor Day).

** If you choose the payment plan, you don’t have to wait until it’s paid off to use it. You can start using your Gold Pass after your first inital (immediate) payment.

** You can pay for the Gold Pass all at once or choose payment plans. It’s $8 a month for each pass after your first inital payment of $19. Payments continue for 10 months.

** The difference between the GOLD and the Platinum is that with the Platinum you get into all other Cedar Point Parks and can get in an hour early (versus 30 minutes early).

** FREE Pre-K passes are still available. Register by May 25, 2020 and activate at the park, in person, with proof of age, by June 30, 2020. The limited-time Cedar Point Pre-K Pass grants complimentary admission to Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores for children age three to five years for the entire 2020 public operating season.

All Season Pass Dining Plans:

We LOVE the season long food plan! It includes 1 meal every four hours and up to 2 meals per visit! Even if you don’t get a meal plan for everyone in your family, you may want to grab a couple to use as snacks throughout the day. Buy your food plan NOW, because food plans tend to go up in price.

Gold Pass Season-Long Dining Plan: $99 (in addition to the $99 pass)
Plantinum Pass Season-Long Dining Plan: $130 (in addition to the Platinum Pass price)
** Both food plans are only valid for the 2020 season.
** You CAN add this to your payment plan!

All Season Drink Plan:

We aren’t a big soda drinking family but I still get one plan. You can choose the All Season Souvenir Bottle or go bottle free with the Season Pass Drink Plan. One comes with a bottle the other you just ask for a drink at the register.

TIP: Did you know you can request a small cold glass of water at just about every food vendor? We do this in addition to our All Season Drink Plan.

A few things to note. The plastic bottle is a larger drink than you get if you go with the disposable cup but you have to carry it around. If you have a stroller to put reusable cup in, I’d go with that (less waste too). If you don’t have a stroller, I think the disposable cup plan is easier. This plan not only includes Coca-Cola products but also Minute Maid Lemonade and Fuze Iced Tea! You do have to wait 15 minutes before a refill, so plan accordingly.

New Things Coming in 2020

In addition to the Gold Pass, Cedar Point said it plans to introduce many new family entertainment and memory-making experiences in the 2020 year.

This includes a fully-immersive nighttime celebration along the Main Midway with new food options, a reimagined Town Hall in Frontier Town and a river expedition. The park plans to reveal details about the new additions leading up to Cedar Point’s opening day next spring.

Are you and your family going to grab the $99 Cedar Point Gold Pass?