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| Grab the Brass Ring in Sandusky |
By: By Barbara Littner David - January 2009
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Posted: Monday, December 29, 2008 3:55 pm
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My 7-year-old belly-dived onto a surfboard and took off down the waves. He zig-zagged across the water, hit a white cap and flipped over. He balanced again and took off. He pushed into the middle of the wave and into the zone. He looked relaxed. He even rested his chin on his hand, and got a laugh from the watching crowd. Then he made his move, ready to stand, jerking a little too much to the left, he got to one knee, wobbled and wiped out.
My youngest got a great ride but not the brass ring (that would come later in our trip) at America’s largest indoor water park, Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. Two rooms accommodated our family of seven. The first room, a modest one with two double beds, a microwave, TV and bath, adjoined an African-themed suite with a master bedroom, dining room, full kitchen and living room with a fireplace, and sleeper sofa.
The resort features African-themed restaurants bars, shops, a spa, and a multi-level play area where my boys climbed, crawled and fired foam balls. But the water park made the biggest splash. The water roller-coaster zipped up hills, around sharp turns, and in and out of tunnels. Monstrous slides made us drag inner tubes up steps and laugh as we plunged down dark tunnels, twisting curves, and fast straight-aways. The lazy river drenched me a couple times, but gave us a chance to relax amid jungle murals, while my boys busied themselves with more surfing, basketball, and crossing water on lily pads and hippo heads.
There’s lots more in Sandusky, too. At Marblehead Peninsula, I could have watched Lake Erie’s waves crash against the rocky shore for hours. The water rushed in and trickled out, gulls flew overhead, the kids climbed rocks and a view of Cedar Point loomed in the distance, while even better views awaited from the lighthouse, circa 1821, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes.
We took the steep metal spiral staircase, stopping to catch our breath and a glimpse out the windows. Finally, we ducked under the doorway where wind hit our faces and we caught sight of blue skies, rolling waves, and majestic sailboats.
Then it was on to the African Safari Wildlife Park. The attraction features camel rides, Jungle Junction Playground and educational shows, but it’s really about driving through the fenced animal area with a cup of food pellets!
Deer, moose, llamas and others know the routine. As a car approaches they come forward, waiting for windows to open. Signs warn against hand feeding, but the animals don’t want to bend to eat from the ground, and they won’t bother to catch food tossed in the air. They want pellets right from the cup. In fact they want the cup. We lost two. Deer, moose, llamas, and even giraffes stuck their heads through our minivan, but when I tried to feed a zebra, it snubbed my pellet offering, preferring $3-a-pound carrots.
A zebra happy to entertain awaited at the Merry-Go-Round Museum. We learned that “Going for the brass ring” originated as a marketing technique to get people to ride the outer horses that don’t go up and down. From those horses, riders reached for a machine that dispensed rings. Any rider lucky enough to grab a brass one got a free ride, like we did. I rode the pig, while my kids hopped on tigers, dragons, and sea monsters. The carousel at the Merry-Go-Round Museum spins faster than those at amusement parks because Merry-Go-Rounds were the original thrill ride. It was thrilling, and fun when my son finally grabbed the brass ring.
Barbara Littner David is a local writer and mother of five.
Kalahari Resort
7000 Kalahari Drive, Sandusky
419-433-7200
877-KALAHARI (525-2427)
Marblehead Lighthouse
State Park
419-734-4424
African Safari Wildlife Park
267 Lightner Road, Port Clinton
419-732-3606 or 800-521-2660
africansafariwildlifepark.com
Merry-Go-Round Museum
301 Jackson St., Sandusky
419-626-6111
merrygoroundmuseum.org
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