I came across this article the other day because I guess in part because now Reader’s Digest articles are being marketed to me? But most likely because I sell theme parks. The article begins describing this gentleman’s early obsession with theme parks and the sadness he experienced as he saw so many of them destroyed in the 1970’s. Back then he was an engineer who designed optical lenses for cameras – something that allowed him in his career to travel and photograph roller coasters. Subsequently, he convinced his local PennySaver to write an article about the coasters and he turned his hobby into a career. His name is Paul Rubens. He is 83 years old and has visited 333 parks and ridden 903 roller coasters. That’s every theme park in America. Hero level stuff right there.
This article grabbed me for a few reasons. First, I love reading how someone took something that they love and made it their career later in life, because that is me. For the past 25 years I have been working in all levels of IT, from help desk to VP. However, I wasn’t passionate about it. It was something I was good at, it was logical for me and I could easily provide for my family. But then an opportunity presented itself, just like it did for Paul, and along with my wife was able to leave the world of IT and focus full-time on ‘Ohana Adventures. Reading stories like Paul’s where he gets to follow his passion of visiting every theme park in America gives me the extra *oomph* that says that we are on the right path.
The other reason that the article grabbed me was that Paul names his Top 13 Theme Parks in America and he names Cedar Point as the #3 park. Heck yah. But also, 4 of his 13 parks would make the perfect summer road trip.
Days 1 & 2: Seabreeze Amusement Park, Rochester, NY
This theme park opened in 1879 as the last stop on the steam railroad. Today, it’s thrill attraction is the Jack Rabbit, built back in 1920. Read
Tickets: 1 day ticket $40.99
Children 2 and under are free
Stay the night in Rochester before heading to Pittsburgh.
Days 2 & 3: Kennywood, Pittsburgh, PA
Kennywood opened in 1899 and is absolutely worth the visit. They have everything from Thomas & Friends to intense rides like Black Widow or Phantom’s Revenge.
Tickets are $49.99 online
Spend the night in Kennywood before hitting the road for 2 days at Cedar Point.
Days 3-5: Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
Cedar Point opened in 1870 and is considered the second oldest operating amusement parks in the US (first being Lake Compounce in Connecticut). New in 2024, Cedar Point opens Top Thrill 2, the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster, not to be missed. This theme park is a 2-day-er plus some R&R time from the past couple of days.
Tickets are $49.99 per day and do offer packages that your lovely travel agent can help you with.
Days 6-7: Kings Island, Cincinnati, OH
Opened in 1972, Kings Island is located right outside of Cincinnati, Ohio and was originally intended to be a relocation point for a popular resort, Coney Island. Just over 364-acres, the park has over a hundred attractions, including 14 roller coasters.
Tickets are $44.99 online .
I enjoyed reading Paul’s adventure’s at these parks and I’d love to see families out there this summer experiencing them as well. Oh, and also, leaving their sub-par careers mid-life and following their passions. That too.
Check out what else is on the blog this week.
