Kings Island Amusement Park in Mason, Ohio Near Cincinnati

Kings Island, located in the Northern Cincinnati suburb of Mason, has a long tradition in the family amusement industry. Having undergone several ownership changes (currently owned by Cedar Fair, which operates many parks including Northern Ohio's Cedar Park), the overall quality of the park has not really seen a decline. Having once boasted the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world (The Beast) one of the first backwards facing rollercoasters (The Racer, which has been turned around to its classic forward facing position this year), the park also boasts one of the largest collections of roller coasters in the US, and especially the Midwest. There are nine current coasters, one having just been transferred from Cedar Park just this past winter.

Kings Island also has several shows, in air-conditioned theaters, so that mom and day can relax and enjoy themselves while the kids stand in line to ride the rides. There is also a very large waterpark (included in the price of admission) which boasts 3 pools, including a large wave pool. They also have many slides, lazy river rafting ride, and plenty of space to just catch some some and read a book. If you'd like, you can save some money by packing your own picnic, but beware, they don't allow food/drinks to be brought into the park. There is plenty of shaded grass space out in the parking area though that you can spread out a blanket for the kids, bring a camping chair or two for the adults and enjoy a picnic break, ensuring the kids eat something besides overpriced junk food inside the park.

If you need a place to stay, there are several options within a quarter mile of the park. There are lower priced alternatives for the budget minded (Red Roof Inn, Days Inn, Super 8) and some mid priced hotels (Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Kings Island Inn) and some higher priced hotels (Sheraton Inn, Homewood Suites, Great Wolf Lodge). Be sure to check out the Great Wolf Lodge if you're looking to really maximize your experience. They have a huge, indoor waterpark right inside the hotel property, so if you find yourself being rained out or just exhausted from walking at Kings Island, this is a great alternative to be able to keep the kids entertained. Their website is http://www.greatwolf.com/Locations/Mason/.

When you call the hotels, they all have package deals for rooms/Kings Island tickets, so don't forget to ask about discounted admissions!

One last note: Back in '75 Evil Knievel jumped 14 Greyhound buses in a televised ABC Worldwide sports event (still holds the record for the highest share of viewers ever at 22.3 Nielsen and 52% of all viewers). On May 24th, 2008, son Robby Kneivel jumped 24 Coke Zero Trucks at Kings Island!