Spring Means the Opening of Cedar Point, Windseeker

If you've grown up or live in the Upper Midwest, then you're familiar with the concept of embracing spring a little bit earlier than spring wants to embrace you. In keeping with that idea, it seems about the right time to start thinking about fun things to do on those warmer days. And somewhere at the top of that list are two words that can perk up most Midwesterners: Cedar Point.

We're now several weeks away from opening day (May 14) of arguably the best roller-coaster spot in the world. And every few years that general excitement is heightened just a little bit with the introduction of a brand new ride. This, my friends, is one of those years.

Windseeker is Cedar Point's new ride for 2011 and is described on their website as being a "301-foot-tall tower that will spin riders nearly 30 stories above the Lake Erie shoreline". They go on to say that its "seated, two-person swings will allow riders' feet to dangle, and they will slowly begin rotating in a circular motion as the swings ascend the tower. At the top, the swings will be reaching speeds between 25-30 mph, flaring out almost 45 degrees from the tower."

Computer animated video of the ride can be seen here: Windseeker

For those who are unfamiliar with Cedar Point, it's located on a peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio, right on beautiful Lake Erie. The park is hugged up against about a mile of white, sandy beaches. On a clear day, it's even possible to see Canada from the top of their Magnum XL-200 ride (a claim backed up on their website). The Magnum was the first roller-coaster in the world to top 200 feet.

Since the opening of the Magnum in 1989, the park has added three other rides of that magnitude, making it the only amusement park in the world to have four roller coasters over 200 feet.

Personally, I tend to shy away from the bigger rides, but the entire park is still great fun, and I've ridden nearly all of their 17 roller coasters (more than any other park in the world). I'm just simply not very enthusiastic about hopping onto a ride that is, in the case of the Top Thrill Dragster, over 400 feet (tallest ride) and reaches nearly 120 miles per hour. But of course, who knows what I'll say when I get there. It might just look too fun to pass up.