This blog post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Winter has never been my favorite season, but even less so now as a parent. Don’t get me wrong – playing in the snow is fun – at first. But as the winter drags on and it’s too cold to play outside, we all just get a little stir crazy. Our family is always trying to come up with things to do over the winter to keep the kids engaged and to avoid hiding out at home every single day. When those record-breaking freezing temps came through the other week, we decided that it was the perfect opportunity to take a mini vacay – all the way to Castaway Bay in Sandusky, Ohio. It’s just a 2-hour drive from Columbus and also a convenient drive from Indiana, Michigan and other Ohio cities. Totally worth the trip. So what should you expect from your visit to Castaway Bay? I’m so glad you asked! Here are 10 things I think you’ll love about Castaway Bay:
Make sure you visit my Instagram for a chance to win a pack of 4 day passes to Castaway Bay!
This trip was provided for free in exchange for this post, however all opinions are completely my own.
1. The cozy rooms
Our family stayed in one of the Starfish rooms. It has two queen size beds and a pull out chair to sleep a total of five people.
Caleb still sleeps in a crib at home (though our days are numbered because he recently figured out how to climb out of it), so we travel with our pack ‘n play. There was plenty of floor space to fit the pack ‘n play without Caleb being in reach of the curtains, heater or any of the furniture. Liam loved having a bed all to himself, but Castaway Bay has room options for groups of 3-8. Our room also had a small seating area, a mini fridge and a microwave.
2. Club Castaway
Club Castaway is where Castaway Bay hosts a ton of daily activities. The schedule changes daily, which is why you’ll need to pick up a copy of the daily newsletter from the front desk. Liam had the opportunity to color his own souvenirs here and loved coloring his pillowcase and book bag. This was the only activity we did in Club Castaway and Caleb wasn’t quite old enough to participate, though I imagine next time he’ll be the right age. We ended up skipping the movie night and Peanuts dance party because Liam wanted more water time instead.
3. Peanuts Characters
Who doesn’t love the Peanuts gang? Not only will you have the chance to meet Snoopy and other Peanuts characters in the lobby (select times), but you’ll also have the chance to interact with them during some of the other activities at Castaway Bay. You’ll even be able to spot them throughout the building – like this height check station.
4. On-site eating
One thing that I love (and I think you will too) about Castaway Bay is the fact that you never have to leave during your stay. Castaway Bay has several dining options to choose from. We decided on dinner at Quaker Steak & Lube and the breakfast buffet at Mango Mike’s.
Other options for food include Ebb & Eddy’s (coffee, bakery + deli and other quick service items) and Big Daddy’s Snack Shack (located inside the waterpark and serves things like pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and beverages). If you want something a little fancier and don’t mind hopping in the car, Cedar Point/Castaway Bay also has a waterfront restaurant nearby called Bay Harbor.
5. Waterfront views
Maybe it’s because I don’t know much about Ohio geography, but I didn’t realize that Castaway Bay is located right on an actual bay. Even though it was wintertime during our visit, it was neat to look out the window of our hotel room and see the ducks and geese enjoying the partially-frozen water.
6. Baby and toddler-friendly activities in the waterpark
When it comes to places like waterparks and amusement parks, we’re always wondering how much it’s worth taking the kids when they’re young. Like if there’s only one or two things for them to do, it might be better to wait until they’re older. We loved that Caleb could join in almost every activity in the waterpark at Castaway Bay.
The Toddler’s Tide Pool was definitely a favorite with both kids.
Little ones can also play in the wave pool,
the floor of Lookout Lagoon,
Creature Cove,
and Grotto Spa (but they have to at least be old enough to walk on their own).
Life jackets were not required in the Toddler’s Tide Pool, but they were for all other areas where babies and little kids are allowed. We found life jackets for the boys easily in two different areas of the waterpark and never had an issue finding the correct size.
Want to bring your own life jacket? We love this one.
7. Waterpark activities for the big kids
Although I do love that Castaway Bay has plenty of activities for my kids at the young ages they are now, I also really like that there is plenty of things for older kids to do too. Liam was able to do some of these things, but not everything. We look forward to finishing out this list once he’s a little bit taller. Just like with the younger crowd, the wave pool, Creature Cove and Grotto Spa are really hits with kids of all ages. Liam’s favorite activity was probably the Lookout Lagoon. It has a large bucket that tips over when full of water, rope bridges and nets to crawl on, and four water slides.
Other big kid activities include Rendezvous Run (a water coaster), Cargo Crossing (an obstacle course of sorts), and the Tropical Tube Slides.
8. Two days of water play
When you stay at Castaway Bay Resort, you actually get TWO days at the waterpark. You can arrive any time after the waterpark opens. If your room isn’t ready yet, you can utilize the resorts luggage room to store your things while you enjoy the waterpark. Regular check-in time is 4 p.m., but we arrived earlier and were delighted to hear that our room was already ready. After checking out the next morning, our wristbands still gave us access to the waterpark all day long. I recommend renting a day use locker to store clothes and valuables because it’s so convenient.
9. Hours of fun at the arcade
My kids are water babies. There’s not much that can tear them away from the waterpark, other than sleep and food. Unless it’s an arcade with blinking lights and fun games. Liam talked us into splurging for a handful of games and Caleb had a blast checking everything out even though he didn’t play a single thing.
10. You can visit just for the day
If you’re not staying at Castaway Bay Resort, you can still join in on the waterpark fun. Castaway Bay sells day passes Monday-Thursdays for $29. You do have to call to get more information and book your passes, but it’s definitely worth it if you want a fun indoor activity to do the next time you’re in the area.
So there you have it – 10 reasons why I’m pretty sure you’ll love Castaway Bay as much as we did! Don’t forget to head over to my Instagram to enter to win four waterpark day passes for your family. May the odds be ever in your favor!
Leave a Reply