Travel Features for June 5, 2006: Fresh Takes on Popular Places

I’ve never been to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, but I’ve seen signs for it while driving on that laboriously long, boring, and expensive Ohio Turnpike. Curious to learn more about the self-proclaimed roller coaster capital of the world, I read Jennifer Lamb‘s article, The Best Kept Secrets of Cedar Point, the Roller Coaster Capital of the World. Though it wasn’t quite the insider’s guide to the thrilling rides I had expected, it turned out to be a practical niche piece.

Instead of focusing on the coasters themselves, Jennifer provides a different – and probably much-needed guide – to this family-friendly park: a list of alternate activities for times when weather (or stomachs) rule out the rides. She covers entertainment, “dry” activities, and even food. As she notes, her suggestions are also useful if you’re stuck chaperoning a group of pre-teens and you need a break from the heights and curves of coasters. What I like most about this article, besides its concise clarity, is that it takes a common destination and explores it from a less conventional angle. While web information on Cedar Point is plentiful, this take is tailored.

Rebecca Tibbits does something similar, though with a smidge less detail, in Park City, Utah: Not Just A Ski Town – her third submission to Associated Content. By showcasing the non-winter attractions of this mountain town (including summer activities like biking), Rebecca reminds us that skiing and snowboarding aren’t the be-all and end-all of the noted resort. As Rebecca writes more for AC, I’m sure she’ll cover Utah attractions with even more depth.

Polina Skibikskaya, in Broadway and Beyond: New York’s Best Theatres, continues the theme of fresh takes on popular places with her short snapshots of eight theaters in the Big Apple. Though frequent Manhattan theater patrons might be familiar with all of these thespian venues, the average “I Heart NY” tourist might never stumble upon some of these stages – and Polina knows it. In addition to lighting on a couple of Broadway-area theaters, she takes us to the East Village and even briefly to Brooklyn, somewhere tourists rarely venture.

Polina is challenging people to visit a few nook theaters outside the tourist-laden district and explore more experimental theater and performance art in addition to work of pop renown. It’s clear from her succinct yet knowing descriptions that she’s familiar with the innards of these venues and a variety of the pieces, famous or otherwise, that have been performed there. I look forward to reading more of Polina’s work on AC, as her skillful writing is a pleasure to read.

Of course, I’m looking forward to reading more of EVERYONE’s travel content on AC. As we head into summer – a time when many Americans take vacations far and wide – I’d like to remind you all to remember Associated Content when you’re flying, driving, sailing, and riding. Carry your cameras, collect your thoughts, and keep us posted. A travel journal or a guided photo tour would make for some excellent content.