Staying at Ohio's Best Bed and Breakfasts Near Cedar Point

Cedar Point has been named the best amusement park in America for several years in a row now and it is no surprise that the more popular Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio becomes, the more new hotels are built. Staying at a bed and breakfast near Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio is a far better, more unique, and sometimes cheaper alternative than lodging overnight at a hotel and luckily, there are several great bed and breakfast spots in and around Sandusky, Ohio and several of them are within minutes of Cedar Point Amusement Park. Ever since our experiences at some of the large, overcrowded, and impersonal hotels near Cedar Point in Sandusky, my husband and I decided it was time to look for other overnight accommodations. We were surprised to find that almost all of the bed and breakfast locations we chose ended up being cheaper or about the same price as the local hotels near Cedar Point. Of course, instead of a “Continental Breakfast” at a Cedar Point hotel (usually a hard muffin wrapped in plastic and miniature cup of bad coffee with powdered creamer) we found family-style breakfasts with the operators of these Cedar Point and Sandusky bed and breakfast owners after our comfortable sleep. After our experiences over the past two years with a few bed and breakfasts in Sandusky, Ohio near Cedar Point, we have vowed to never go back to the hotels again. It is worth mentioning that all these bed and breakfasts are open year-round. Even though Cedar Point is only open May through October, Sandusky, Ohio is one of the most fun places to go looking for antiques as well as shop in general. Sandusky turns into a sleepy town after Cedar Point closes for the season, which makes for few crowds in the area and gorgeous scenery, dining, and entertainment. Wagner’s 1844 Inn The first place we ever stayed in Sandusky near Cedar Point still remains our favorite. “Wagner’s 1844 Inn” (at 230 East Washington Street in Sandusky, Ohio) is the best bed and breakfast near Cedar Point. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this bed and breakfast is located in a historic area near downtown Sandusky and all the other houses near it are equally as fascinating in their architecture and décor. It is great to be able to stay in an historic home and the artwork, furnishings, and overall ambience of Wagner’s 1844 Inn makes it the perfect bed and breakfast for amusement park and history lovers as well. Although we have never stayed during the off-season of Cedar Point, it is close to all the antique shops and excellent dining in downtown Sandusky and would be a perfect, quiet, romantic getaway for couples. Wagner’s 1844 Inn has three beautifully decorated guest rooms as well as a stylish billiard room. The owner, a very sweet, kind (but no-nonsense) woman is knowledgeable about the history of the area and will tell you all about the original owner of the home (who was one of the first to prosper in Sandusky). Wagner’s 1844 Inn is a great bed and breakfast for antique lovers and Barb, the owner, takes great care in choosing the right pieces for their fine bed and breakfast. One of the best things about Wagner’s 1844 Inn is that is very quiet. There is a lovely sheltered porch as well as a lovely parlor with a fireplace and antique furnishings that makes guests forget they’re only minutes away from the bustle of Cedar Point and the surrounding water parks. After staying at Cedar Point hotels in Sandusky with large numbers of loud and excited children, this peaceful retreat was the perfect place for us, a young married couple. We look forward to eventually going back in the winter and cuddling in front of a warm fire, chatting with Barb, and playing with her very friendly German Shepard (whom she’ll lock up if you don’t like dogs). We felt very much at home at Wagner’s 1844 Inn, which is just one reason I suggest it is the best bed and breakfast near Cedar Point, or in Sandusky, Ohio for that matter. The Big Oak Bed and Breakfast Located in Sandusky, Ohio about fifteen minutes away from Cedar Point is another excellent bed and breakfast. The Big Oak Bed and Breakfast (2501 South Campbell) comes in a very close second place to Wagner’s 1844 Inn. This was the second bed and breakfast we stayed at in Sandusky near Cedar Point and we were very happy with this one as well. The Big Oak Bed and Breakfast is in another historic house in Sandusky, this one was built in the 1870s. The Big Oak Bed and Breakfast is a great example of Victorian architecture and the outside of the home is painted colorfully and beautifully. It is very warm and inviting both inside and out and we were thrilled with the kindness and hospitality of the owners. The rooms at the Big Oak Bed and Breakfast are simply and tastefully, if not somewhat eclectically decorated. Each of the 14 rooms has a theme—we stayed in the Norman Rockwell room, which of course, was filled with Norman Rockwell artwork. We got to see in a few of the other rooms and determined that the place was a bit of a hodge-podge of styles and although I generally prefer historic bed and breakfasts that keep true to the history of the homes (by housing antique collection relevant to the period of the home) the Big Oak Bed and Breakfast was still nice. My husband’s opinion was that it was “very Midwestern” which is about the best description I could give. The decoration, while rather uncreative in the sense that it is themed, still put us at ease and the rest of the sprawling homestead was fun to be at. During the winter, I would much rather stay at Wagner’s 1844 Inn, simply because of the cozy fireplace and quiet. For summer visitors to Cedar Point or Sandusky, The Big Oak Bed and Breakfast is best because everything is in full bloom in their many gardens. Also, the “Big Oak” which is prominent on the property (and I assume, where the name came from) is a marvel. There are woods nearby as well as a really cool Japanese garden—again, making this a great summertime bed and breakfast before a day at Cedar Point or shopping in Sandusky. The Simpson Flint House Bed and Breakfast Built in 1890 and also located on Washington Street (at 230—very close to Wagner’s 1844 Inn) the Simpson Flint House Bed and Breakfast is another example of Victorian architecture and careful attention to interior historical detail and selection of period pieces and furniture. Only about 10 minutes drive from Cedar Point, this is a great historical location and has an interesting and strange history revolving around the family that once owned the house that is now Wagner’s 1844 Inn. The rooms at The Simpson Flint House Bed and Breakfast are immaculate and it has more of the feeling of a museum than a bed and breakfast. We felt a little afraid to touch or move anything—everything seemed so carefully placed and arranged. Still, it was beautiful and the breakfast here was outstanding. There are only three rooms and all of them are unique and perfectly decorated. We had the privilege of staying in the rose room, which was very pretty (albeit a bit grandmother-ly) and even smelled like roses. This, like Wagner’s 1844 Inn, is an excellent romantic place and is also very quiet and peaceful. It was almost too quiet, in fact, and although the owner, a very sweet lady, was kind, we got the feeling she was a bit nervous about two college students with tattoos and “strange” clothes staying in her pretty dream-world. For older couples, this is a very nice place to stay and like I said, has a great breakfast, kind owner, and historically accurate and aesthetically pleasing home. Staying at Bed and Breakfasts Near Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio Cedar Point is a kid’s paradise and often, parents tend to stay at the Breakers or Breakers Express that are right down the street from the huge amusement park. When it comes to bed and breakfasts near Cedar Point, the only one out of these three that I would suggest is the Big Oak Bed and Breakfast. There is a lot of room to play and have fun outdoors and indoors and there’s not a lot of concern about breakables. The rooms are not large, however, and those with children might feel a little crammed in, but having the room to roam outdoors may be worth it. Wagner’s 1844 Inn might be okay for kids, but I really don’t suggest it. The owner’s dog is good with kids, and although there is some room to play, such as in the billiard room, the rest of Wagner’s Inn is very peaceful and serene and more geared towards adults. On the same note, the Simpson Flint House Bed and Breakfast is not a good place for children at all. Even we, a couple in our twenties felt like little kids that were afraid to touch anything, so having actual children there might be a bit more stress than you’d otherwise deal with at a motel or hotel in Sandusky. During Cedar Point’s season, you’ll want to book way ahead of time, sometimes even up to six months in advance. These are popular places, especially for couples and antique lovers so be sure to plan your summers accordingly. Now that you’re armed with this information, you won’t need to deal with the overcrowded, hectic, and impersonal Cedar Point hotels. Instead, you can relax and enjoy a quiet evening in a unique setting with nice, hospitable folks.