7 Geauga kids rides moved to Cedar Point

7 Geauga kids rides
moved to Cedar Point

SANDUSKY — Seven kids rides from the Geauga Lake amusement park in Northeast Ohio are being given a new home on the other side of the state, at Cedar Point.

The park says the miniature train, mini-teacup-style ride and the others will be featured in a new children’s area being assembled for the coming season. Planet Snoopy will replace the Peanuts Playground.

Cedar Point’s parent company also owned Geauga Lake but shut it down in September, citing low attendance.

When Cedar Point opens for 2008 on May 10, other new attractions will include a restaurant with a kids theme and an extreme sports show.

2008 travel guide
to W.Va. available

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s 2008 state travel guide is now available to the public.

The guide includes feature stories, suggested itineraries, a calendar of events and background information on the state’s nine regions.

Information on accommodations, campgrounds, restaurants, parks, shops, galleries and museums is also available within the guide, along with phone numbers and Web sites so that travelers can find out even more about particular attractions that spark their interest.

Order a guide through www.wvtourism.com or (800) 225-5982.

Jobless rate likely
to cut cruise demand

NEW YORK — A financial analyst says that climbing U.S. unemployment may hurt demand for cruises.

Robert Simonson of William Blair & Co. said rising U.S. unemployment will likely curb Caribbean cruises because such trips are the sector’s most affordable offering. Low-income consumers tend to lean toward Caribbean cruises based on pricing; but those consumers have tightened spending of late due to recession fears and other economic worries.

The analyst also cautioned that unemployment, coupled with falling stock prices and housing concerns, will start to squeeze upper-income customers who book European cruises, which typically are more expensive than Caribbean cruises.

Chicago museum
to feature ‘green’ home

CHICAGO — A three-story, fully functioning “green” home is going to be built on the campus of Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.

Museum officials say the house will showcase the latest innovations in renewable resources and smart energy consumption.

The 2,500-square-foot home is expected to be open to the public for nine months beginning May 8. It will be the basis for an exhibit called “Smart Home: Green Plus Wired.”

It’s expected to arrive at the museum in late February for final interior work, furnishing and landscaping.

Associated Press