Question: My husband and I were hoping to take our 3 kids (ages 7,9 and 12) on a driving vacation this August. We were hoping to combine Cedar Point, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cooperstown and Niagara Falls. Since we will be leaving from Chicago, can you suggest an order of attractions or are we planning to visit too many different spots in the course of 9 days? Also, which side of Niagara Falls would you recommend?

Answer: This sounds like an ideal vacation for your family and nine days may be a bit tight, but you should be able to enjoy all of the destinations and attractions you mention depending on how much time you choose to spend at each location.

Definitely make Cedar Point in Ohio your first stop. AAA's TripTik Travel Planner indicates that the distance from your home to Cedar Point is just a bit over 300 miles and will take approximately five hours of driving time. In August, Cedar Point’s hours of operation most days are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. With 75 rides – the most of any amusement park – you may need more than one 12-hour day to enjoy everything you and the kids would like to do, so plan accordingly. Visit on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, when attendance is lower.

From Cedar Point, the drive time to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is about an hour and 15 minutes. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer. The museum has seven floors of exhibits plus five theaters, so do plan to spend at least one full day here.

Next, drive on to Cooperstown, NY. From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the trip to Cooperstown is 421 miles and will take approximately six and a half hours of driving time. This will give the kids a chance to rest. You may want to check out this post about car games for some good ideas for passing the time on a road trip.

Cooperstown is a picturesque village along Otsego Lake with a wonderful little downtown stretch anchored by the Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field. You can easily spend two full days exploring the Hall of Fame (open daily throughout the summer from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) as well as the souvenir shops, team merchandise stores and other attractions outside of the museum. While you're there, be sure to stop by the Doubleday Cafe ... the curly fries are really good!

From Cooperstown it's a 4-hour, 250-mile drive to Niagara Falls. Click here to see the complete TripTik Travel Planner route from La Grange Park, IL, to Cedar Point to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Cooperstown, NY.

Either the American or Canadian side has a great view of the falls and attractions (though the Canadian side has much more development), so it would really be a personal preference of what you'd like most to do. View this TripTik Travel Planner map showing the location of Niagara Falls attractions. Simply scroll over the green icons to view detailed information for each one. You'll see that the iconic Maid of the Mist boat tour, which passes directly in front of the falls and enters the Horseshoe Basin, launches from both sides. Our Travel Guide for Niagara Falls has more information.

If you decide to go to the Canadian side, be sure to have proper identification with you for all members of the family before crossing the border. Acceptable forms of identification are a U.S. passport or the U.S. Passport Card, introduced in July 2008, which can be used at land border crossings from Canada. The card costs $45 for a first-time adult applicant and $35 for all minor applicants under age 16. The site travel.state.gov/passport provides more information.
 
With that travel documentation, you could consider going from Niagara Falls back to the Chicago area via London, Ontario, and Flint, Michigan, which is about 27 miles less than going back through Cleveland.  See the route.
 
For complete auto travel services, you may also visit your local AAA office before you go. If you're a member, you'll receive complimentary maps, TourBook guides and other materials for your trip. The travel professionals on staff can create a TripTik route for you, help you book AAA Approved accommodations and much more. If you're not a member, join before you leave. Your membership will pay for itself with the money-saving benefits you can get on hotel stays and travel information resources. We hope you and your family have a wonderful summer vacation!