Gas to Ski Free

2015 BOGO Ski Free Lift Tickets via Shell Gas Stations

Gas to Ski Free

FREE LIFT TICKETS – For the past several years, the Ski Free Deals, program associated with Shell Gas Stations across the country has offered guests a buy one, get one lift ticket to various ski resorts with the purchase of gasoline. The program returns for 2015 as highlighted below.

Ski Free Shell Details

The promotion starts January 2, 2015 and runs through April 19, 2015.

You simply purchase 10 gallons of gasoline at a participating Shell gas station. Then bring the receipt inside to the cashier, and they will give you a voucher.

The Ski Free Deals website has an excellent list of Shell gas stations that will participate this year. States include California, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Disappointingly, Ohio was dropped from the list this year.

The 2015 participating list of resorts is limited to properties in California, Nevada, Colorado, and Michigan, as listed below. New Mexico was dropped from the list this year.

California and Nevada Buy One, Get One Ski Free Same Day Resorts

HOMEWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORT, CA
Valid: Sunday – Friday
Blackouts: January 2-3, January 17-19, February 14-21

MT. ROSE SKI TAHOE, CA
Valid: Monday – Friday
Blackouts: January 17-19, February 14-16

MT. SHASTA ski park, CA
Valid: Tuesday & Wednesday, 9am – 4pm; Thursday, 3pm – 9pm
Blackouts: None

California and Nevada Buy One, Get One Ski Free Another Day Resorts

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE®
Valid: Sunday – Friday
Blackouts: January 2-4, January 17-19, February 14-21. Offer expires at close of 2014-15 season.

Colorado and New Mexico Buy One, Get One Ski Free Resorts

COPPER MOUNTAIN
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

CRESTED BUTTE
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: February 14–15, March 9-12, March 16-19

LOVELAND SKI AREA
Valid: Sunday – Thursday
Blackouts: January 17-19, February 14–16, March 22-29

MONARCH MOUNTAIN
Valid: 7 Days a Week. Regular ticket price $69.
Blackouts: January 17-18, February 14-15

POWDERHORN MOUNTAIN RESORT
Valid: Monday – Friday
Blackouts: January 19, February 16

Michigan Buy One, Get One Ski Free Resorts

Swiss Valley Ski Area
Valid: JAN – FEB: Sunday – Friday; MAR: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Timber Ridge Ski Area
Valid: Sunday – Friday
Blackouts: None

Apple Mountain
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Cannonsburg Ski Area
Valid: Tuesday & Thursday
Blackouts: None

Snow Snake Mountain
Valid: JAN – FEB: Monday; MAR: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Boyne Highlands
Valid: Sunday – Thursday
Blackouts: January 18, February 15

Boyne Mountain
Valid: Sunday – Thursday
Blackouts: January 18, February 15

Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort
Valid: JAN – FEB: Sunday – Friday; MAR: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: January 18, February 16

Cross Country Ski Headquarters
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Crystal Mountain
Valid: JAN – FEB: Monday – Thursday; MAR 1-15: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: January 19, February 16, March 16 to close

Hanson Hills
Valid: During open hours—call 989-348-9266 for hours of operation
Blackouts: None

The Homestead Resort
Valid: Friday – Sunday
Blackouts: January 17-18, February 14-16

Mt. Holiday Ski Area
Valid: JAN-FEB: Sunday – Friday; MAR: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Nub’s Nob Ski Area
Valid: Tuesday
Blackouts: None

Shanty Creek Resorts – Summit Mountain
Valid: JAN – MAR: Sunday only
Blackouts: None

Treetops Resort
Valid: Sunday – Friday; Saturday after 4pm
Blackouts: January 16-19, February 13-16

Marquette Mountain Ski Area
Valid: Monday – Friday, 11am – 8pm
Blackouts: None

MONT RIPLEY
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Mt. Zion Ski Hill
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Norway Mountain
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: January 2-3

Pine Mountain Resort
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

Porcupine Mountains
Valid: 7 Days a Week
Blackouts: None

For reference, here is the 2014 ski free Shell, 2013 Ski Free and 2012 Ski Free info.

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Source: InACents

Cedar Point

Eight Attractions We Hope Never Close at Cedar Point

Many people hear of Cedar Point, and think of an amusement park built with the biggest, fastest, and best roller coasters on the planet, and they would be right. However, the park has always been a family park, appealing to a broad spectrum of patrons. That is why our family has become such huge fans of the Cedar Point, which has now expanded into visiting the other associated Cedar Fair parks across North America.

Our kids can not get enough of Cedar Point; the atmosphere, the rides, and the time together.

While my wife and I may not be the biggest thrill ride fans as we get older, we do appreciate seeing the excitement in our kids eyes and the smiles on their faces as they finally get to the height to ride with us.

Here are eight attractions that we hope will be around for years to come at Cedar Point.

8) Kiddie Kingdom

Parents bringing their kids to Cedar Point have three great areas for families to enjoy: Camp Snoopy, Planet Snoopy, and Kiddie Kingdom. Our favorite aspect of Kiddie Kingdom is not only classic rides that you often do not see anymore, but also attractions that kids can ride without the parents. Favorite rides of our kids are bumper cars (Krazy Kars), motorcycles, and Kite Eating Tree/Woodstock’s Airmail.

7) Top Thrill Dragster

140524 Cedar Point Top Thrill Dragster

Added to Cedar Point in 2003, the roller coaster was the first to top 400 feet in height, launching guests to 120 MPH in 3.8 seconds. This ride is an amazing feat of engineering and an awesome thrill ride. While the Top Thrill Dragster is often plagued with downtime, when it is up and running, this is one roller coaster that is not to be missed.

6) Frontier Town

140719 Cedar Point Frontier Town

Cedar Point is an amusement park and not a theme park. Besides the licensing of Snoopy and the Peanuts gang around the park, there is very little themes associated with areas of the park. So one of our favorite areas of the park is the wooded and serene environment of Frontier Town. With historic buildings, shade, live entertainment and a period environment, Frontier Town is an excellent chance to take in the park at a slower pace and feel like you are not surrounded by record breaking attractions.

5) Boneville

140524 Cedar Point Boneville

Hop on board the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad for a lap around the park, and you may anticipate a relaxing time to take a rest, which it is. However, as you loop around the back of the park, you transcend into the world of Boneville. The iconic animatronics depict western themes and hijinks. While Boneville has always been a personal favorite at Cedar Point, the non-scary scenes of skeletons quickly grew to be one of our boys favorite areas of the park.

4) Halloweekends

140914 Cedar Point Halloweekends Stagecoach Decor

Being parents of young children (currently 5, 3, and 1 years old), we had not ventured into the world of spooky Halloween at Cedar Point. However, in 2014, we were invited to the park for the opening of Halloweekends and attended without the kids. The rest of the weekend we were at Cedar Point for a conference, with our kids.

During the day, Cedar Point is a family friendly atmosphere for families. However, as night approaches the scaresters ascend onto the park. We decided to try out the night time festivities with the kids, and if they got to scared, would avoid those areas of the park. To our amazement, our boys LOVED the scary portions of the park and joking around with the monsters, who were equally as sensitive to take it easy on little kids.

After being in the park several times throughout the year, Halloweekends was a great, refreshing change, and a time of the year we will not miss in the future.

3) Sky Ride

140914 Cedar Point Sky Ride

Simple and perfect is the Cedar Point Sky Ride. Hop into a four person gondola and glide 92 feet in the air overlooking the main midway.

2) Windseeker

140524 Cedar Point Windseeker

Without a doubt, both my wife and I agree that one of our favorite rides at Cedar Point is Windseeker. The 301 foot structure takes the classic swing ride and elevates it to a new level. While spinning at the top of the ride, the views are spectacular of the entire Cedar Point peninsula, but also Lake Erie and the surrounding area.

1) Maverick

While this roller coaster has been at Cedar Point since 2007, both my wife and I had never rode this attraction until 2014, and whoa what a surprise we experienced. While the Maverick will not break any records, it does feature a shotgun start, 95° drop, and an intense launch halfway thru the ride that comes out of no where. This hidden gem we always bypassed was a great addition to the park, and no wonder it always features one of the longest wait times.

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Source: InACents

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Review: Park Vista DoubleTree (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)

PARK VISTA GATLINBURG – On a recent road trip, our family elected to spend some of our Hilton HHonors points to spend a night in the Smokey Mountain region of Tennessee at the Park View DoubleTree. This hotel was rather a surprise I had planned for our family since we had just spent a long day in the car traveling towards home. While they knew we were spending the night in the Gatlinburg area, they had no idea of the great “waterpark” that was features in the hotel.

The hotel is a giant structure off the main drag of downtown Gatlinburg and up in the mountains. It took us a while to locate the hotel since it was located back in more of a residential area and up a very steep and hidden incline.

Once there, we were greeted with a very large, 300 room hotel with views looking down onto the city.

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Smokey Mountains

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Park Vista Exterior

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Circular Rotunda

Our room was a standard double queen bedroom, featuring updated furnishings, and a nice separate sink area from the bathroom.

We were also given chocolate chip cookies upon our arrival, which is always a nice touch.

The room did feature an outdoor balcony, though we were there late at night and left early the next morning, so there was no chance of us actually getting to use it. Further, we were on a lower floor overlooking the roof, so there was nothing to see anyways.

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Double Queen Beds

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Entertainment Area

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Bathroom

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Bathroom Sink Room

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Toiletries

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Cookies

After quickly getting settled in, as is normal for our family, we were headed down to the pool. Our boys had no idea what to expect, and they were thoroughly impressed with my surprise upon entry to the pool house. Inside was a lower zero entry kid pool with fountains, a small, shallow pool, and a kids slide through a tree. On the upper level was a large tree featuring a big water slide into a separate big pool.

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Treehouse Slide

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Pool House

This was one of the best standard rate hotel pools our family had experienced, and was a great value at 30,000 points for a category 5 hotel.

One of the other unique features of the hotel, which we did not get to experience, was in the hotel lobby was an ice cream cart. Taking an ice cream was on the honor system with donations all going to charity. It was an excellent touch.

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Ice Cream for Donations

140621 Park Vista Doubletree Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Our status with HHonors also got us a free appetizer at the bar. However, by the time we got checked in and went to the pool, they no longer were accepting the voucher. Instead we went to get fresh popcorn from the bar, which we were shocked they charged to get. So they took our voucher instead for a free serving of popcorn.

Our family really wished we had more time to spend in the Gatlinburg area, as we did not get to spend anytime out in the city, as it was simply just a quick stopover before heading home the next morning. The good thing is we are happy to know the Park Plaza is an excellent choice for future visits.

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Source: InACents