Top Amusement Parks – Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Amusement park season is finally upon us again, so I thought we’d do our own little kickoff with an annual favorite: Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

With loads of yearly awards and commendations to weigh down their metaphorical mantle, including “Most Beautiful Park”, “Best Landscaping”, “Best Food”, awards for management and operations, and rankings on lists for best coasters, rides and live entertainment, I can assure you that we’re not the only ones expounding on the greatness of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. This place is a must for any theme park fan’s bucket list.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a combination amusement and animal park not all that different from Anheuser-Busch’s other line of successful parks, SeaWorld, only at the Gardens the focus is much more on thrills than our animal friends. The park, renowned for its memorable décor and quaint beauty, is separated into ten sections, or hamlets, based on six European countries: England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Germany and France*. This unique theme gave the park its original name, Busch Gardens: The Old Country.

While the hamlets themselves are entertainment enough (the care taken to transport you to these different countries is remarkable), Busch Gardens is first and foremost a thrill park, with three steel rollercoasters on Theme Park Magazine’s reader’s choice “Best of…” list. Must-rides include the Griffon, the world’s tallest and fastest dive machine coaster (pictured), the Alpengeist, the world’s tallest full-circuit inverted rollercoaster, and Apollo’s Chariot, a hypercoaster with a ridiculously long drop.

Like any good amusement park, there’s plenty to do even if you’re not the coaster type (full disclosure: I am not!). There’s a log flume, a rapid river, the intense and cerebral Curse of DarKastle (another award winner), song and dance shows inspired by the various countries, a train around the park, and of course, the animal attractions as well. From eagles to wolves to the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company’s world-famous Clydesdales, animal-lovers get a kick out of this park as well.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has just opened weekends for the summer season and will begin daily hours this Friday. At $59.95, the regular admission does strike us as a bit pricey, but they’re currently running a promotion where every regular ticket is effectively a summer season ticket. Any regular admission ticket grants unlimited access to the park through September 7, 2009. If you’re located to make more than one trip, go for it.

Learn more about Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

If you’re traveling in, stay at the Crowne Plaza Colonial Williamsburg Hotel. They’re currently offering a package with two regular adult admissions to Busch Gardens. That’s a $120 value!

* There’s also one for French Canada, but who’s counting?

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is also a great destination for you late Spring Breakers and you Easter vacationers. Head here for more Spring Break vacations and ideas.

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