Williamsburg, Virginia

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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:13 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.2312, -76.6462937°13’52” N 76°38’47” W
Enjoy the Cool!
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
The best thing about this place is the air conditioning! This is a must in the heat of summer.
The second best thing is the festive show with all the singing and dancing. It should be festive, after all, this is Das Festhaus!Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:17 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.2312, -76.646337°13’52” N 76°38’47” W
Such a Fun Show!
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Designed to take on the highest volume of patrons in the park, this indoor food court can easily seat over 1000 people. Complete with air conditioning and a performance stage set in the middle of the food court, everyone has a front row seat to the entertainment while they eat.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:20 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.2312, -76.646337°13’52” N 76°38’47” W
No Food For Us
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
We didn't have any food here and maybe that's a good thing because most of the reviews I've read for Das Festhaus don't speak very highly of their food.
Essentially, this is a quick service theme park restaurant that serves, from the look of the place, huge crowds of people. Was everyone really expecting a fine dining experience? To judge a quick service theme park restaurant by the same standards as a regular restaurant is really unfair, I think.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:23 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.2312, -76.646337°13’52” N 76°38’47” W
Everyone's Welcome
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Das Festhaus is such a big place and with the shows right in the center of the building you get good views from anywhere. You can just walk right in and and have a seat to get cool and enjoy the shows without needing to buy a meal either.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:27 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.231186, -76.64624837°13’52” N 76°38’46” W
Where are the Germans?
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Although this is a German show, none of the performers look or sound German to me. Like the rest of Busch Gardens, everything is presented in a very stereotypical fashion, showing what the average person would expect Germany to be like.
I'm glad the at Walt Disney World, Epcot's World Showcase actually has workers who are actually from the county that they represent. Things are kind of stereotypical over there too, to be honest, but seeing people who are really from each country makes World Showcase seem a bit more authentic.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:28 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.23117, -76.64616937°13’52” N 76°38’46” W
Plenty of Seats
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Das Festhaus is quite large. This is one if the biggest restaurants I've seen in any theme park. There is more than ample seating and it is in the style of traditional Oktoberfest seating. This means you will be at large tables with others. That being said, the place is so big you can usually sit alone. We didn't have anyone near us. In fact, we saw many of those long tables were completely empty.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:30 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 125 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.231176, -76.64616137°13’52” N 76°38’46” W
Too Silly? I say, Nein!
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
We ended up leaving before the show was over. We only got to see about 10 minutes of the show, actually, because Kathy thought it was very silly and wasn't enjoying it at all. I would have liked to see the whole thing but it's okay. Maybe I can see it again some other time. There's still a lot more for us to see and do here in Busch Gardens. I hope we'll get to see everything before the park is closed.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:43 PM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: 62 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.232884, -76.64484737°13’58” N 76°38’41” W
On to the Next Land
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
Once we left Das Festhaus, we were done in Germany. The next land we had to see was Italy. We had to walk over a bridge to get there, too. The view was great! I'm glad that the sun was starting to go down and it's getting a bit cooler. This summer heat is so uncomfortable!Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:52 PM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: 82 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.234568, -76.64366537°14’4” N 76°38’37” W
The Little Balloons
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
This is one of the first attractions we passed in Italy. The Little Balloons is a ride for small children the spins around. It's nice to see something fun for little kids rather than more rollercoasters but this doesn't make me think of Italy at all. Maybe we'll see more Italian themed rides as we get further into Italy land.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:57 PM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.234505, -76.64238437°14’4” N 76°38’33” W
Turkish Delight
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
This attraction is called Turkish Delight so I guess the Italian theme still hasn't started yet for this land. Turkey is a completely different country so I don't know how this ride fits in here. Turkish Delight is basically Disney's Mad Tea Party ride transplanted to Busch Gardens. I don't mind if theme parks have similar rides but this is almost an exact duplicate of the classic Disney attraction. The only thing different is the patterns painted on the cups. I definitely prefer the Disney version of this ride.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 6:59 PM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: 98 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.23478, -76.64204937°14’5” N 76°38’31” W
Tempesto
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
In the rich tradition of the classic Italian daredevils, no single man wowed the crowds like Tempesto. Busch Gardens’ daring new roller coaster, Tempesto, lets riders take center stage and recreate his signature stunt. Guests daring enough to take on Tempesto will race into unbelievably tight turns at 63 miles per hour and defy gravity as they roll through a complete inversion 154 feet in the air. Busch Gardens newest thrill coaster features three launch experiences and Tempesto’s signature loop-the-loop. The same hills and thrills that made the people cheer “Tempesto!” are waiting for guests at Busch Gardens.
That's just what this park needs, another rollercoaster.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:03 PM
⛅ 82 °F
Altitude: 108 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.234916, -76.64209937°14’6” N 76°38’32” W
Loopy Excitement
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
With lots of loops and spinning around, this rollercoaster is definitely too much for me. Even back in the days when I was a big rollercoaster fan, this one might have given me second thoughts. Tempesto is another ride that Kathy and I are going to pass on.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:13 PM
⛅ 81 °F
Altitude: 135 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.235214, -76.64476637°14’7” N 76°38’41” W
Escape from Pompeii
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
A journey through the ancient ruins of Pompeii turns out to be more adventure than visitors had bargained for.
Even the mighty Roman Empire had been no match for Mount Vesuvius, which draped Pompeii with a blanket of lava and ash, erasing it from the map for nearly 1,700 years. But don't worry, this angry volcano has long been at rest.
Or has it?
Hold on tight as a leisurely boat ride through the ruins of this great city suddenly turns explosive. One rumble from the mighty mountain and the race to escape from Pompeii is on.
This is a ride that I think I would have enjoyed but Kathy didn't want to get soaked and then have to walk around the park all wet. As it is, we were nearly done in Busch Gardens but she still didn't want to risk getting wet.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:17 PM
⛅ 81 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.235222, -76.6428337°14’7” N 76°38’34” W
Apollo's Chariot
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
Italy has another rollercoaster besides Tempesto. Apollo's Chariot was the first hyper coaster designed by Swiss firm Bolliger & Mabillard. It was officially opened to the public on March 30, 1999 and is still highly rated every year by industry rankings. This is one of the first things you see as you approach Busch Gardens and it's clearly visible from the parking lot.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:17 PM
⛅ 81 °F
Altitude: 128 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.235741, -76.64468537°14’9” N 76°38’41” W
The Crossing
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
This railroad crossing marked the border between the Italy land and the kids section of the park. This is the first time all day that I've seen the train. This would have been a nice ride to get from one side of the park to the other. I haven't seen any other stations though. Maybe this train just makes one big loop around the park without stopping. That would make it more of a ride than actual transportation though.
While this little train has a certain amount of charm, I definitely prefer the railroad in the Disney parks.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:30 PM
⛅ 81 °F
Altitude: 98 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.236299, -76.64485237°14’11” N 76°38’41” W
King Elmo
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
After we crossed over the railroad tracks, we passed through the Sesame Street Forest of Fun. This part of the park is designed for children and their families. The Forest of Fun features family-friendly rides and playgrounds. Kids can meet their favorite Sesame Street character and get their picture taken with them as well. This area seems quite new and I don't remember seeing it before. It makes sense for something like this being in Busch Gardens since they own the Sesame Place parks too. We used to take the kids to Sesame Place when they were younger and they had so much fun there. Now, they have no interest in a place like that. They probably won't go there again until one day when they have kids of their own.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:35 PM
⛅ 81 °F
Altitude: 108 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.236253, -76.64566637°14’11” N 76°38’44” W
Ready to Leave
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
Right next the Forest of Fun was England, and the parks exit. We've come a full circle back to where we started out this morning. I didn't think we'd be able to do it but we managed to see the entire park. I would have liked to stay and try doing some night photography but I didn't have my tripod with me and, besides, I wouldn't make Kathy wait for me to do all that. It can very time consuming setting up shots with the tripod. I know that she was hungry and tired. I'm kind of hungry myself. Let's go have dinner!Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:43 PM
⛅ 79 °F
Altitude: 118 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.236204, -76.64604837°14’10” N 76°38’46” W
The Exit Exodus
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Even though we have didn't go on any rides, other than the sky way which is really a mode of transportation rather than a ride, we had a wonderful time at Busch Gardens. Would we come back again? I'd say yes, but probably not for a while. The shows are very good and I didn't really miss going on rides. It was a great day for both of us.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 7:47 PM
⛅ 79 °F
Altitude: 102 ft
United States Busch Gardens 37.236847, -76.64456537°14’13” N 76°38’40” W
Bye, Busch Gardens!
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Hey! We're on a ride! It's just the tram to take us back to the car but, still, it's sort of a ride. Oh, it feels so good to sit down! I can already feel my feet and ankles stiffening up. I don't know how far we've walked today but I'm sure it's a lot. A few miles at least. Later tonight, I'm sure my feet will be feeling it. Still, it was a wonderful day for us. I'm so happy that we decided to visit Busch Gardens. Williamsburg is a great vacation destination!Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 8:23 PM
🌙 75 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
United States Middletowne Farms 37.272572, -76.679437°16’21” N 76°40’46” W
Hardee's or Carl's Jr?
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 75 °F
After leaving we stopped at Hardee's for dinner. Although they call themselves Hardee's, this is Carl's Jr to me. I don't know why this is one company and they use two different names. One the west coast they are known as Carl's Jr and in the south they are called Hardee's.
Carl's Jr is one of my favorite fast food places but, unfortunately, they don't have any locations in New York. In fact, there's no Carl's Jr anywhere in the Northeast. So, this is another "vacation restaurant" and eating here is a real treat for me.
Sadly, dinner here was not as good as I had hoped it would be. Our burgers we're very dry, as if they were made a while ago and were left sitting under heat lamps for a long time, drying them out completely. Our fries were great, but the burgers left a lot to be desired. Such a disappointment! Hopefully my next visit to Carl's Jr will be a lot better. They really let me down tonight.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 at 9:36 PM
🌙 72 °F
Altitude: 75 ft
United States Greensprings 37.290086, -76.72289537°17’24” N 76°43’22” W
We're In For the Night
August 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 72 °F
We're back at our hotel and we're staying in for the rest of the night. We're very tired from walking around in Busch Gardens all day and, like I expected, my feet and ankles are now aching. I'm hoping that they will be feeling better by tomorrow.
I'd like to go out and do some night time photography but Williamsburg isn't a big city like New York or San Francisco. There isn't really much to see and do here during the evening other than restaurants. Not only that, everything here seems to close early. I guess that's just what people are used to here. It's kind of nice to be in these smaller and quiet areas sometimes but I couldn't live in a place like this. I love New York, and our big city lifestyle, too much!Read more
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Trip end
August 24, 2016