Busch Gardens and Water Country are two of the most popular places to go in the summer.  Both amusement parks provide fun for the whole family.  They are both full of fun rides, amazing food, and live entertainment.  Busch Gardens has many roller coasters and fun rides, while Water Country is full of Water Country is full of water slides and pools.  Teens, young children, and adults all enjoy these amusement parks, but which one is better?

Busch Gardens is a fun filled park with something for everyone to enjoy.  Lafayette High School Junior Turner Johnson says that his favorite thing about Busch Gardens are the roller coasters.  Busch Gardens has many roller coasters including Apollos Chariot, Alpengheist, Lochness Monster, and Griffon which has a straight drop down.  Elementary school students Jasmine, Lily, and Elliot all said that Elmo’s World is their favorite thing about Busch Gardens, which has a roller coaster custom made for younger children.  Kids can also meet their favorite characters from Sesame Street there.  For those who do not like roller coasters, Busch Gardens also has a variety of song and dance shows, animal shows, and occasionally celebrities who are invited to perform for the park visitors.

Water Country is full of fun water slides and huge pools.  Like Busch, Water Country has rides for all ages.  Some of these water slides include Colossal Curl, Big Daddy Falls, and Vanish Point, which has a straight drop down like Griffon.  There are many pools for younger kids that have smaller water slides, some in the shapes of animals!  There is also a huge pool that is equipped for everyone called the wave pool.  Many teens, including Liberty University freshman Lyndsey Guiseppi, say that the wave pool is their favorite thing about Water Country.  Water Country also has a Lazy River and Hubba Hubba Highway for guests who do not like water slides.

But, which one is better? We constructed an Instagram poll asking which amusement park high schoolers preferred: Busch Gardens or Water Country.  Sixty-six high school students responded to the poll, and the results were very clear.  Fifty-one voted for Busch Gardens and only fifteen voted for Water Country.  After asking a few younger children, including family members and neighbors, which park they prefer, they all said they like Water Country more.  Lafayette High School Junior, Lucas Elder says that he does not like Water Country because “the water is dirty.”  This became a very common response as to why teens do not like Water Country as much.  TNCC student Alejandro Gonzalez also says, “Water Country is way too crowded with little kids and the lines are way too long.”  JBB 1^st grader Lilly Rickert says, “I don’t like Busch Gardens because my legs get tired and at Water Country I get to swim and have more fun.”  St. Brigid 3^rd grader Jasmine Lundbye likes Water Country more simply because she likes wearing her bathing suit.

Overall, younger children seem to like Water Country and older kids seem to like Busch Gardens more.  Both parks have fun rides for all ages and are enjoyable for the whole family.