When warm weather and school vacation time begins, Busch Garden pulls in tourists from all over the world.  However, this does not exclude many loyal locals who stick around and visit this amusement park less than an hour from home.  As a local resident, the park becomes a second home: you know where everything is, every ride by name, all the different types of food and treats, the countries scattered around the park, and all of the shows.

Among the crowd of Williamsburgers who frequent Busch Gardens, Maggie Demasi, a junior at Lafayette, and Jeremy Duggan, a junior at Jamestown, both said that Busch is both affordable and family-oriented.  Douglas Soule, a resident of Williamsburg for 19 years, thinks outside of the box, noting that “it’s right next to the historical triangle and contains many themed seasons throughout the year.”  Colonial Williamsburg is in fact about a five-minute drive from the theme park, and some visitor centers offer a bundle deal for families to attend the amusement parks and Colonial Williamsburg during their stay, which encourages an increase of tourists.  Olivia McNelly, a junior at Lafayette, and Shania Soule, an eighth-grader at Berkeley, both added that what really makes Busch Gardens stand out from the rest is that their rides can accommodate all age levels.  All in all, Busch is a family-oriented amusement park that is visited by thousands each year due to its location and affordability.

During the summer, Busch Gardens hosts one main event called ‘IllumiNights’, which offers numerous free concerts held at the amphitheater throughout the summer.  Singers like Victoria Justice and NE-YO have performed at the Globe Theatre for those willing to wait in line for their concerts starting at dusk.  Douglas adds in that he “loves to watch an amazing concert with the fireworks going off in the back as a gorgeous background,” which is echoed by Olivia McNelly and Shania Soule who said they loved staying late for the signature firework show that can be heard from anywhere in the city.  Visiting Busch Gardens during summer is no mistake when all of this fun is taking place at least once every week.

When strolling around the park, anyone can see that the different themes seen through the architecture and food in the park are representing different countries found in Europe and without a doubt and every pass holder definitely have their favorite country in the park.  Oktoberfest, Germany is home to many attractions such as the Der Autobahn, Der Wirbelwind, Verbolten, and Mach Tower with the Festhaus—which is the biggest and most popular place to grab a bite to eat in the park.  “I’m a big fan of the Festhaus with their many live shows performed while I enjoy German-style food,” exclaims Douglas.  Shania, on the other hand, proudly admitted that her favorite country is Festa Italia (Italy) because it is home to two rollercoasters, the Apollo’s Chariot (being her favorite)  and Tempesto.   No matter what country someone may feel is the best, every country represented in Busch Gardens gives a real feel and taste (literally) of their culture and some thrilling rides that suitably fits in with the setting.

Busch’s seven exhilarating roller coasters are favorites for most park-goers, especially the tallest one of them all—Griffon.  “It just really gets your blood pumping—I guess you could say it is my “go-to” ride in the park,” says Jeremy of his passion for the 205-foot coaster.  Another favored coaster is Verbolten, found in Oktoberfest right next to Mach Tower, which is mostly a dark inside coaster filled with speed boosts, sharp turns, and major drops that every tourist should take a spin on.  Last but not least

ranks Apollo’s Chariot—a roller coaster that is enjoyed by any age range and is definitely a top ride at Busch for its smooth ride and big, but easy, drops.  Even if roller coasters don’t seem appealing, there are many rides like Le Scoot and the Battering Ram that are perfect for all families and for the summer season.

After walking around and waiting in lines for these thrilling rides, people get pretty hungry.  The Festhaus’s pizza, fries, and mozzarella sticks are the “best bang for your buck.” Douglas prefers the combo platter at the Smokehouse located in New France, saying that the smell of the cooking barbeque reels him in every time.  However, in the front of the park in England, Jeremy says that the Cheeseburger is just delectable.  If it’s time for a treat, some signature sweets to enjoy are the churros, gelato, funnel cakes, and Dippin’ Dots.  In short, no matter what your preference or appetite, there is no doubt that you can find something indescribably delicious and satisfying.

Hot Tip:  For a successful day at Busch, get there early, drop by and see a couple shows, get a feel for each individual country, and most of all, enjoy yourself and other’s company.