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Busch Garden Williamsburg give-a-ways: Season pass included!
One wonderful detail about summer travel is that it can spill over into autumn and beyond--particularly if it comes in amusement park entertainment.
In the spirit of the summer is not over yet, and when it is, don't stop the fun, Gadling has paired up with Busch Gardens Williamsburg for some give-away action. Williamsburg, Virginia, known for its colonial past, is steeped in American history.
Pairing a visit to Colonial Williamsburg with a visit to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (and Water Country USA) adds amusement park excitement and a step into Europe to an American history lesson.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, with its European inspired theme, boasts rides such as: Escape from Pompeii--a water ride, Griffon, a roller coaster that has a 90 degrees, straight down drop, and The Curse of DarKastle, a haunted house. Rides are set in settings reminiscent of European countries. The photo is from Da Vinci's Garden of Inventors.
Along with rides, there are animal attractions like Eagle's Ridge, a sanctuary for injured eagles, and Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve, a section where exotic and endangered animal exhibits highlight the importance of habitat preservation.
For people who aren't particularly fond of rides--and those who are, there are shows to enjoy. Emerald Beat, an Irish step-dancing performance, is one of them.
Because Busch Gardens' season extends past Halloween, certain events reflect the time of year as well. On two September weekends, Bud & BBQ "celebrates great food, great beer and great music."
For Halloween, there's Howl-O-Scream. It begins in September and runs through the last weekend in October.
So, dear Gadling readers, what can you win? There are four different prizes.
- Prize 1 - Season Pass Voucher to Busch Gardens which also gets you into Water Country USA, the water park that is part of the Busch Gardens family-- a $154.95 value and a Busch Garden's T-shirt (T-shirt value, $10)
- Prize 2- Season Pass and a Busch Gardens visor (visor value, $5)
- Prize 3- Exxon Mobile Gas Card for $25 and a Busch Gardens T-shirt
- Prize 4--Exxon Mobile Gas Card for $25 and a Busch Gardens visor
To enter, leave a comment below telling us why you need a longer summer vacation and what you'd do with the time.
- The comment must be left before Friday, August 15, 2008 at 1 PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
See the complete rules here.
Good luck!!Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Business, Festivals and Events, Stories, News, Travel Deals
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mike Aug 11th 2008 3:12PM
I need an extended vacation because the wife has been on me all vacation long, and this would give me the opportunity to see if I can't get her off my back!
Emma Leigh Aug 11th 2008 11:38AM
My family and I live in Virginia Beach so we make a point of going to BG every year. It is the most beautiful theme park I have ever visited.
The Griffon is something else - it isn't for the faint of heart. Apollo's Chariot is a good one, too.
Warning about Howl-O-Scream. If you are going with small children plan your day to end at 5pm. The park is decorated with harvest themes as well as ghosts et al. However, at dusk the park feels the need to blast ghostly howling and shrieks at deafening decibels. It wouldn't be so bad if it was done a little more sparingly - but it is non-stop and I can't wait to get out. The evening also tends to draw older teens and 20 somethings that can be rather obnoxious to folks not in their group.
The food is awesome - my favorite is the smoke house in the French Canadian section, but if you want to watch your money, BG has picnic tables set up in the parking lot so you can pack your cooler.
Since my DD and I are both Irish Dance students, we never miss seeing Emeral Beat. A traditional Irish band accompanies the dancers and it is a great show.
I'll see if I can dig up some photos to put on Flickr later.
Monica Thomas Aug 11th 2008 12:04PM
I need a longer summer because I work for the airlines. And I've spent all summer either getting yelled at at the counter for charging people $100 for overweight bags, or baking on the tarmac while I haul 50 pound bags (not 51!) onto planes.
Wait.
I need a shorter summer and a longer pass to Busch Gardens.
CP Aug 11th 2008 12:32PM
I have been going to Busch Gardens for quite some time now and each time gets better. If I were to win the drawing, I'd take friends and family with me that otherwise couldn't make the trip.
Of all the theme parks I've visited, Busch Gardens is my favorite, mainly due to the rich history that can be found throughout Williamsburg even before entering the park.
Tom Escott Aug 11th 2008 12:54PM
My wife and I will be traveling to North Carolina in October to see our new grandchild. For the past year, I have been battling prostate cancer. It had metastesized to my bones this past March, but with chemotherapy, the cancer has been reduced by 95% and my optimism has returned.
There have been very few things that I have been able to do this past year, but a seeing my new grandchild and exploring my country's heritage has taken on a new meaning for me. Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Jamestown Settlement would take me back to my British roots. While I am not quite up to rides at this point, a little Irish step-dancing would be very exciting.
Kinjal Aug 11th 2008 3:24PM
I need longer summer vacation because in actual summer its too hot to go places like busch garden. End of summer and starting of Fall is best time. I would love to drive there in fall colors from baltimore and check the beauty there.
olavahc Aug 13th 2008 1:48AM
I want to have a longer vacation because I want to visit friends and family around the USA and Latin America. Some of my friends live around Williamsburg too!
Sara Cowley Aug 11th 2008 6:42PM
This would be the perfect way to explore my new Virginia home! Having just moved here this year from Seattle, I am trying to discover everything to do with Virginia. What a perfect way to spend my weekends. This would be especially great when my friends and family come to visit.
Leslie Aug 13th 2008 1:47AM
I need a longer summer vacation because it's almost over. I have worked all summer and my daughter has been in day camp. We haven't spent any time away together doing something fun.
I live in Norfolk with my 4-year-old daughter who has never been to BG. She would love the kiddie rides and the water rides and, most of all, the HORSES!
Leslie Aug 13th 2008 1:46AM
I need a longer summer vacation because it's almost over. I have
worked all summer and my daughter has been in day camp. We haven't
spent any time away together doing something fun.
I live in Norfolk with my 4-year-old daughter who has never been to
BG. She would love the kiddie rides and the water rides and, most of
all, the HORSES!
Rachel Aug 13th 2008 1:46AM
Why I need a longer vacation. This answer is just like all of the Middle Class Americas response: being over worked and under payed. I rarely take vacations because I do not have the extra money to pay for vacations. With this trip I would be able to afford the rest of the expenses that go along with a vacation: ie....food, drinks, souvenirs etc.
Also, I love amusement parks and everything about them. I have only been to Busch Gardens once throughout my lifetime and that was when I was about 6. All I remember from this trip was that I enjoyed it so much. I have always wanted to go back but never had the chance. From what I have heard, Busch Gardens is more of a family oriented park and is very clean. It is very rare to find places like these anymore.
Lastly, I love learning and seeing about the history of places. So to visit Virginia would be amazing because not only could I go to Busch Gardens but also visit the history behind Wiliamsburg.
Cobol Aug 13th 2008 1:46AM
I need a longer vacation to get married in! My GF decided we needed to get married in the next 3 months while on vacation!... no problem.. just her.. the 2 kids.. me... and where do we go for a vacation/wedding with kids and have it be romantic and fun for the kids too? :)
Lisa Bishop Aug 13th 2008 1:46AM
My daughter really could use some fun...she underwent 2 major knee surgeries just 7 days after her high school graduation, leaving her bound to the house for the summer. I spent all of my vacation time taking care of her and just when it seemed like we would be able to take a few days off to have some fun, it's about time for my other 2 children to return to school. We have never been to Busch Gardens but have heard how nice of a park that it is. Winning the tickets would finally give us the time to spend together doing something fun for a change.
Nataly Aug 11th 2008 10:46PM
I came from Russia to see what is Virginia like. I'e been working for this area for few months and deserve some rest to highlight my memories from USA.
JohnnyNVA Aug 13th 2008 1:44AM
I visited Busch Gardens for the first time last year. And while Williamsburg is about 2 hours away, it makes for a great overnight trip. Originally I thought I would not care for the park, but once I was there I found I liked it in every way, can't wait to go back!
Lillian Lincolne Aug 13th 2008 1:43AM
Why I need a longer summer? It goes to quickly, always busy working and I keep putting off summer fun-saying I'll have fun later. Next thing you know summer is over!!! Why cant winter go by that quickly? Before summer disappears, I am just going to enjoy the warm weather and sun out in my backyard with family and a nice barbecue.
Sue G Aug 13th 2008 1:45AM
We have been promising the kids a trip to Busch Gardens all summer long - with gas prices it has been tight for our summer travel, though. The gas card would come in handy (the saeaon pass would be GREAT!) Please enter me!
matt Aug 13th 2008 1:51AM
I need an extension on summer vacation because I work in a museum that gets 1000's of summer tourists already, so I have a very hard time getting away during peak season. It would be great to be able to visit BG and ride the coasters in September once my work load decreases a bit.
My grandfather used to say "once Memorial Day rolls around the summer is just about over" and we all used to laugh at him. As I get older I see the wisdom in his words.
Jamie Sue Lane Aug 12th 2008 8:39PM
I need a longer summer vacation becuase this year it has been more focused on job security than enjoyment. I would spend use of the time focusing on the nice opportunity for a romantic getaway
Jennifer Aug 12th 2008 8:58PM
Despite being a school teacher with my summers off from my job, I need a longer vacation due to several stressful issues (mainly car problems) which have kept me home this last month.
It's been over 13 years since I was in Williamsburg, VA for the first time. But I spent most of that trip in my hotel room completing a major paper for my Master's degree. So if I won this contest I'd enjoy getting to see all that I missed, especially colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens. The gas card prize would assist with expenses beyond the needed car repairs.