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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 3 of 3)
karen Aug 14th 2008 12:17AM
I need a longer summer because I didn't get to go on vacation this year. I have never been to Bush gardens, and I would definately use those passes to make the visit. It also gives me a chance to visit my sister who lives in Virginia, maybe, if I enjoy the park it will become a yearly vacation trip.
wayne Aug 14th 2008 8:26AM
More summer time=more time to work the garden, sit in the sun and contemplate life. It also means no high heating bills and snow to shovel!
Lesia Aug 14th 2008 9:07AM
As a nurse working in a long term care facility for 88 residents,
also known as a "nursing home", the stressors of meeting ever
increasing requirements on continuously decreasing funding, obtaining
the prior authorizations for coverage on medications (which often
requires donating the left arm and right leg after a two hour phone
conversation with CMS), dealing with regulatory changes from three
different agencies at once, and attempting to maintain a smile when
"visitors" that do not visit but twice a year do nothing but complain
the entire time they are visiting our residents can make a person "nut
up".
Do I need a vacation? You betcha! Bush Gardens? Just the thought
makes me anxious...
Word for the wise...be nice to your kids, they will choose your
nursing home one day.
~santeeaholic
Claire Patton Aug 14th 2008 9:12AM
My husband and I are retired and have had a very busy summer. We are still in the process of moving and it has been a real hassle. We need to get away from all this mess and have time together. We plan to take a break in October and drive up the east coast. Gas prices permitting. We would love to visit Williamsburg and a free pass would make that possible. We would love to visit the town and the park to learn more about this area of the country. Thank you
mike mitchell Aug 14th 2008 9:19AM
I need a family vacation, we had planned on going to Williamsberg this summer, but was unable.
Mike
michael mitchell Aug 14th 2008 9:32AM
I received a phone call back in March and was asked to bid on a constuction project. I had gotten out of the business, but they promised to pay fast. To make a long story short, I still haven't gotten paid and I'm in need of money to pay my kids school's tuition. I had planned a vacation with my family but had to cancel to help pay off debt.
Zuma1000@comcast.net
Kimberly Aug 14th 2008 12:51PM
Oh how I wish the summer would never end, maybe then I could find the time and the money to enjoy it. LOL I would love to experience all the wonderful things I hear about Busch Gardens but as a single mother of four, vacations seem to be a thing of the past. One day we'll get there and we'll be joing all the fun too! Until then....
David Vloedman Aug 14th 2008 10:23AM
I need a longer summer vacation because of the overwelming heat and humidity that we have in New Orleans, this is no time to go back to work. I would much rather be spending it at Busch Gardens, visiting the beer school, riding the rollercoasters, and enjoying the pleasant summer weather of Virginia.
Christi Aug 14th 2008 11:07AM
I've been trying to overcome medical and financial issues for the past 5 years...nonstop. I would love to have the opportunity to take a break from it all. I've heard great things about Busch Gardens and would like to experience it for myself.
A.J. Breeding Aug 14th 2008 10:54AM
I need a longer summer vacation because we are remodeling our family room. It's a rather large room with 12 foot ceilings that I had to scrape the texture from and replace it all by hand. There's more work to do and I can only do it on my vacation because I work about 70 hours each week as we have 2 unfilled positions.
I would use the extra time to complete the remodel, look for a new job and then maybe I could find the time to visit Colonial Williamsburg. I've heard it's rather nice.
rrenee Aug 14th 2008 11:18AM
I'd love to visit BG in VA. Your descriptions are inviting. I didn't get vacation time this year, so my vacation time is accruing and needs to be used!
shar&chris Aug 14th 2008 11:53AM
We need a longer summer vacation because it has just been a plain tough summer for us. We have been living on a limited income so that I could finsih my degree and pursure my longtime dream to become a teacher. (and I am still job hunting in August!) In June we suffered a family tragedy (too personal to go into...)
My husband is a mover and has been working long, hard hours in the heat to keep us "afloat". His daughter loves amusement parks- and BG would be a chance for us to spend time together as a family, while learning and exploring new thinsg as well.
Stephan Aug 14th 2008 12:06PM
I'd love a season pass to Busch, given their tenure as custodians of the theme park appears to be in it's swan song. The most beautiful amusement park in America is in jeopardy.
Ida Aug 14th 2008 12:36PM
I definitely need an extended summer vacation, I am a single mom with two teenage daughters - one going back to college, and one who will begin looking at colleges this fall. On top of that, my job will be moving and I'm in charge of packing up! Any extension of my summer would be great. I had visited Busch Gardens many years ago, before I was married, and I LOVED it. Would love to return and enjoy the sights, food and the rides!
Ken Miller Aug 14th 2008 12:42PM
I need a longer summer vacation to get everything done. My wife works for the school system and does the ESY (extended school year) for the month of July so that leaves only the first few weeks of August for "vacation": beach visits, out-of-town jaunts, etc. A better option would be a four-day work week so that extra weekend day would be greatly used.
Kristen Aug 14th 2008 1:10PM
I need a longer summer vacation since i havent had a vacation in 6 years. I opened up my own business and have been working here 7 days a week for 6 years except christmas of course. But i have been to Busch Gardens and Williamsburg many many times and I love it.
DeVonn Aug 14th 2008 1:59PM
A longer summer vacation? I'm just looking for "a" summer vacation. This is the busy season for my company and it has been utterly ridiculous. I've been working 50-55+ hrs./wk. for the last 3 months and because I'm salaried I don't get paid for anything over 40 hours. My company also does not believe in comp time. To boot, besides taking a day here and a day there to participate in school activities with my son, I have not had a vacation in almost two years, and have only taken two sick days in five years! The trip that my family and I were planning for August had to be cancelled due to job and financial(like 80% of the rest of the country) constraints. I'm not special, and my story isn't much different from that of many millions around the nation. But, nevertheless, I still need a vacation!!! ;-)
karen Aug 14th 2008 2:06PM
I would love to have a longer summer vacation due the fact that I am a nurse and every day I'm comforted with having to impart to patients bad news(such as cancer). This becomes heartbreaking especially when patients look you in the eyes with absolute fear wanting you to tell them anything but the truth. Williamsburg and It's surrounding scenery would be OH SO GREAT!
Terry Aug 14th 2008 2:06PM
My family and I live in Michigan, where summer is very brief. I have four children, two girls 16 and 17 and two boys 12 and 9. They are great kids who work hard and do very well in school. None of them have ever been in trouble in school or anywhere else. I am a real estate agent here in Michigan and due to the severe recession Michigan is currently enduring my income has been reduced to basic survival. My kids deserve a much better summer than I have been able to provide for them, and these tickets would give them something really positive to remember about the summer of 2008. Amusement parks and museums are places where my girls and I can still share something fun in common. The places where dads and their daughters can connect and have fun are harder and harder to find as they mature. We all love Virginia and extending our summer, or in this case making our summer, would be something we all would remember for a very long time.
Jim Creider Aug 16th 2008 5:39PM
If I could extend the summer vacation I'd like to take my daughter and wife on a vacation. We've been tied to the local area since last September when my mother-in-law suffered a severe stroke. It left her unable to do anything without assistance except feed herself. My wife quit working to provide the full time care her mother needs.
My nine year old daughter has been wonderful through all this by helping my wife. She works with her grandmother on her exercises, helps put her to bed, get her up, and take her to the bathroom.
Unfortunately its been very difficult to get away because of the expense involved in getting care takers for my mother-in-law or getting respite care for her at the local nursing home.
I'd love to take them, even for a weekend, to Williamsburg and Bush Gardens to give them a much needed break.