Williamsburg Vacation Blog

Tis the season at Busch Gardens Williamsburg! The popular theme park features its annual Christmas Town celebration on select dates now through the end of the year. Busch Gardens will be open for a holiday celebration Dec. 9-11, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-31.

In addition to the theme park’s many rides and attractions, you’ll find a wide variety of special Christmas activities and options:

Santa’s Fireside Feast

Country: Ireland

Head to the grand dining room of Castle O’Sullivan where you’ll find Santa and Mrs. Claus hosting Santa’s Fireside Feast. Gather around the majestic castle as Santa tells a classic Christmas story. Then enjoy a delicious buffet prepared by expert elves under the direction of Mrs. Claus, complete with cookies and holiday cheer. Join Santa for the 1:30 p.m. lunch time and enjoy early entry into Christmas Town.

Santa’s Workshop

Country: North Pole

See Santa and Mrs. Claus as you peek through the snow covered windows of his North Pole workshop nestled between two reindeer stables. Children are greeted by elf attendants who guide them inside for a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children are invited to pose for a photo with Santa.

Highland Stables

Country: Scotland

Travel back in time and explore the Scottish countryside, including the Highland Stables featuring Scottish Blackface sheep, border collies and Clydesdales.

Ice Palace: A Penguin Paradise

Country: France

Explore an enhanced ice-themed world with dazzling lights, snow and an up-close encounter with live penguins.

Mistletoe Marketplace

Country: Germany

Find the perfect unique and hand-made gifts from local artisans and craftsmen in this traditional outdoor German market.

Polar Pathway

Country: Italy

The Polar Pathway turns Escape from Pompeii into breathtaking waterfalls of light. The smell of pine trees in the crisp frosty air welcomes visitors to this winter wonderland, complete with one-of-a-kind photo opportunities.

A Sesame Street Christmas

Country: England

Catch the Christmas spirit in the Globe Theatre. In “A Sesame Street Christmas” Abby Cadabby learns about giving and sharing with friends and family during the holiday season. Everyone’s beloved Sesame Street residents spread holiday cheer as they share their fondest memories of favorite Christmas traditions with high-energy song and dance, cookies, stockings, cards, Santa, snow and gift giving.

You can find entire sections in the library dedicated to preserving the history of the American Revolution. But in Williamsburg, Virginia, you’ll find an entire city that actually brings those books to life every day.

Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living museum, documenting the American Revolution. Explore and experience 35 exhibition sites, 16 colonial trade shops, and 15 site tours. You can even participate in daily live performances that capture and recount famous events leading up to the Revolution.

Colonial Williamsburg features dozens of restored homes and buildings ranging from quaint taverns and inns to government buildings. Throughout the colonial area, you’ll find buildings reconstructed to the smallest details.

Combining with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown to form the “Historic Triangle,” the historic Williamsburg area features more than 500 original and carefully reconstructed public buildings, 40 exhibit buildings, private homes, quaint inns and taverns, shops and 90 acres of public parks and gardens. 

History aside, Williamsburg is also home to Busch Gardens, regularly voted the world’s “most beautiful theme park.”  You’ll also find a refreshing water park, fabulous shopping and dining, outstanding golf courses and a variety of unique entertainment venues that help make Williamsburg the ideal vacation spot for every member of the family.

For information on Williamsburg attraction tickets and resort accommodations at Westgate Historic Williamsburg Resort, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is lighting up the summer nights with its annual celebration of  IllumiNights: A Busch Gardens Encore.

Filled with live performances, music, special effects and a giant fireworks display, IllumiNation will continue for evenings throughout the summer. Each country inside the European styled theme park celebrates IllumiNights in its own way, including larger-than-life puppets in Ireland, the world’s largest cuckoo clock in Germany and amazing acrobats in Italy.

The nightly park-wide IllumiNations celebration ultimately ends with a full-scale fireworks show.

Voted the world’s most beautiful theme park 21 consecutive years, Busch Gardens Williamsburg provides exciting thrill rides, award-winning shows, and special attractions for the entire family.

From the Sesame Street Forest of Fun kid’s attraction to pulse pounding roller coasters like Griffon, Curse of DarKastle, Alpengeist and Apollo’s Chariot, Busch Gardens keeps the thrills coming for all ages.

New for 2011 is the dramatic Mäch Tower, a thrill ride that lifts riders 246 feet above the park’s Oktoberfest area. After rotating at the top of the tower and getting a few seconds to take in the view, riders drop at a breathtaking speed.

For information on discount theme park tickets and discount Williamsburg family vacation packages, please visit www.westgatereservations.com.

Are you ready! Construction on the newest ride at Busch Gardens Williamsburg is nearly complete! The all new Mäch Tower will truly tower over the Williamsburg, VA theme park, with the flag on top of the structure sitting at nearly 240 feet.

Mäch Tower is scheduled to open in late May and riders will enjoy an opportunity to head to the top of the tower where they’ll experience teh breathtaking views - just before the pulse-pounding drops!

Busch Gardens is also the place to be this summer for music! The theme park stage will offer up concert performances from some of the top names in pop and rock including Miranda Cosgrove, Colbie Caillat, Pat Benetar and Neil Sedaka. Caillat takes the stage June 4-5, 2011. 

All Busch Gardens concerts are included with regular theme park admission and will be presented at the Royal Palace Theatre. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information and hours of operation for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, voted the world’s most beautiful theme park 21 consecutive years, go to http://buschgardens.com/Bgw/.

Also opening soon is nearby Water Country USA. The Williamsburg water park is slated to open for the 2011 season on May 21.

The park features almost 600 feet of body slides, a 700-foot lazy river and plenty of other refreshing water attractions for kids of all ages.

Water Country USA offers more than 30 state-of-the-art water rides and attractions, but construction is almost complete on the park’s newest adventure, Vanish Point. Daring guests on Vanish Point will experience a drop of nearly 300 feet and reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour.

One of the most anticipated moments at Busch Gardens Williamsburg is the spring 2011 grand opening of the new ride, Mach Tower.

As you enter the park’s Oktoberfest area and pass by of Das Festhaus, you can see the ride pointing high into the sky. The massive spire will lift you 240-feet into the stratosphere, offering a spectacular view of the park and surrounding countryside. But don’t get too caught up in the scenery before, amidst a rush of wind and screams, you’ll experience a sudden, pulse-pounding drop.

It’s all part of the upcoming 2011 thrills and excitement at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, voted the world’s most beautiful theme park for 20 consecutive years for its European themes and lush landscaping. You can experience dozens of rides and attractions for the entire family, live shows, special events and even some unique animal interactions.

For a complete list of attractions at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, visit http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgw/. Or go to www.westgatereservations.com for details on Williamsburg discount vacation packages and discount theme park tickets.

They’re working at mach speed to get the newest thrill ride ready for a scheduled late spring opening at Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park.

Mäch Tower will be Busch Gardens’ newest and tallest ride. Upon completion, the ride will stand taller than any other attraction in the park. It will take taking riders 240 feet above the Oktoberfest Village, then drop them at breathtaking speed.

Currently closed for the season, Busch Gardens officially opens on March 26. Voted the most beautiful theme park in the world for each of the last 20 years, Busch Gardens will again be in full bloom with hundreds of thousands of flowers. But guests will also enjoy an entirely new Oktoberfest village, complete with a delicious new baked pretzel shop and a beer garden.

For complete details on Busch Gardens Williamsburg, including open dates and operating hours, visit www.buschgardens.com/bgw/

For more on discount Williamsburg, VA vacation packages and resort accommodations such as Westgate Colonial Williamsburg Resort, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Stumble it!

Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration returns to the Williamsburg, VA theme park this week.

Visitors to Busch Gardens Williamsburg will enjoy delightful holiday shows, unique dining and Christmas gift shopping, a 50-foot tall Christmas tree, millions of twinkling lights, amazing firework and a myriad of Christmas happenings and live shows throughout the park’s European zones.

In Scotland, you’ll find the Highland Stables where you can travel back to simpler times and explore the Scottish countryside under a star-filled winter sky and come face-to-face with Scottish blackface sheep, border collies and towering Clydesdales.

In the Germany section of the park, visit Mistletoe Marketplace and find holiday cheer and hand-made gifts while watching local artisans and craft makers in a traditional outdoor German market. You’ll also find a great live show in Germany… O’Tannenbaum. This spectacular light show features a 50-foot Christmas tree lighting up the night and dancing to a holiday musical score. Meanwhile, in Germany’s Das Festhaus, there’s a live musical tribute to Christmas traditions called Deck the Halls.

Wander over to France to find the Polar Pathway with its enhanced ice-themed world, sparkling lights and snow. And as an added bonus, enjoy an up-close encounter with live penguins!

You’ll find Santa, the jolly one himself, in the country of Ireland. Enjoy a grand meal at Santa’s Fireside Feast inside the grand dining room of Castle O’Sullivan. Guests gather around the castle as Santa offers up a classic Christmas story which is followed by a buffet prepared by expert elves and Mrs. Clause.

Meanwhile, at the North Pole, you’ll find Santa’s Workshop. Get a sneak peek of Santa through the snow covered windows of the workshop or peer through a paned window into Santa’s study situated between reindeer stables. Children will be greeted by elves and led inside for a chance to sit on Santa’s lap and pose for a special photo.

In Ireland, the holidays are celebrated with a live show, Rejoice, an emotional Christmas performance told through moving imagery, choral harmonies and a full, live orchestra delivering classic Christmas tunes in an age-old form of Gregorian music with a modern and contemporary flair.

Children will love, A Sesame Street Christmas, performing in the England section of the park. Head to the Globe Theatre and see Abby Cadabby as she learns about giving and sharing with friends and family during the holidays. The show is filled with high-energy song and dance and even Santa makes an appearance.

Busch Gardens will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout December. The last day of Christmas Town will be Friday, December 31, 2010. Christmas Town will also be open Monday, December 20 through Friday, December 31, 2010. Christmas Town will be closed on Christmas Day.

The park will be open for Christmas Town from 3 pm through 10 pm on most days. However, on Sundays through December 12, 2010 and on Christmas Eve, the park will close at 9 pm instead of 10 pm.

For information about Williamsburg discount vacation packages, please visit www.historicwilliamsburgusa.com or www.westgatereservations.com.

Bigger is better when it comes to Williamsburg’s two major theme parks - Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. The parks recently announced plans for a two-year, multi-million dollar expansion that represents the largest investment in the parks’ 35-year history. The expansion project is slated to include new rides for both parks as well as an enhanced Oktoberfest village at Busch Gardens.

Coming to Busch Gardens in Spring 2011 is a new thrill ride - Mach Tower.  The exciting 246-foot drop tower will become the highest ride at Busch Gardens and offer a bothadrenaline-pulsing thrills as well as spectacular bird’s eye views.

Another key to the expansion plans is the creation of a revamped Oktoberfest village featuring a new beer garden complete with canopies of colored maypoles and festive banners.

Busch Gardens will also be receiving a new world-class roller coaster. The sleek multi-launch coaster design will feature many “firsts” when it debuts in spring of 2012.

Meanwhile, at Water Country USA, expansion plans include an adrenaline pumping new drop slide called Vanish Point. The water slide is scheduled to open spring, 2011.

For information on both theme parks as well as Historic Williamsburg, please visit www.HistoricWilliamsburgUSA.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.

It takes a lot to make people scream. Just consider some of the many props that Busch Gardens Williamsburg utilizes for its annual Halloween celebration - Howl-O-Scream.

The theme park is decked out with 5,000 pumpkins, 1,000 hay bales and corn stalks, 700 crows, 2,010 rats and more than 4,000 Halloween-style light bulbs. It’s all part of turning the park into a fright-filled adventure in fun.

“The Scare is Everywhere” at Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream. From frighteningly fun Haunted Houses and Halloween shows to more kid-friendly Spooktacular adventures, there’s something for everyone.

Don’t miss the creepy and creative excitement at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream every Friday-Sunday from now thru Oct. 31, 2010.

For more, go to http://www.howloscream.com/Williamsburg/homepage.aspx or visit www.HistoricWilliamsburgUSA.com.

Although it’s one thing to learn about America’s early colonial days through text books, it is quite different to learn through hands-on, real-life activities.

That’s exactly what you can do in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Step back in time and experience early America in Colonial Williamsburg, where young and old alike will enjoy the beautifully restored 18th-century capital of colonial-era Virginia.

Williamsburg is truly the largest “living history” museum in the United States. A visit takes you back in time as you’ll find 500 buildings, homes, stores and taverns all reconstructed and restored to their 18^th century appearance. Yet it’s the people of Williamsburg who truly bring the incredible history to life for all to enjoy.

You’ll encounter tradesmen practicing 30 historic trades and domestic crafts; historical interpreters ready to answer your questions; and character actors portraying critical events in our nation’s development.

From tours of the historic buildings and battlefields to the live action drama, Revolutionary City^TM, Williamsburg provides an amazing opportunity to explore America’s rich history in a fun and interactive way.

Yet the Williamsburg area also offers a variety of modern day fun with thrilling attractions such as Busch Gardens Europe. Don’t miss out on the Halloween fun as Busch Gardens presents its annual Howl-O-Scream on weekends from Sept. 24 thru Oct. 31, 2010.

Westgate Historic Williamsburg Resort puts you in the middle of it all, while providing relaxing, period-style accommodations. The resort is situated just 1.5 miles from Colonial Williamsburg and only a 10-minute drive from Busch Gardens Europe. Beautifully appointed guestrooms at Westgate Historic Williamsburg offer all the comforts of home, including a kitchenette or fully equipped kitchen and cable TV.

For more information on Colonial Williamsburg discount vacation packages and discount Busch Gardens tickets, go to www.HistoricWilliamsburgUSA.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.