It’s getting closer to “back to school” time, but there’s still ample opportunity to get back to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, as well!From high flying roller coasters and refreshing roaring rapids to great family shows and massive Clydesdale horses, there’s something for everyone waiting at Busch Gardens. And if you really want to enjoy some cool fun before the end of summer, there’s also time to get back to Water Country USA before the mid-Atlantic’s largest water park closes for the season on Sept. 6, 2010.

These two great theme parks are only part of the fun near Williamsburg. You’ll also want to check out the world’s largest living history museum by visiting the Colonial Williamsburg colonial area. From the earliest days of America to the modern wonders of today’s theme park technology, it’s all waiting for you in Williamsburg.

Discover more to do in Williamsburg, VA today or year round by visiting http://www.historicwilliamsburgusa.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Music is in the air at Busch Gardens Williamsburg this summer. Every weekend, the popular theme park presents a special concert presentation called Illuminights: A Busch Gardens Encore.The 6 pm concerts take place in the park’s Festhaus Park. The concert series started with shows by The B-52s and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. And the music continues this weekend with two shows by the powerhouse female rockers, The Bangles. 

Additional concert series performers include The Fixx, August July 31 & August 1; American Idol David Cook on August 7 & 8; Grand Funk Railroad on August 14 & 15; and finally, Emily Osment on August 21 & 22.

For more on the summer entertainment at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, go to http://www.historicwilliamsburgusa.com/. Or visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ for discount Williamsburg hotel and resort accommodations.

 SeaWorld Orlando is ready to put a little more flare into its Independence Day events.

The theme park will add more live music to its SeaWorld AfterDark events in honor of America’s birthday celebration. Prior to the July 4 showing of “Reflections,” a fireworks-and-fountains presentation, the 13th Army Band of the Florida National Guard will perform on the stage at Bayside Stadium. The 40-piece band is expected to provide both classic and contemporary musical selections.

After the music, the park’s traditional fireworks show will be extended for the evening and include a patriotic stretch.

In addition to fireworks, SeaWorld offers lots of other “AfterDark” fun, including the “Shamu Rocks” killer whale show and the comedic “Sea Lions Tonite” show. It’s all part of SeaWorld’s summer fun and it’s all included with regular SeaWorld admission. For more park details, please visit www.seaworldorlando.com.

SeaWorld’s sister park, Tampa’s Busch Gardens, also offers up some Independence Day extras. Fireworks will go up on both July 3 and July 4, and the park will remain open until 10 p.m. See www.buschgardens.com for more information.

Or go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for discount theme park tickets and discount Orlando vacation package options.

 A little taste of the outback is coming to central Florida. It’s all part of a new Australian-themed area at Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa.Opening June 14, 2010, Walkabout Way features a number of Australian animals including kangaroos which can be hand-fed by guests aged 5 or older. The kangaroo exhibit, called Kangaloom, includes both red and grey kangaroos as well as Bennett’s wallabies. Park visitors can purchase a cup of kangaroo food for $5 during scheduled feeding times.

Another new area, called The Kookaburra’s Nest, includes a free-flight aviary. Other Australian species such as cockatoos and Australian parrots, can be found at Aussie Station.

The new Walkabout Way exhibit is part of regular admission at Busch Gardens. For details, visit www.buschgardens.com. For information on theme parks and discount Orlando vacation packages, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay recently welcomed a new baby. The little one weighed in at a mere 147 pounds.

The baby was actually a reticulated giraffe born to mother, Teesa, and father, Sterling. The addition now brings the theme park’s giraffe population to 15. Mother and baby are doing fine and are currently being housed in a private area where they can be monitored by zoo staff to ensure the little one is nursing and growing properly. In a matter of months, the pair will be ready to join the rest of the giraffe herd on the Serengeti Plain at Busch Gardens for all visitors to see.

The park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain is a naturalistic habitat featuring a diverse population of free-roaming African animals including giraffe, zebra, white rhinoceros, eland antelope and additional species of hoof stock and birds. All of the animals can be seen up close via several different Busch Gardens attractions, including the Serengeti Express, the Skyride and the Serengeti Safari. The Safari offers an open truck tour of the plain during which you may have an opportunity to hand-feed the giraffe.

The giraffe birth at Busch Gardens is part of a successful long-term breeding program. A giraffe’s gestation period is approximately 15 months and the new baby will nurse for about a year. A second baby reticulated giraffe is expected to be born later this spring. The term “reticulated” refers to the giraffe’s net-like pattern of spots.

Visit the Web site www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for information on tickets for Busch Gardens as well as all the other Orlando and central Florida theme parks and attractions.

Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster and all of your favorite Sesame Street characters can now be found at Sesame Street Safari of Fun within Busch Gardens Tampa.

The new area for children features some new elements along with some repurposed attractions from Land of Dragons.  Safari of Fun fits perfectly with the theme park’s overall African theme. One of the most popular new rides is the all new Air Grover, a mini-sized roller coaster that allows children and parents to ride side-by-side. The coaster is like a “flight” over the Saraha Desert, with captain Grover in the front seat in full aviator gear.

Designed as a child’s first roller coaster experience, Air Grover isn’t quite like the park’s signature coaster ShieKra, but it does include a 23-foot lift hill and two gentle loops that offer plenty of thrill for the little ones.

Another fun new adventure is Bert & Ernie’s Watering Hole, a colorful water-play area and the perfect spot to cool off on a warm day.

You’ll also find two new Sesame Street shows at Busch Gardens. “A is for Africa” is a high energy stage show while “Lights, Camera, Imagination” is a 4-D movie with special effects.

Sesame Street Safari of Fun is included with regular Busch Gardens park admission. And children aged 3-5 can get in FREE throughout 2010 if they first register at www.SesameStreetSafariofFun.com.

Go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for more information on central Florida theme parks and Orlando family discount vacation packages.

You can read about it in history books. Or you can live it in Williamsburg, Virginia, where the concept of America was born.

In 18^th century Williamsburg, the largest and most populated of Britain’s original 13 colonies, there was a groundswell of colonial unrest for equality, freedom and independence that soon developed into a revolution that changed the world’s landscape forever.

Yet today, Williamsburg looks very much like that same colonial town. But better than history books, today’s Williamsburg remains largest real living history museum.  It’s a place where you can be absorbed by the sights, sounds and tales of those Colonial times. Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area includes 500 original and reconstructed public buildings, 40 exhibit buildings, plus myriad private homes, quaint inns and taverns and shops plus 90 acres of public parks and gardens. 

While history is a highlight, you’ll also find plenty of modern day fun, such as water parks, championship golf, shopping, dining, and attractions like Busch Gardens theme park.

For more information about Williamsburg’s history and discount Williamsburg vacation packages, go to http://www.historicwilliamsburgusa.com/.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is ready to officially open for the 2010 season on March 26 and visitors will be able to enjoy two brand new theme park attractions.

First, fly away with Europe in the Air, an innovative high-tech simulator ride that rockets guests past some of Europe’s most famous sights, including Stonehenge, the Eiffel Tower in France, the spectacular Alps and even the Roman Coliseum.

A second new adventure is an exciting live show designed to put you in the middle of an exciting celebration of Irish dance, music, songs and storytelling.

The two new attractions provide a unique glimpse of Europe and the emerald Isle. Of course, you can also continue to enjoy the myriad of thrill rides, attractions, shows and special events featured within Busch Gardens.

So go ahead and visit www.HistoricWilliamsburgUSA.com for complete information regarding Busch Gardens theme park tickets and other Williamsburg, VA attractions. Or simply go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm for details about discount Williamsburg hotel and resort accommodations and discount Williamsburg vacation packages.

Busch Gardens is celebrating their 50th year birthday party during their Summer Nights festival with after-hours entertainment and excitement from June 6th - August 16th.  Busch Gardens opened in 1959 as a hospitality center for Tampa’s Anheuser-Busch brewery and a half a century later, Busch Gardens is one of Florida’s top tourist destination, where wildlife and wild rides come together in an unparalleled combination of Broadway-style shows, a world-class zoo with more than 2,500 exotic and endangered animals and more record-breaking roller coasters than any destination in Florida.

Park hours during Summer Nights at Busch Gardens will be extended until 9 pm Sundays through Thursdays and until 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s a great opportunity to ride your favorite coasters in the dark and pack in even more fun at a regular day at Busch Gardens. Stay late to ride thrilling roller coasters, from the exhilarating Sheikra to the side-splitting Critter Castaways, and enjoy the park as it takes on a street-party atmosphere with special entertainment and festive food and drink.

On July 3rd, catch David Cassidy in concert, when the July 4th festivities start early. On the 4th of July, rock out with Starship featuring Mickey Thomas followed by a breathtaking fireworks spectacular. In addition, guests can check out the new exhibit honoring the park’s 50 years of fun.  The exhibit features hundreds of photos, souvenirs and artifacts from the park’s history on display, including a 70-foot timeline. The best part of Summer Nights, however, is that it’s included with regular admission to Busch Gardens. So all you have to do is get your discount Busch Gardens tickets at www.OrlandoTrips.com and you’ll be all set to celebrate the park’s birthday and dance, ride, and party through the night this summer.