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Since childhood, my family and I have traveled to the Williamsburg, VA, amusement parks.
It’s honestly one of the best family vacations that you will take.
For reference, it takes about 2.5 – 3 hours to get there if you live in the Washington, DC, area.
Virginia has a lot of history in the United States, so it’s a great place to visit.
If you live in the neighboring states, taking a road trip isn’t a bad idea.
While on the road, ensuring you have the right diapers for road trips is essential.
You will have to do a lot of stopping along, so reducing the number of accidents will help you reach your destination faster.
Suppose you want to go to theme parks and ensure a destination remains active.
In that case, you can check out the National Amusement Park Historical Association, which has the most up-to-date information about parks globally.
Here is your quick guide about the Williamsburg, VA, amusement parks.
If you know very little about Williamsburg, all the major parks are in James City County, named after the settlers that arrived in the 1600s.
It’s the perfect place to visit a number of attractions near each other and have a full family vacation experience.
Water Country USA
If you didn’t know, Water Country USA is Virginia’s largest water park.
It’s honestly one of my family and my favorite places to go. There are so many family rides that everyone will feel included.
Before going to any water park, if you have a toddler, ensure you get the best swim vests for a 2 year old.
While Water Country USA has USCG-approved life jackets, having your own gives you peace of mind at this large park.
For overall swim gear for kids under 36 months, i play by Green Sprouts is a great company to consider.
The wave pool and the lazy river are the top attractions at Water Country USA.
The wave pool goes up to 8 feet and is near all the kiddie water rides at the park.
The entire family can ride so many water rides that it’s a great park for the whole family.
Hubby Hubba Highway is a free-floating river that spans 1,500 feet, and you go around it at top speed.
Just fast enough there you don’t need to have a tube; if you are a great swimmer, you can walk and go around.
A swim vest is a great option here as well.
Water Country USA and Busch Gardens Williamsburg are part of the SeaWorld Parks family.
Another company under this brand is Sesame Place, located in Philadelphia and San Diego.
Of course, the best time of year to go is during June and July when it’s not super hot, like August or early September.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is also known as Busch Gardens Europe, and it’s been named the world’s most beautiful theme park.
At Busch Gardens Williamsburg, you will encounter some of the park’s more iconic thrill rides, including Loch Ness Monster and Apollo’s Chariot (you would ride this at night or make it the last ride before leaving the park. It’s that epic).
One of the cool things about this park is that every section is different European Countries.
You can choose between purchasing a date-specific ticket or up to a specific period.
Water Country USA and Busch Gardens Williamsburg has special offers regularly, so join their email list.
Typically after you buy tickets, you are added to their email list.
If you need even more reason to visit Busch Gardens Williamsburg, it recently won the 2022 Golden Ticket Awards in the following categories.
- 2022’s Most Beautiful Park
- 2022’s Top 50 Steel Roller Coasters #8 for Apollo’s Chariot
- 2022’s Top 50 Steel Roller Coasters #36 for Alpengeist
- 2022’s Top 50 Steel Roller Coasters #46 for Pantheon
- 2022’s Top 50 Wooden Roller Coasters #45 for InvadR
I’ve been on all those rides, and they are worth the hype. Especially Invadr; for it to be a wooden coaster, it has a lot of speed.
Colonial Williamsburg
If you are a history buff, Colonial Williamsburg is your attraction.
What’s excellent about Colonial Williamsburg is that you can get tickets that fit your vacation plans.
You can also pair it with Water Country USA and Busch Gardens Williamsburg and go between these three parks.
They have many special events and great packages for young children yearly.
They offer vacation packages that allow you to do many fun things while learning about parts of American history.
Jamestown Settlement
Looking to take another blast in the past and learn more history? This is another great attraction in Williamsburg to travel to.
Similarly to Colonial Williamsburg, there are tickets for the settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
You will learn about the Virginia Indians who occupied the area and the arrival of English colonists to Jamestown in the 1600s.
You will also learn about the Powhatan Indians, English, and West Central Africans who became native to Jamestown and the recreations of ships you can tour.
Great Wolf Lodge
If you don’t want to be outside, then Great Wolf Lodge is an excellent alternative to the famous theme parks.
The waterpark is open daily, and with warm water, you don’t have to worry about your kids catching a cold while at the water park.
While at Great Wolf Lodge, you can still get the water park experience with their tube rides, water slides, and wave pool.
It’s in the perfect spot since you are within 30 minutes of the primer Williamsburg attractions, so you won’t feel too far or out of the loop just because you are at this lodge.
Suppose you want to do something other than the indoor park. In that case, you are just a 15-minute drive from Water Country USA and a 19-minute drive from the Busch Gardens theme park.
So you can still leave and be near other places to go if you get bored indoors.
This is more of an all-inclusive experience since you can have your lodging included if you choose and still do the indoor attractions.
Ocean Breeze Waterpark
This iconic Virginia Beach Attraction only opens during the May- September summer break.
The outdoor water park has water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a water playground.
You can also get a cabana if that is something you are interested in getting during the hot days.
You can get vacation packages that include hotel and tickets, so everything is included.
The tickets are affordable, and they also run sales all the time.
If you have visual impairments, check the policy since you will be around water, which can be hazardous.
Atlantic Fun Park
It’s voted as Virginia Beach’s Number One Amusement Park for a good reason.
With its variety of kiddie rides and go-kart tracks, you will have lots of fun at one of Vigirna’s great amusement parks.
Over six family and children’s rides are popular at the park.
Tickets are on a per-ride base, so you only pay for the rides that you want to get on.
With the tickets under $50, you can customize the tickets to your and your family’s needs.
Bumper cars are also at the park, so you and your family will have lots of fun at this amusement park.
Kings Dominion
If you want to do something in the central part of Virginia, Kings Dominion is another great place to try.
It’s just over an hour from Busch Gardens Williamsburg and a great park.
This is another great amusement park in Virginia that you must visit.
Some iconic rides and attractions at Kings Dominion include Intimidator 305®, Xtreme SkyFlyer, and Anaconda.
For the kids, you can’t go wrong with Splash Island, Charlie Brown’s Wind Up, and Joe Cool’s Driving School.
The park also has special events hosted by local radio stations, celebrities, and, if you wanted to host parties there like birthdays or other celebrations.
Recap about the Williamsburg, VA, amusement parks.
In conclusion, in Williamsburg, VA, you’ll find some of the most exhilarating amusement parks in the entire country.
One visit and you’ll be treated to a plethora of thrilling rides, live entertainment, and delectable food, all in one convenient location.
Whether you prefer Busch Gardens or Water Country USA, there’s something for every type of thrill-seeker in Williamsburg.
Take a break from history and indulge in the excitement of these amusement parks.
And, of course, remember to pack your sunscreen and wear comfortable shoes!
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