• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
July 10, 2010

Elmo, Roller-coasters, and Churros- Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

On the next stop of our 2010 Road Trip Adventure, after a day of activities in Washington, DC and an awesome couple of nights at Alexandria, VA, we made our way to Williamsburg, VA.  I had hoped that we would able to stay longer so that we could go to Colonial Williamsburg, but we only had one day. And that day was all about Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

I had made the mistake of mentioning to my boys that we would be going to a “really awesome park” two days beforehand, so for the days till then all three were tormenting me about it. Finally, the day arrived and all my kids were excited beyond words.

We slept in that morning, so started our day a bit later. But this turned out to be a great thing because the temperatures have been insane. But because the temperature was so high, it managed to keep a lot of people away, which meant we almost owned the park! The lines were minimal which of course meant we could ride favorite rides over and over.

While my husband and the oldest enjoyed the crazy roller-coaster rides such as the Griffon and the Loch Ness Monster, the little ones and I spent most of our time in Sesame Street Forest of Fun cooling off in their water area, and taking pictures with our hosts  Elmo, Ernie and Bert, Cookie Monster, and others. This little-kid friendly area also had rides, and it was great that my boys were able to enjoy so many of them.  Limits for most rides seemed to be between 42′ to 46′ tall. Once you get in the park, find a measuring zone and your kid will be given a color coded wrist band which lets those managing the rides know right away if your child can get on without having to measure them each time.  You also get a list to go with the color coded band that lets you know which rides your child can get on. It was here, at this Forest of Fun, that my little ones rode their first roller-coaster, all by themselves!

Even though there were some where the kids could not get on, there was plenty for them to do. Another great little-kid friendly section in the park is the Land of Dragons, where kids can enjoy getting lost in the large tree house, get wet in the sprinklers, and ride on the kiddie rides perfect for their size.

When it comes to food, I can’t say it’s all really great. Hamburgers, fries, chicken fingers, hot dogs. The most variety we found was in “France”, at Trapper’s Smokehouse, where they offer BBQ ribs, grilled chicken and corn on the cob.

And as far as treats there are plenty to be found. On this trip I introduced my kids to churros.  I know it’s odd that they haven’t had any before, especially with us being from New York City and all.  But, it was here, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg that I introduced my little ones to the sugary, cinnamon covered treat. And needless to say, they loved it!

We stayed in Busch Gardens till the fire works that are part of there Illuminights celebrations, which will take place from now till August 22, were done. We managed to ride Le Scoot and get soaked 5 times in a row, and didn’t start making our way out till everything closed down and the crowds started making their way to the park gates.

As we walked out, my kids with their mouths covered in churro delight, my 3 year old looked back and said, “Good-bye Elmo’s place. I wuv you!”, indicating that this adventure was indeed a success.

For more information on Busch Gardens Williamsburg admission, hours, and more, please visit their website.

*Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Complimentary admission was provided courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The views and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. For more information please refer to the disclosure page.

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
2 Comments
  • Sherri
    August 8, 2010

    Hi Carol,

    Thanks for the great info about Busch Garden. I now know to bring swimsuits for kids. We plan on going in the next few weeks.

    Sherri

    Reply
  • Water Fun at Sesame Place, Langhorne, PA | NYCity Mama
    September 19, 2010

    […] our visit to Bush Gardens in Williamsburg this past Summer, my little ones have not stopped talking about wanting to see Elmo and […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Celebrating Fourth of July in Washington, DC
Next Post
From Nashville to Memphis, TN: The Quick Tour

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe54 Post(s)
  • North America318 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Contact

  • caincarol@gmail.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Happy winter and merry everything as we enjoy anot Happy winter and merry everything as we enjoy another snowy day in the Finger Lakes. 

Personally, I am ready to hibernate for a bit and enjoy a book or two by the fire while the sounds of my guys fills our home. 

I am in no rush to start the new year but am also excited to get started. I want a year filled with more time with friends, and pursuing projects that I am really inspired by and to be surrounded by inspiring people. I expect to say no a lot this year, after so many years of saying yes and regretting it. I want days that feel happy and healthy and fulfilling. 

Not too much to ask, right? And I wish you all a happy and healthy year too. May you love and be loved in all the ways you deserve and need. ❤️

Thanks for the follow, the support, the DMs and comments, and kindness expressed and shared.
This time of year is a joyous one but it can also This time of year is a joyous one but it can also be terribly overwhelming and draining. 

As someone managing two small businesses and all that life throws my way, I felt I needed a little escape, and Rochester always delivers!

We booked a hotel room, hit up all of our favorite spots, and a couple of new ones. On the list of musts:

📍Highland Park Diner- a must for a hearty breakfast to start the day. Best on weekdays for no crowds. 
📍Siren and the Sea - new cafe bookstore full of good reads, cozy vibes, and yummy drinks
📍Happy Earth Tea - where I picked up some delicious chai and matcha (also a sweet little yap spot with friends). 
📍Lamberton Conservatory - especially this time of year as it’s decorated for the holidays. Was a lovely spot to sit on a bench and zen out for a bit.
📍Winter Swan Coffee - afternoon cafecito, gift and plant shopping
📍Ugly Duck Coffee - the main reason we were inspired to come to Rochester on this specific day, for their Industry Night, where we nerded out about coffee “and beyond”. Of course we went back the next morning for coffee!
📍Rochester Public Market - for some evening holiday market strolling and hellos to our friends Sylvan Farm and Cidery who were working the market!
📍Lucky’s for dinner - yummy, but man oh man do I miss their onion rings!

Absolutely love this city for it’s ability to make me feel happier and lighter. Happy place 🫶🏾.
I’ve seen some pretty spectacular sunsets in my I’ve seen some pretty spectacular sunsets in my travels. Some of my absolute favorites have been on a beach in Mazatlán, Mexico, behind The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, while sitting on a fisherman’s dock in Seoul, South Korea, along the rugged seashore of La Perla, Puerto Rico, and here in the Finger Lakes. Not an exaggeration. The sunsets here are stunning. Breathtaking even. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #citygirlinthecountry #sunsethour
As a Brooklyn girl, born and raised, I never could As a Brooklyn girl, born and raised, I never could’ve imagined a reason to stray too far from my beloved city…and then, I found the Finger Lakes. Never say never. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Bonus: Brooklyn feels like a world away from all this peace and beauty, but it’s only a 4 hour drive. 🫶🏾

#fingerlakes #newyork #citygirlinthecountry #roadtrip
During my recent jaunt to @visittheberkshires I im During my recent jaunt to @visittheberkshires I immersed myself in @massmoca bliss. With 250,000 square feet of gallery space, it’s easy to understand how with three visits thus far,  I still haven’t seen all there is to see. 

Strolling the interconnected buildings and walkways leads you into a new experience, and with each ticket allowing for two consecutive day visits, you are encouraged to take your time. 

Another thing to note is that in between my visits (separated by a month’s time) I got to see new installations that weren’t there before, as many of the exhibits are ever-evolving. 

I have yet to visit during warmer temps, when the outdoor spaces are activated with more art and events, so am definitely excited to return. It would also be cool to catch a live performance there! 

Bonus: the coffee shop adjacent to the museum - @tunnelcitycoffee - serves up some good sips, and I highly recommend reservations to @casitaberkshires, the Mexican restaurant also on campus.

#berkshiresma #roadtrip #museum #massmoca #visitberkshires
This winter promises to be a snowy one and honestl This winter promises to be a snowy one and honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. Experiencing true four seasons is one of the things I love about living here because everything changes each time. The energy is more serene and mellow. The world is so chaotic and sad in many ways these days, it’s really healing to be surrounded by the quiet and stillness of nature on a snow day in the Finger Lakes. 

#fingerlakes #upstateny #snowday

Copyright © 2025 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice