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Amusement & Water Parks

Is Busch Gardens Christmas Town Worth the Cost? Plus Tips From Locals

December 23, 2016 by Dana Zeliff 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Lights Busch Gardens Christmas Town
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Are you considering a trip to Busch Gardens Christmas Town?  Christmas Town is one of our favorite family traditions.  Each year we take the kids to experience the park, drink hot chocolate and see the lights.  But is it worth the cost?  If you’re unsure if you should spend the extra cash, I’ve listed some of the pros and cons to help make your decision.

Pros:Christmas Town Santa Busch Gardens

Gorgeous light display – Busch Gardens definitely has one of the best light displays in VA with more than eight million lights!  The entire park is lit up and the Polar Pathway is a sight to behold.  We can’t even fathom how they get all those lights on Escape from Pompeii!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Virginia, Amusement & Water Parks, North America, Destinations

10 “Don’t Miss” Attractions at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream

October 2, 2015 by Dana Zeliff 1 Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Busch Garden Halloween Horror Night

There is one thing you can always count on when a chill hits the air and the sun starts setting earlier – Busch Gardens is preparing for Howl-O-Scream!

The park opens at it’s normal time of 10 a.m. with all of the normal activities and rides in operation. But be warned: at 6 p.m. Busch Gardens becomes a seriously scary place and may not be suitable for little ones. Please use discretion when bringing children into the park at this time. It changes quickly so be sure if you have little ones to plan a head!

Once you make the decision to brave the park for Busch Gardens Halloween fun, do NOT miss these thrills:

Experience Busch Garden Halloween Horror Night like a pro:

1. Unearthed-Scarlett’s Revenge– Don’t miss the all-new house from the producer of The Blair Witch Project, Unearthed™- Scarlett’s Revenge.

During maintenance at the park, an excavation crew uncovered a centuries-old house buried deep beneath the ground. Upon opening its door, a sinister force was unearthed—Scarlett—a furious demon who wields a deadly deck of magical cards she uses to summon her evil minions. Journey below to experience the splintered labyrinth of horrors and the revengeful wrath of this demon scorned.

2. LumberHack– New for 2015 this is a grueling attraction!

Hikers beware: the woods hold a terrifying secret. More than 50 years ago a logging camp was abandoned after a horrific accident where saws ripped into human flesh instead of tree bark. Tragically, the loggers perished … only to inexplicably awaken from death sometime later filled with inhuman rage. Now the forgotten lumberjacks lie waiting for unsuspecting campers to stumble into their den of the damned.

The maze begins with campers begging you not to continue going- ignore them for a great scare!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Kids Travel Picks, Virginia, Amusement & Water Parks, North America, Destinations

What to See & Do at Busch Gardens Tampa

September 20, 2015 by Dana Zeliff Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

What to See & Do at Busch Gardens Tampa

If you’re planning a trip to the Sunshine State and looking for a vacation highlight besides Disney, check out Busch Gardens Tampa.  What are some of the highlights for visiting families?

Below are a lot of fun things to do for all ages and stages:

Flamingos at Skyride Busch Gardens Tampa

Sesame Street Safari of Fun – is the perfect area of the park for families with kids from toddlers to nearly preteens.

Rides that are just for the littles, and some meant for littles and a parent- from the Elmo’s Safari Go Round to Snuffy’s elephant romp kids are met with colorful, fun characters all over.

Characters at Skyride Busch Gardens Tampa [Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Kids Travel Picks, Amusement & Water Parks, Florida, North America, Destinations

LEGOLAND Deutschland Resort in Germany {Tips & Adventures for LEGO Fun}

September 4, 2015 by Dana Zeliff 24 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

LEGOLAND Deutschland Tips

Just a two hour train ride from Munich lies the town of Günzburg.   Here you will find LEGOLAND Deutschland Resort, one of six LEGOLAND locations around the world! It’s a child’s dream adventure in the playful world of LEGO’s.

The German LEGOLAND Resort offers more than 50 attractions catering specifically to children ages 3- 12.  Not that older kids and grown-ups wouldn’t love it, too! There are plenty of rides, attractions, shows and LEGO models to please all age groups.

Fun Fact: The park used more than 55 million LEGO bricks to assemble the thousands of unique models throughout the park!

LEGOLAND Deutschland

After getting off the train, we boarded a shuttle bus to take us to LEGOLAND.  It’s only a 9 minute ride from the station.  As we rounded a bend, the LEGOLAND entrance came into view. There were collective ooh’s and ahhh’s from all the kids onboard.  I wish I had my video camera out to record their moment of amazement!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Kids Travel Picks, Europe Travel with Kids, Amusement & Water Parks, Destinations, Germany Tagged With: Munich Germany, Germany

Ocean Breeze Waterpark Virginia Beach {Family Fun in the Sun}

July 23, 2014 by Dana Zeliff 6 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Ocean Breeze Waterpark Virginia Beach
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Are you looking for a great way to cool off during the hot summer months? Then Ocean Breeze Waterpark Virginia Beach is your answer!

slides ob

Located in Virginia Beach only a few short miles from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Ocean Breeze Waterpark Virginia Beach is the perfect way to add some water fun to your vacation!  There are rides and features for the entire family and we have been season pass holders since the boys were babies!  From Buccaneer Bay for the little ones, to The Hurricane for the more daring family members, you’re sure to find something to make everyone happy!  And if going down slides isn’t your thing, you can relax poolside by the giant wave pool or grab a free raft and float around the “Adventure River” which has earned a nickname from my kids as “The Lazy River” because it’s so relaxing!

pirate ship ob

[Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Kids Travel Picks, Virginia, Amusement & Water Parks, North America, Destinations

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Dana. Planning a great trip shouldn't mean spending endless evenings scrolling travel forums, watching videos, and sorting through conflicting opinions online.

I've spent years exploring the world with my husband and our two kids, and those experiences shape how I help clients plan their own vacations. Together, we've visited 48 countries across four continents and spent nearly four years living in France.

Whether you're planning a European itinerary, a cruise vacation, an all-inclusive resort stay, or a family getaway, I'll help you sort through the options and create a trip that works for your travel style, interests, and budget. Read More…

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