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Patricia Clements��������� ���������������������� ����������������������� ����������������������� ����������� ����������� June 13, 2002 |
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Essay #4 |
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The Major Attraction of Busch Gardens |
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����������� Busch Entertainment, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Corporation, is one of the largest adventure park operators in the United States.� Busch Gardens of Williamsburg has covered 360 acres of Virginia countryside for over twenty-five years and is adjacent to the James River.� This adventure park is three miles east of historic Williamsburg, VA, and fifty miles from Richmond and the Virginia Beach resort area.� Busch Gardens has the honor of being one of the most beautiful theme parks in the United States by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA).� This was my first visit to Busch Gardens, a European-themed park, which provided me with a delightful adventure through various European legends with a wide variety of entertainment; thrill rides, programs, and exhibits. |
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����������� I'm of the opinion that an amusement park is best known for its rollercoaster rides and Busch Gardens has some great thrill rides.� One of coasters that I enjoyed the most was the Alpengeist, which is one of the world's tallest and fastest inverted coasters and launches riders down a 170-foot drop.� On this ride all handbags had to be left behind.� I also rode the park's hyper coaster, the Apollo's Chariot.� A hyper coaster is a coaster over two hundred feet high and this one is two hundred and ten feet. This ride took me down a terrifying steep slope and lots of terrifying curves, but was a lot of fun.� There are the typical rides as well, such as the Spider, Teacup, bumper cars, etc. |
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When the park opened in 1978 the Loch Ness Monster was the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the park, but now it is just a nice short ride.� It almost seems as if you can reach out and touch the trees on this ride.� The Big Bad Wolf was the world's first successful suspended rollercoaster that opened in 1984.� This ride took me through a Bavarian village and over the mock Rhine River.� These rollercoasters are sprawled throughout the park among lush trees full of welcoming shade.� Sadly, or maybe not, Drachen Fire, a large steel, looping coaster ride has been closed forever after a short run of a couple seasons.� My professor informed me that after this ride they were handing out Tylenol.� This doesn't sound like a very fun ride to me. |
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The water rides are the Roman Rapids, Le Scoot, and Escape from Pompeii.� Which are definitely nice on a too warm day.� The Roman Rapids allows up to eight people to strap themselves to a round tube and this ride sends you down a man-made river.� The Escape from Pompeii ride takes you through the heat of the volcano and falling columns then plunges you into a big splash at the end of the ride.� There is also the traditional log flume ride, called Le Scoot, which takes you through the lush Virginia woods. |
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The park's theme, as stated on the park's website, is "take a journey to the unexpected."� This enchanting amusement park it is divided into nine different villages.� There is also the Le Palais Royal, the Abbey Stone, and the Globe Theatres for the less adventurous park patrons.� The other villages are quite unique, as well; The Fest Italia, Oktoberfest, San Marco, New France, Aquitaine, Heatherdowns, Banbury Cross and Ireland.� The Ireland village is the newest country to join the adventure park in the last twenty years. In this park you can get shrunk, meet a witch or ride a flying horse.� Busch Gardens houses more than fifteen master artisans from various parts of Europe.� This gives the parks' visitors a chance to see and purchase crystals, steins, figurines, paintings, and sculptures from international craftsmen.� |
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There seems to be plenty of rides for the little ones as well.� The Land of the Dragons and Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions seems to be the kiddies' sections.� In the Land of the Dragons there is a treehouse, slides, log flume and shows for the children to enjoy.� In Da Vinci's Garden there is a glider ride and a balloon ride, which the children seem to really get a kick out of.� Sprawled throughout the park are other attractions for the children.� There is the Roto Baron, Der Whirlbelwind, Der Autobahn Jr. and the Elephant run for the children's amusement.� There's a cool 3D movie in the Ireland village. The children seem to find the animal and bird shows pretty funny and educational.� There is a petting zoo and wildlife preserve that is meant to educate, amuse, and delight the park patrons. |
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The food is actually quite enjoyable.� I had to eat some bratwurst and kraut at the Festhaus to find out if it would taste the same as when dining in a German Imbus, which it did.� They even have German dancers to entertain you while you dine and of course, plenty of ale.� Having spent two years in Germany, this made me a little nostalgic.� |
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Busch Gardens is a wonderful amusement park that is an enjoyment for all to have.� There is plenty to keep the whole family entertained.�� The park's landscaping is just beautiful and very well maintained.� On the day of my visit to the park it wasn't overly crowded, which was a pleasant surprise.� I was a little tired, but thoroughly pleased after my first visit to Busch Garden.� I, definitely, plan a second visit this summer or, better yet, get myself a season pass.� |
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Chavis, Jacquelin. Busch Gardens. 10 June 2002. <http://www.buschgardens.org>. |
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Works Cited |
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