Virginia’s Three-Cornered Hat: History, Water Park, Roller Coaster

You have a friend in the history booksIf you’re looking for a great combination of living U.S. history combined with theme park fun, consider the “Historic Triangle” of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown in Virginia.

There’s not a better place for one-stop learning about our country’s colonial history, including one of the first European settlements at Jamestown, a colonial world brought to life in Williamsburg and the battlefield at Yorktown where we won our freedom after a decisive defeat of the British forces.

Just because school’s out for the summer doesn’t mean that brain rot has to set in too soon! 🙂

This is Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, so the buzz is on to bring visitors here (even Queen Elizabeth stopped by recently.) The historic sites just launched a brand new website, www.VisitWilliamsburg.com, complete with trip planning tools and interactive features.

Now is a great time to celebrate the nation’s history where it all started. Founded in 1607, Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the U.S., and organizers have pulled out all the stops for a year-long 400th anniversary celebration.

Once you check out the historic places, cool off at the new Water Country USA . The mid-Atlantic’s largest water play park, it has a Fifties and Sixties surf theme and over 30 slides and water rides. Roller coaster fans can check out the Griffon, Busch Gardens Europe’s newest roller coaster. I remember taking my daughter to the park when the Drachen Fire ride first opened (it’s since closed) and now they’ve raised the bar with the tallest floorless dive coaster in the world.

Book any visit with a ticket package and get the official Williamsburg-Jamestown-Yorktown Visitors Guide for free. If you find a lower room rate on another website than what you paid to book your room via VisitWilliamsburg.com, they’ll honor the lower rate you found. If you book participating properties for 4 nights, you’ll receive the 5th night free, or take advantage of the 7-4-1 Flex ticket’s unlimited access for 7 consecutive days to 7 destinations: Busch Gardens Europe, Colonial Williamsburg, Water Country USA, Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestown, Yorktown Victory Center and Yorktown Battlefield.

A family of 4 can stay 5 nights and visit all 7 attractions for as little as $899, plus food and incidentals (if you fly in, you’ll need a rental car to most efficiently get around to the sights.) Children 5 and under are free with an adult, and by purchasing 7-4-1 Flex tickets on VisitWilliamsburg.com, you get a discount from the normal purchase price at the gate.

Anyone in the family enjoy golfing? The Williamsburg area also has lovely courses and offers vacation packages as well. The surf’s up in nearby Virginia Beach or on the Outer Banks in North Carolina if you want to pack in some beach time.

Technorati tags: travel, family travel, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Virginia