Busch Gardens

I promise this is the last set of pictures from our Virginia Beach trip! One day we went to Busch Gardens. It was a blast! I tend to compare everything to Disney, (we absolutely LOVE Disney!). This was our 2nd time to go to Busch Gardens and it was a lot of fun! The last time was 4 years ago, so this time we could ride more things since the kids were older.

When we first got there we saw these characters:

I made the kids get their picture taken! Actually I had to pay them each to let me take their picture. They used to love Sesame Street, but of course are at that age where they can't be seen with the characters! We never saw Elmo, or I would have had forked out some more money for a another picture!

Below is a picture of us after we rode the water ride. I can't remember the name, but it was so much fun! We got soaked! And I mean soaked! You sit in a round boat and it spins around as it goes down. There are times where you basically have water just poured on you! They have these booth type areas where you can pay to "dry" off. We did it, but it really didn't do much good.

This was one of those fair type rides that spins around. We rode these several times! It was one of Annamarye's favorites!

Another all time favorite ~ the bumper cars!

Vacation

I am not sure where we were when I took this picture. I think it was at dinner one night. I just shots like this!

Putt Putt on vacation is a must!!

At night you could see fireworks from the hotel balcony.

I couldn't remember if I had posted these next two pictures or not and to be honest, I was too lazy to go back and look!

The kids love walking along the boardwalk and looking at the statues!

The kids were very sad to leave the beach!

Virginia Beach

While in Virginia this summer one afternoon we went to the Virginia Beach Science Museum and Aquarium. Here's a few pictures:

Here is Annamarye in her color changing t-shirt. I bought one several years ago at the Chattanooga aquarium. Annamarye has wanted one ever since!

The Never Ending Vacation!

After we spent a few days in Williamsburg, my in laws came home and we headed to Virginia Beach. We did spend time at the outlets in Williamsburg first! Always have to find an outlet and shop!
We have been to Virginia Beach several times and Annamarye had been begging to go back. We planned the trip last February ~ which turned out well since the oil spill in the gulf. Virginia Beach has a huge boardwalk and the kids love it! We got there in the late afternoon so we went walking along the boardwalk.
Had to stop for a treat along the way!
This was on the beach. The kids didn't go down then, but they did later in the week!

Here's Annamarye in the rooftop pool:

The view from the rooftop pool:

Then we went to the indoor pool. It is connected to the outdoor rooftop pool. It is really nice ~ we stayed here the last time we were here. The workers work here! And they are young too! They are constantly wiping off the pool area so the kids don't slip. The chairs at the pools and at the beach all have terry cloth covers and they provide towels at the beach and pools!

The bar serves food too and the waitresses come around to the pool areas. We would just order our lunch everyday and eat by the pool. The kids loved it!!

Still more to come...

More Williamsburg Pictures

We had dinner one night here: They have normal food, but it is set up like Colonial Times. There is a normal kitchen, but no lights in the dining rooms. Here the waitress is getting the guys ready for dinner.

My father in law and Johnny were good sports. They didn't leave them on for dinner though. She explained that the reason the napkins were worn that way and were so large were because people didn't bath and wash clothes daily like we do.

We took carriage rides around Williamsburg. We had a girl carriage and a boy carriage. Ours was covered and so the pictures didn't turn out well.

Here's the kids in the jail. They thought it was neat!

Disney World

We had a fabulous Spring Break! It was a much needed break and get away! We left early Saturday morning and got there around 5:00. We stayed at the Boardwalk Inn. It is considered an Epcot Resort. This was our third time to stay there. We have stayed at other resorts, but we love the Boardwalk! We had dinner at Cat Cora's restaurant Kouzzina, which is on the boardwalk. Afterwards we walked along the boardwalk watching the performers and looking in the shops.
Each trip to Disney we try to do different things. Since the kids are older, we decided to get them lanyards and some pins for trading. Here they are with their starter kits.

We always go to Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom for breakfast our first day! That way we are already in the park when it opens. Here's Johnny and the kids waiting for the bus. Yes, it is still dark outside! I forgot to mention, when we go we go! We go non-stop most of the time. We are up early and usually back in our room around 9:00.

James, Annamarye and Piglet. I'm glad my kids will still have their pictures made with the characters! This is probably the last year for James?

Our first ride of the day is always Buzz Lightyear! The past two times we have been the first ones on! The first family of the day gets free pictures!

Next we headed to the Speedway! Another favorite, especially since both can drive now!

Here's Johnny and James on the Jungle Cruise! This has been the same since I first went to Disney as a child! It is corny, but a favorite!

James saw his friend Logan while waiting in line for Goofy's Barnstarmer, so they rode together!

We rode all of our favorites - Dumbo, It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Snow White, the Teacups, and Mickey's Philharmagic. Johnny and James rode Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railway. I have ridden Space Mountain and once was enough. We were in line for Haunted Mansion and they ended up closing it. We did get to ride it later in the week though.