Virginia Beach, Va. – Feel the warm sun on your skin and the sand between your toes as you relax on the sun-drenched beach. Then, scream at the top of your lungs on a thrilling roller coaster or get drenched on a twirling water ride. This summer, the family can experience two vacations in one - Virginia Beach and Busch Gardens inWilliamsburg.

Both destinations are great places to visit with kids of all ages, each offering its own diverse spectrum of activities, dining and nightlife. Centrally located on the East Coast,Virginia Beachis situated in the southeastern corner of the state andBuschGardensis a short one-hour drive from the resort area.  With daily flights into the Norfolk International and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airports and an easy day’s drive from most cities on the East Coast, the duo ofVirginia BeachandBuschGardenscreate the perfect vacation getaway for a family.

In Virginia Beach, stroll along the 3-mile boardwalk, hike the 18,600 acres of state parks and a wildlife refuge, kayak through the mighty ocean waves or embark upon a dolphin-watching boat cruise to witness the creatures in their natural habitat. Savor sumptuous coastal cuisine with seafood straight from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean and fresh produce from local farms. Wander through Beach Street U.S.A., where the oceanfront comes alive with free entertainment along the sidewalks ofAtlantic Avenue.         

Busch Gardens is an action-packed, European-themed adventure park that offers families more than 100 acres of fun-filled exploration. Thrill-seekers can challenge Griffon, the world’s tallest and first floorless dive coaster. Children love Sesame Street Forest of Fun atBuschGardens with its rides and shows designed for the park’s youngest guests.

This season, the BuschGardens’ Oktoberfest village is getting a fresh new look. New restaurants, games and performance venues that follow a traditional German Oktoberfest celebration support BuschGardens’ newest and tallest ride, Mäch Tower.MächTower lifts up to 30 riders nearly 240 feet above Oktoberfest. After riders get a few seconds to take in the view, they drop to the ground at breathtaking speed. The whole family can easily spend more than a day exploring the culinary delights, shows and thrill rides ofEngland,Ireland,Scotland,France,Italy andGermany.

Virginia Beach is offering a Busch Gardens/Virginia Beach Vacation Package which includes a hotel stay in Virginia Beachand tickets to BuschGardens. Package prices vary based on time of stay and number in party. For more information or to book your family’s Busch Gardens/Virginia Beach vacation, visit http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/visitors/articles/beach-busch/.

Virginia Beach entices visitors to “Live the Life” year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com for online trip planning. For media information and digital images, click on www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/pressroom. Please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/vabeachcvb and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaBeachVA.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates 10 parks across the U.S. including SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; Sesame Place near Philadelphia, Pa.; and water parks Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in Williamsburg. The 10 parks play host to 25 million guests each year and employ 26,000 people nationwide. To learn more, visit www.SeaWorldParksandEntertainment.com or call toll-free (888) 800-5447. Additionally, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment created the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a non-profit, private charitable foundation committed to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation, research, education and animal rescue programs worldwide. Learn more at SWBG-ConservationFund.org.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Ron Kuhlman Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau  |  757.385.4700
Kari Journigan  BCF  |  757.497.4811  |  kjournigan@boomyourbrand.com