Family Vacation Guide to Williamsburg, Virginia

You saved, you packed and have finally arrived for a family getaway in Williamsburg, Virginia. Visions of precious family photos and gleeful giggles from your young children dance in your head as you embark on a day long adventure. The only thing that could spoil this potentially cherished moment is poor planning. Spare the tired tears, stressful parental moments and incessant whining by organizing a kid-friendly itinerary geared to delight even the smallest of travelers.

Eat a Hearty Breakfast

Start the day with a hearty breakfast at IHOP. The "Just for Kids" menu will fill little stomachs without emptying your wallet. Watch the smiles emerge as the waitress adds the final touches to the "Funny Face" stack of pancakes. A five inch tall offering of Buttermilk or chocolate chip pancakes look as good as they taste. Chocolate chips and whipped topping are used to create a "smile" on the top pancake, and are definitely finger licking good adornments. Eggs, french toast, bacon and sausage entrees are also available from the "Just for Kids" menu. Both adult and children's meals are routinely priced less than $7 each.

Amusements and Attractions

Busch Gardens is the only amusement and water park in the Greater Williamsburg Area. The park features rides, up-close tours, animal encounters and live concerts. Busch Gardens appeals to visitors from 2 to 92, making it a great choice when traveling with children of multiple ages or grandparents. The park features "KID-Siderate" areas designed with toddlers in mind. Look for the logo on the park map to find attractions and rest areas developed for children under age nine. The Sesame Street Forest of Fun section of the park is always my daughter's favorite place to play and get splashed from the stage during the live Elmo shows. Classic amusement park rides have been down-sized to give children less than four feet tall the opportunity to ride. Don't forget to take your camera and snap some photos of your little ones hugging costumed characters from the Sesame Street television series. A playground and picnic area offers a spacious gathering area to give feet both young and old a chance to rest. The Elmo 4D interactive shows fill up quickly, so check the schedule upon entering the children's area and plan to line up at least ten minutes before the desired show time. Weekdays and mornings are less crowded and offer the best opportunity to explore the park without wasting a lot of time standing in line. Adult admission tickets cost $64 each and children ages three to nine are charged $54 to enter the park. There is not charge for toddlers age two and younger to visit Busch Gardens with a paying adult.

Lunch Break with Elmo

Eat lunch with Elmo and his friends at the all-you-can-eat buffet. No need to wait in long concession stand lines or sit on hard park benches attempting to balance a plastic plate between your knees. Pull up a chair and dine on childhood favorites like chicken tenders, hot dogs and macaroni and cheese while watching for costumed characters to make an appearance. Reservations can be made online and must be completed at least a day in advance of a planned visit. The cost for the meal is $20 for adults and $17 for children age three to nine years of age. There is no charge for children age two and younger accompanied by a paying adult.

Animal Exhibits

Children age four and younger might be ready for a nap after lunch and may need to head back to the hotel for a siesta. If you would like to spend more time at Busch Gardens exploring the animal exhibits, you may want to consider either bringing or renting a stroller. Five separate animal areas dot the landscape at the park. Jack Hanna's Wild Preserve offers a close-up view of endangered species from around the world. Lorikeet Glen is an enclosed aviary with attention seeking birds flying around in search of nectar. You can purchase little cups of nectar for less than $1 to feed to the singing and whistling feathered friends. If your child startles easily or is not comfortable around animals, the aviary might not be a positive experience for them. Visit the Eagle Ridge exhibit and marvel at the wing span and grace of the American Bald eagle. Discover what life in a wolf pack is all about at the Wolf Valley exhibit. Watch the Gray Wolf play and run inside a habitat designed to resemble dense forests where wolves run free in North America. Do you have a budding cowboy or cowgirl in your midst? Take a few minutes to visit Highland Stables before exiting the park. Lift the little ones up to pet the stocky Clydesdale horses which have become the beloved symbol of the Busch Bottling company.

Dinner Time

Expect tired little passengers with cotton candy stuck to their fingers and exhausted smiles plastered onto their faces during the ride back to the hotel. A nap and possibly a quick bath will probably be on your late afternoon agenda. Some downtown might be necessary for the grown-ups as well. After the family has had time to refresh and change clothes enjoy a meal of fresh seafood while the little ones play in the game room and dine on gourmet pizza. The house specialty of savory crab legs will leave you begging for a "doggie bag" to enjoy a midnight snack after the kids are fast asleep. Typical entrees prices at the Library Tavern are $15 or less. No need for a fuss over what kind of pizza to order, individual pies are less than $5 each. Save some room to share a decadent piece of Tiramisu for dessert.