Howl-O-Scream 2016: Circo Sinistro and No Escape come to Busch Gardens

Halloween is my most favorite time of year. I’m always a willing target participant for the next big scary attraction. I’ll be the one screaming my head off, but I’ll be there. I recently had the opportunity to check out the new haunted houses/mazes and other attractions at Howl-O-Scream 2016. I try not to be […]

Halloween 2014: The Outer Banks’ Lost Colony presents PsychoPath

Note:  This article originally appeared in Examiner.com in October 2014. Cooler temperatures and crisp breezes make October a perfect time for an Outer Banks getaway. When you can combine the scenery and location with seasonal attractions such as haunted trails and scary fun, it’s all the better in my opinion. The remote location, mysterious disappearances […]

Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival 2015: Asia and The French Quarter

The third annual Food and Wine Festival is well underway at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The event runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 22 through June 28, 2015. Park guests can take in the shows, rides and family fun of the Most Beautiful Theme Park in the World while sampling flavors from around the world. […]

Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival 2016: Hawaii and Virginia

The wildly popular Food & Wine Festival has returned to Busch Gardens for its fourth season. The event takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 27 through June 26, 2016. In addition to delicious food, desserts and beverages from around the world, park guests can enjoy live music, themed decorations and culinary demonstrations […]

Schnitzel, Schnaps, and lots and lots of Bier: Oktoberfest Bier Fest at Busch Gardens

One of my travel dreams is to explore the castles, towns, and traditions of Germany and Austria and to attend Oktoberfest in Munich. Well, Munich and Austria are not happening in my very near future, so I jumped at the chance to live out a bit of my Bavarian background (my maiden name is Eisentrout […]

Busch Gardens’ Food & Wine Festival 2014: Menus and Pictures

Busch Gardens’ second annual Food & Wine Festival is going on now through June 29 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Guests at the Williamsburg, Virginia theme park can purchase sample-size portions of native food and beverage items from a variety of countries and regions. Most of last year’s culinary regions have returned. Austria is one […]

Busch Gardens Ambassador Blogger Meet-Up and Opening Weekend

I just had the best weekend ever. The weather was beautiful (it’s snowing now, but let’s not dwell on that), I got in a ton of walking time, rode some fun rides, saw a couple of shows, smelled some lovely spring flowers, met the most adorable puppies on earth and learned about a really cool […]

Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town 2013: Blogger/Media Preview

From pine-scented pathways and colorful conifers to whimsical wreaths, sparkly garlands, and more than six million lights, it’s all in the details at the fifth annual Christmas Town event at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. An all-new decorating tour, animal encounters, joyful musical shows, and the park’s always delicious food and beverage choices enhance the thrills of […]

Howl-O-Scream 2013: Busch Gardens ups the ante for Halloween events everywhere

  How do you take an already great Halloween event and make it even better? If you’re an ordinary theme park, you add themed dining to the venue and call it a day. If you’re Busch Gardens, you add themed dining and insert amazingly talented actors into it for an extraordinary dinner theatre experience. Oh, […]

Darius Rucker Rocks Richmond at Innsbrook After Hours

Newly appointed Grand Ole Opry member and front man of Hootie and the Blowfish, Darius Rucker performed to a sold out crowd at Richmond’s Innsbrook After Hours concert series. The Thursday, September 6 performance at the Snagajob Pavilion just snagged its place at the top of my list of best concerts ever. Brinn Black, a […]

Happy Wholidays from Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Seuss Landing is easily the most festively decorated spot in all of the Universe (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida, that is).  Sure, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is always snow-covered and stocked with snowmen and steam engines, but all of the greenery and red-trimmed wreaths just add a special sparkle […]