Frommer's Review
At some point you may need a break from early American history, especially if you have kids in tow, so head over to Busch Gardens Europe, a 360-acre family entertainment park. Here you can get a peek at European history, albeit fanciful, in authentically detailed 17th-century hamlets from England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, and Italy. Little mental effort is required to enjoy the villages, shows, festivities, and more than 50 rides, including the world-class roller coasters Apollo's Chariot and Alpengeist.
The usual starting place is Elizabethan England, where you can watch "Pirates," a 3-D movie with sound effects. From there, you proceed to Scotland, home of the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale horses and the serpentine Loch Ness Monster, a terrifying roller coaster with two interlocking 360-degree loops and a 130-foot drop. Back on ground, proceed to Ireland, where you can go to Budweiser beer school and see animals at Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve.
Next comes France, where you and the kids can lose whatever cookies you have left on the Griffin Dive Coaster. The Royal Theatre is the venue for the park's nighttime entertainment and special events. In an odd juxtaposition, New France is home to Trappers Smokehouse, a Southern-style barbecue joint. Now it's on to Germany, where Land of the Dragons lets the kids explore a three-story treehouse and ride a flume and a dragon-themed Ferris wheel. Both you and kids can drop your hearts on the Alpengeist inverted roller coaster. Dancers and an oompah band entertain in Das Festhaus, a 2,000-seat festival hall where Oktoberfest never ends. It's the best place to take a break, cool off, and have a cold drink.
From Germany, a 300-foot bridge crosses the "Rhine River" to Italy, where the water ride Escape from Pompeii will whisk you to the smoldering ruins of the ancient Italian city destroyed by a volcano, and Roman Rapids will speed you to a splash in front of the ruins. Also here is Apollo's Chariot, a "hypercoaster" with nine vertical drops of up to 210 feet. Tamer rides pay tribute to Leonardo da Vinci's inventions.
During October, the park switches to a "Howl-O-Scream" theme after 6pm on weekends, with bloodcurdling screams splitting the artificial fog, which fills the night air. It's a fun time for young ghouls to be out and about.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
