Virginia Beach Fun Blog

What do Jamestown and the Virginia Lottery Have in Common?

In 1611, Jamestown's British backers put out a stock offering to raise capital for the fledgling colonial settlement. Alas, it felt short of the funds needed. So, the backers went to Plan B: run a lottery in London.

David Price, author of "Love & Hate in Jamestown," calls this "the first Virginia lottery." The grand prize was 1,000 British pounds.

Did it work? Did it ever. This first lottery in 1612 was such a success, backers ran lotteries for nearly 10 years. According to Price, the backers wrote that for "gettinge in monneys ... the first & most certaine is by the lotteries."

Shows you how little changes in 400 years.

Planning to celebrate the upcoming "America's 400th Anniversary" in Jamestown? For details on planning your visit, including money-saving tips, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

Source: www.dailypress.com

January 3, 2007 12:09 - Visit Colonial Williamsburg with Disney...Then Go to "Europe"

Travel with the Mouse in 2007! Disney is offering family-oriented, guided tours of the highlights of the mid-Atlantic, including a tour of Colonial Williamsburg.

The 7-day trip begins in Philadelphia, then visits Washington, DC, and Mt. Vernon, before ending in Colonial Williamsburg.

Highlights include:

-- a dinner hosted by "Ben Franklin" in Philadelphia
-- a bike exploration of Washington, DC
-- a tour of Mt. Vernon
-- a day at The Great Wolf Lodge, a wilderness-themed resort with a 67,000 square-foot indoor water park
-- Visiting wig and brick makers at Colonial Williamsburg
-- a Disney movie night

Families will be able to travel back in time at Colonial Williamsburg, one of the world's largest and most elaborate living museums. The 301-acre Historic Area is populated with costumed "interpreters" who faithfully portray the men and women of early America.

The Disney trips also offer some separate activities for adults and children, including opportunities for adults to dine alone while kids enjoy dinner and a movie.

Trip dates run from June 22-August 28. Prices start at $1,769 per person. For two adults with two children, 14 or younger, the cost for the family of four to share one room ranges from $8,000 to $12,000.

Prices include accommodations, tours, activities, local transportation, and some meals, but do not include airfare.

For details, visit www.AdventuresbyDisney.com or call 866-242-8740 or 877-728-7282.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-01-02-new-disney-tours_x.htm?csp=34

Why not top your family vacation getaway in Williamsburg with a visit to "Europe"...Busch Gardens Europe, that is? Also know as Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Europe is just a few miles from Williamsburg. For details on planning a visit to Busch Gardens Europe, go to http://www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com/busch-gardens-williamsburg.html.

January 4, 2007 16:49 - Hertz Makes Road Travel E-Z

Hate waiting in toll lines?

Hertz is doing its best to make road travel "E-Z." Its customers can now rent an electronic device called PlatePass. PlatePass lets travelers drive through the E-Z Pass lanes of all toll collection points in the Northeast corridor (running from Virginia to Maine).

PlatePass costs $2.50 a day to rent. Of course, drivers are still responsible for paying all tolls when they return and paying the rental car. But at least they won't have to line!

For more information, go to www.hertz.com.

For information on planning a trip to the Virginia Beach area, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

January 4, 2007 17:09 - Rowena's Tea Shop is Our #1 Girls' Day Out Spot

Oh, what a special place! Norfolk, Virginia's Rowena's Tea Shop is our favorite spot for a lovely Girl's Day Out.

This quaint little shop has every type of tea paraphenalia imaginable, plus Rowena's beautifully-wrapped jams, jellies, spreads, and poundcakes, and our favorite-- bite-sized samples of all their poundcake flavors.

We like the almond and lemon poundcakes, as well as the Double Delicious Chocolate cake. Her Lemon Curd sauce reminds me of the kind my mom used to buy when we were in England.

IF you can make it past the front rooms without killing your wallet or your appetite, one of Rowena's lovely assistants will take you to the the Tea Room.

The hand-painted murals of flowers, gardens and latticework, plus the elegantly set tables, set the relaxing mood.

They have five different "teas" (including a "Children's Tea") featuring just-right samples of their specialty finger sandwiches, scones, poundcakes and teas.

Tea Room hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 11:00 to 4:00. Reservations are requested.

Rowena's is located in Norfolk's Historic Ghent neighborhood at 758 West 22nd Street. Call 757-627-8699 for reservations.

Rowena's Delivers!

Rowena's has a thriving mail order business for birthdays, special events and holidays.

Red Hat Society Members!

If you're looking for the perfect cake for your Red Hat event, Rowena's has a delicious Almond Cake in the shape of a red hat with purple and red roses. Serves 20-25.

To place an order or get a catalog, call 800-627-8699 or go to www.rowenas.com.

For a full review of Rowena's, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

January 4, 2007 17:23 - Jamestown Listed as "Vacation Hot Spot" for 2007

The Detroit New has just listed Jamestown, Virginia as one of its vacation hot spots for 2007.

America is celebrating its 400th Anniversary by remembering the founding of the Jamestown colony in 1607...and it's doing it with a bang.

The events, exhibits, and educational programs planned are so exciting that even Queen Elizabeth II of Britain is coming during the Anniversary weekend, May 11-13.

There are two "Jamestowns": Historic Jamestowne, the actual site of the orginal fort, featuring archaeological digs, and Jamestown Settlement. Jamestown Settlement is a living history recreation of the settlement, including a recreation of the triangular fort, a Powhatan American Indian village and recreations of the three ships that brought the original settlers.

For information on planning a visit to Jamestown, including money-saving tips and choosing which attractions are right for you, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com

Source: Detroit News

January 5, 2007 18:51 - Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Griffon Explodes into 2007

I would LOVE to go on the new roller coaster Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Really, I would.

But I can't. Can't do it. Nope. After going roller coaster-free for the last 15 years (a little problem with my inner ear means they make my dizzy as all get-out) I took a chance and hopped on a coaster at Hershey Park.

Big mistake. Knew it within two seconds. I've never been so nauseated in my life. Just thinking about it makes me feel ill.

But even someone like me can appreciate Busch Gardens Williamsburg, because it's so much more than just state-of-the-art roller coasters.

If awards are any indication, Busch Gardens Williamsburg (also known as Busch Gardens Europe) can't be beat. It's been voted the world's "Most Beautiful Theme Park" for 16 consecutive years by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA). Plus, it was named the "World’s Best Theme Park" in the 2006 Theme Park Insider Awards.

Spine-tingling rides. Delicious food. Exciting shows. Did we mention that it also got first places for "Best Landscaping" and "Most Beautiful Park?"

Plus, the buzz over their soon-to-be-completed new ride "Griffon," is huge. Something about carrying riders up 205 feet, then hurtling them 90 degrees straight down at 70 mph.

(Is your pulse jumping yet?)

So what's better than hurtling through the air on Griffon? Doing it with a fatter wallet. That's right. There are ways to beat the $54.95 (per adult) entrance fee. It just takes a little work.

Places to look for Busch Gardens Williamsburg discount tickets or coupons--

Fast food restaurants & grocery stores in Virginia

Wendy's, Subway, and McDonald's have all offered discount park coupons in the past. We've found BG coupons at the local Subway restaurant that were good for adult admission at kid's prices. Some area grocery stores have coupons good for reduced BG admission on the backs of their store receipts.

Soda Cans

Especially Pepsi, since BGW is owned by them. Again, these will probably only be offered within 100 or so miles of the park. One such promotion last year was for $6 off the regular admission price if you brought in a Pepsi can (specially marked or not). It was called the Pepsi Summer Nights Concert Promotion, and was good July 24th - October 29th last year. They'll probably offer something similar for 2007.

Try AAA

AAA always offers its AAA members discounts on tickets. Call your local office to find out what the 2007 discount will be.

The Busch Gardens Williamsburg Website

Sometimes they have special "online only" ticket offers. Plus, if you buy your tickets online, you can print the tickets at home and skip the ticket lines at the park. Go to www.buschgardens.com.

Parks and Recreation Departments

(Especially those of cities within 100 or so miles of the park) They sometimes have coupons available.

Area Hotels

I've been told that area hotels sometimes have pamphlets with discounts. But I'm a bit skeptical, since the tourist guides (like the "Colonial Guide") don't generally contain Busch Gardens Williamsburg coupons. Still, you might ask at your hotel.

TIP! Remember, one drawback to using most discount coupons is that you'll have to wait in line at the park's ticket office to use them. And the lines can get pretty long in the summer! If your time is limited, and you're dying to hop on as many of the top rides as possible, it may be worth paying the extra money to get an online ticket...and bypass the lines!

*Note-- Busch Gardens Williamsburg is really calling itself "Busch Gardens Europe" these days, to play up the European theme of the park. But until that name becomes better known, we'll still refer to it the old way.

The park opens for the 2007 season on Saturday, March 24. Griffon, currently under construction, will open late spring.

For details on planning a visit to Busch Gardens Europe, including admission facts and tips, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

January 7, 2007 10:49 - Jamestown Gets its Own Gold and Silver Coins at Last

When Jamestown, the New World's first permanent English settlement, was settled in 1607, it had no coins. After all, offering the native Powhatan Indians little round pieces of metal in exchange for much-needed food would have seemed an insult, at best. Bartering was the name of the day.

Four hundred years later, Jamestown is finally getting its own coins. The U.S. Mint is issuing gold and silver commemorative coins in honor of Jamestown's 400th anniversary this week.

Congress has approved the production of up to 100,000 $5 gold coins and up to 500,000 silver dollars honoring the event.

The $5 gold coin, which will sell for $255, features Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) talking with a Powhatan Indian. The other side shows the Jamestown Memorial Church - the only structure remaining from the early settlement.

The silver dollar features "Three Faces of Diversity" - the Indian, European and African cultures that met at Jamestown. The opposide side shows the three ships (the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery) that carried the first settlers to Jamestown. The silver coin sells for $39.

Coins also can be ordered at catalog.usmint.gov or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

Source: www.dailypress.com

Planning a trip to Jamestown? Go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com for money-saving ideas, reviews, and tips for your Jamestown visit.

January 10, 2007 15:02 - Virginia is for Lovers...And Hot Romantic Weekend Getaways

Virginia has always been for lovers...but now may be the best time to fan the flames of passion and get a deal on a romantic weekend getaway in the Lovers State.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the Virginia Tourism Corporation has launched a new romantic travel website http://www.Virginia.org/romance, plus created six new romantic getaway ideas to heat things up.

"Virginia's scenic wineries, quaint downtowns, luxurious resort spas, and overall natural beauty make the state the perfect place for romantic getaways," said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "As Valentine's Day approaches, we invite visitors to plan their ultimate romantic getaway to Virginia this winter and discover why 'Virginia is for Lovers'."

Virginia's new romance getaways include:

• "Make Me Blush" wine getaways - visit some of Virgnia's most beautiful wineries, taste fine wines, and enjoy picturesque vistas
• "Hot & Steamy" Resort/spa getaways - unwind at one of Virginia's luxurious resorts with a couples' massage
• "U Fulfill Me" food and wine events - choose from The Chocolate Lovers Festival in Fairfax, Valentine's Wine and Chocolate Pairing in Charlottesville, Death by Chocolate in Spotsylvania, and other delectable events
• "Drive Me Wild" outdoor adventure getaways - visit one of Virginia's mountain resorts to enjoy snow sports, hiking, or gentle strolls
• "Make My Heart Sing" music getaways - melodic experiences including bluegrass music along Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, jazz with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra in Fairfax, and opera or ballet performances in Richmond
• "Old School Love" heritage getaways - history buffs can share their passion by celebrating the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, or visiting stirring Civil War heritage sites

For more information on romantic getaways in Virginia, visit http://www.Virginia.org/romance or call 1-800-932-5827.

For reviews of fabulous romantic restaurants for that perfect date, including a famous 1940-era Art Deco cinema cafe, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

Source: Yahoo Finance.

January 12, 2007 12:52 - Great Virginia Beach Restaurants at a Fraction of the Price!

Feel your taste buds jumping? Virginia Beach Restaurant Week-- an eagerly-awaited annual opportunity to sample the best Virginia Beach Restaurants for a reduced, fixed price--is back!

This week-- January 14-21-- let your appetite run wild at this citywide culinary event. Three-course prix fixe lunch menus are $10.07 and prix fixe dinner menus are $20.07. (Fixed prices apply to certain menu items and exclude taxes, tips and beverages.)

Some of our favorite restaurants are on the list: Baker's Crust in Norfolk, and Rockafeller's, Il Giardino Ristorante, and Tautog's in Virginia Beach...plus 33 other delicious spots.

(Check out www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com for insider reviews of both Baker's Crust-- love those dessert crepes-- and Rockafeller's.)

The annual event is sponsored by the Sysco Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach Restaurant Association, and the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For details, call (757) 437-4919. For a list of participating restaurants, go to www.vbfun.com.

January 12, 2007 16:43 - Virginia Beach Whale-Watching Packages Promise a "Whale" of a Time - Last 3 Weeks!

Wintertime means whale-watching time at Virginia Beach.

The mercury may be dropping, but the whales are rising...to the surface that is, as they make their winter migration trek to warmer waters.

Only three weeks remain in the whale-watching season...a time-of-your-life chance to see rare fin and humpback whales-- some up to 85 feet long and weighing 70 tons.

The Virginia Beach area is helping visitors enjoy this magical whale-watching experience by offering fantastic Whale Watching Packages starting at $72. Packages include:

• Two nights accommodations


• Two-hour Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Whale Watching Excursion


• Admission to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, including the 3D IMAX® Theater


• Daily breakfast (available at some hotels)

Whale Watching packages are available until March 18, and start at $72. Price is based on availability and double occupancy, and rates are per person (taxes excluded).

For more information, call the Virginia Beach Whale Watching Information Hotline, toll free, at 1-866-59 WHALE (866-599-4253). Or go to www.vbfun.com.

For reviews of Virginia Beach attractions and restaurants, plus money-saving tips, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

January 18, 2007 21:22 - Jamestown "Discovery" Replica Sails Into Virginia History Next Week

A $1.7 million replica of the Discovery, the smallest of the three ships that brought the English colonists to Jamestown, should arrive in the Hampton Roads next week on its permanent home in Virginia.

The 50-foot, wooden Discovery set sail last month from Maine, where it was built, on its voyage to its permanent home at Jamestown Settlement living history museum in Virginia. It will join replicas of the two other ships, the Godspeed and the Susan Constant. The three original ships brought 105 settlers to the first permanent English settlement in the New World. The new Discovery is an important part of this year's America's 400th Anniversary Celebration.

With no known illustrations or blueprints of Discovery or its sister ships to work with, Jamestown researchers had to base the designs on those of ships from the early 17th century. As a result, they prefer to call them "representative vessels" or "recreations."

The new Discovery is Jamestown's third recreation to bear that name. This version has been built from tropical hardwoods that should resist deterioration in Virginia's varying climate.

David Stimson, general manager of Boothbay Harbor Shipyard that built the ship, says that "This vessel should be fine as long as they take care of it. Fifty years from now, I suspect she'll still be in good shape."

For more information about the new Discovery, go to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation: Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

For tips on planning a trip to Jamestown, go to http://www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

Source: www.boston.com

January 18, 2007 22:09 - Come View Captain John Smith's "Discovery Barge"

Captain John Smith didn't stop his journeys at Jamestown.

"1 boat. 8 oars. 15 explorers. 1700 miles."

That's how Richmond's Science Museum of Virginia is billing its latest travelling exhibit, Captain John Smith's "Discovery Barge", now open until March 28.

On June 2, 1608, Smith and 14 English colonists set out from Jamestown in an open boat (called a shallop) on a three-month trek to explore and map the Chesapeake Bay.

The museum is inviting visitors to "take your crew on a Chesapeake Bay voyage" by viewing this full-scale replica of Smith's "discovery barge" before it departs from Jamestown to retrace Smith's journey up the Chesapeake. The exhibit also tells the story of the ecology and native people of the early 17th-century Chesapeake Bay.

The Captain John Smith "Discovery Barge" exhibit is another element in a wide variety of museum exhibits, events, and happenings, all designed to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown Settlement.

For details, including downloadable study guides, go to www.smv.org.

For information on planning a visit to Jamestown during America's 400th Anniversary Celebration, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

January 19, 2007 20:06 - Hampton's Cousteau Society -- A Free, Mini-Museum for Ocean Lovers

In our ongoing search for cheap family vacation spots in Virginia Beach, we heard about Hampton's Cousteau Society museum. Since admission was listed as "free," we decided to check it out.

Is it worth the trip? You decide.

The Cousteau Society is a mini-museum (they call it a "compact gallery") dedicated to sharing the work of Jacques Cousteau, as well as his society's ongoing work. Depending on your age, you may be saying "Jacques who?" (My kids did.) Or if you're...ahem...say, in your late thirties or older, you'll remember him as the host of the 70's TV show "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau."

Cousteau was a famous French oceanographer and explorer who introduced millions around the world to the fragile beauty and wonders of what he called "the Water Planet." He is also known as the co-creator of the Aqua-Lung (another name for SCUBA diving equipment...those tanks that let SCUBA divers stay under the water so long).

Anyway, in addition to housing his non-profit's US headquarters, the Cousteau Society gallery displays photos, ongoing video clips, and artifacts from 50 years of exploration.

You can see:

• a tiny research sub (about the size of a refrigerator...a photo shows two men squeezed inside it like sardines for hours underwater-- talk about devotion to science!)

• underwater scooters

• a see-through shark cage

• a hyperbaric bell (surfacing divers would climb in it to decompress and avoid getting the bends)

• and our favorite: Allison the shark

"Allison" is a 7-foot mechanical shark that was used in the filming of "Jaws." It was so realistic looking that real sharks attacked it. You can still see the wires and hardware where the sharks ripped into its side.

Got a budding oceanographer? Consider signing them up for the Society's fun, vibrant and educational bimonthly kids' magazine called "Cousteau Kids," which is $20 per year.

What the Museum is Not...

Gotta level with you: yes, it's free, but don't expect anything fancy (in fact, my initial impression was, "That's it?") The museum is good for 15-30 minutes depending on how interested you are in ocean exploration and ol' Jacques' life. BUT, if you tie it in with a visit to the Virginia Air and Space Museum, and the Hampton Carousel next door, it's a nice little stop.

One Warning--

We had a tough time finding the museum, and spent a good ten minutes driving back and forth on the block (it's rather hidden). Your best bet: park on the street or in the parking lot for the Virginia Air and Space Museum. Go east for about two blocks. (That would be to the right as you stand outside the Space Museum's main entrance.) You'll pass a hotel on your right and then make a right into the building that advertises Miss Hampton II cruises (they share the bulding with the Cousteau Society.)

It's open daily 9:30 am - 4 pm in the summer (closed Monday and Tuesday other months) and admission is free.

Location: 710 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton - 757-722-9300 - www.cousteausociety.org.

Looking for other cheap family vacation spots in the Virginia Beach area? Go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

January 22, 2007 15:10 - Virginia Beach Hotel Takes Dubious Honor of Dirtiest Hotel in U.S.

Spring break fans, beware: Virginia Beach's Tropicana Resort Hotel has just been named the "dirtiest hotel" in America, according to TripAdvisor's traveller's choice picks and pans.

Despite a stellar location near the beach, the Tropicana consistently disgusted TripAdvisor travelers with its dirty carpets, moldy bathrooms, bad smells, and overall, poor staff attitude.

However, travelers had plenty of kudos for other Virginia Beach hotels. The Fairfield Inn and Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront consistently gets great reviews, and has earned a #1 rating for families at the beach. TripAdvisor consumers rated the Residence Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront as their #2 top spot for families and their #1 spot for being pet-friendly.

For information on planning a trip to Virginia Beach, go to http://www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

January 23, 2007 21:47 - Virginia Living Museum A "Touchy-Feely" Family Fun Spot

"Ooooh...look at its legs move!" Whether they're touching a wiggling horseshoe crab or watching bees make honey, kids love the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News for "touchy-feely" family fun.

The Virginia Living Museum showcases the habitats, wildlife and plant species you'd see during outdoor adventures in Virginia. Our kids' top spots at the museum?

• The Beehive - bees laden with pollen fly into the museum through an outside hole, then scurry through a glass tube into a huge, glassed-in hive. Watch as they wiggle and giggle up the hive to process the pollen into honey.
• The Giant Turtle Shell and Log - Real or replica? You decide. But kids LOVE climbing through this and a huge log. Great for family fun and photo ops.
• The Touch Tanks and Sensory Centers - This museum caters to touch...touch a crab and check out its hard shell and grasping pincers. Go to the sensory centers and feel snake skin...learn to recognize animal tracks...look through a microscope at the complexity of a fly's transparent wing.
• The Cave - Traipse through a mini replica of an underground limestone cave, including critters like cave-dwelling fish that have evolved without eyes.

When you've had enough of the inside stuff, there's more family fun outside at the boardwalk/nature trail, featuring an aviary, foxes, eagles, skunks, etc...perfect for a stroll on a nice day.

The Virginia Living Museum also has great visiting exhibits (last fall's "Scoop on Poop" exhibit earned our kids' rave reviews-- especially for the dung beetle race).

Now, the Virginia Living Museum is celebrating the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown colony (click here for tips on planning a visit to Jamestown) with a special exhibit-- March 24 - November 25--on what life was like for the early colonists. Visitors can make their way through a "survivor maze," avoiding the perils and pitfalls of being a colonist.

According to the museum, you can "Climb the rocky Fall Line, ride a Zip Line while attempting to lasso a sturgeon, look for resources hidden in the wilderness, search for gold and enjoy costumed role-play..."

Admission to the Virginia Living Museum is $13.00 for adults and $10 for children age 3-12. Members are free, and since the museum participates in the ASTC Science Museum Program, membership gets you into other participating museums for free. (Click here to find out how to visit museums like this for "free.")

The Virginia Living Museum is open for family fun daily 9 am to 5 pm, Labor Day to Memorial Day. (From Memorial Day to Labor Day the hours are the same, except that Sunday hours change to Noon to 5 pm. It's closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Virginia Living Museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd - Newport News - 757-595-1900 - www.thevlm.org

January 31, 2007 10:40 - Jamestown and Yorktown Offer Huge Discounts for Virginia Residents

Virginia residents-- Jamestown and Yorktown have never been cheaper for you! To commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown colony, two Jamestown and Yorktown attractions are offering huge discounts for locals during select weekends this winter and fall.

Virginia residents can visit Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center for a 50 percent discount off the general admission price. The discount is good for Saturdays and Sundays this month (February), and in August and October. The discount will also be offered weekends in January and February next year.

So how much will you save? A family of four (two adults and two kids ages 6-12) will save over $21.00 on combo tickets (admission to both Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center). Children under 6 are always free.

How do you get the discount? When you buy tickets at the admission office, you must show proof of residency (a driver's license will do). Children accompanying Virginia residents will receive the discount as well. Note that the discount does not apply to group admissions or for guests who reside outside of Virginia, and that it's only good for the stated weekends.

For tips on visiting Jamestown Settlement, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.