Virginia Beach Fun Blog

"The Royal Virus--a.k.a. Britain's Prince Philip, will tag along with his wife, Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Jamestown, Williamsburg and Richmond May 3rd and 4th. The couple are visiting the U.S. as part of Jamestown's 400th Anniversary celebration.

Prince Philip, who has a long-tradition of foot-in-mouth disease, earned the nickman "The Royal Virus" with this stellar comment: "In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to solve overpopulation" (Reported by Deutsche Press Agentur (DPA), August, 1988; see http://www.propagandamatrix.com/prince.html).

No doubt U.S. reporters will be waiting with baited breath for the Prince's latest scintillating comment...

In contrast, Her Majesty the Queen can be counted on to be the epitome of propriety during the trip, her first to Virginia in 16 years, and exactly 50 years since her attendance at the 350th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

Both Queen and Virus are expected to join in the 400th anniversary celebration with a visit to the Virginia General Assembly on May 3. The next day, she will tour the recreated fort at Jamestown Settlement, while Virus checks out a replica of the Susan Constant, one of the ships which brought the settlers (who, by the way, brought their own viruses) to the new world). The dynamic duo will then go to Historic Jamestowne, site of the original settlement. The Queen will have unch at Colonial Williamsburg's Governor's Palace, followed by a visit to the College of William and Mary that afternoon.

Meanwhile, The Royal Virus will slink off to Norfolk for lunch and an afternoon reception aboard the battleship Wisconsin.

Assuming that the area will have been "disinfected" by May 13, President Bush is expected to visit Historic Jamestowne on the last day of the three-day America's Anniversary Weekend, the culmination of the 18-month Jamestown commemoration that began last year.

Thoroughly confused by difference between Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement? Go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com for a full explanation of the difference and to find out which Jamestown is right for you.

Perhaps by the time you visit, The Royal Virus will have earned himself a new nickname...

Source: http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-16415sy0apr25,0,3086887.story?track=rss

April 27, 2007 10:59 - Monster Trucks Roar Onto Virginia Beach

Monster truck and motor sports fans will flock to Virginia Beach May 11-13 for the 10th annual "Monsters on the Beach" extravaganza. Watch the sand fly as Grave Digger, "Raphael" Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Monster Mutt, and Superman will join other world-famous monster trucks as they battle to dominate this exciting competition at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

Aside from the 2-hour main events--where the headline trucks will compete on a special course right on the beach--the fun includes Monster truck rides on the beach, and a Tough Truck Competition. Local truck owners can flaunt their vehicles on the boardwalk in the Truck Show & Shine, or actually compete for master of the beach track in The Tough Truck Competition. The Tough Truck Competition entry fee is $20 per race ($25 day of race if space available). The Truck Show & Shine entry fee is $20 in advance (space is limited). Monster truck rides at the beach will be available for $6.

Tickets for Monster Trucks On the Beach are on sale now for $10 in advance (plus service charges when purchased through Ticketmaster), or $12 at the gate. Children 2 and under are free. Tickets are non-refundable, as events will be held rain or shine.

Want an Xtra special Monster experience? The Monster Xperience is a special program featuring premium seating, a t-shirt, poster, and an autograph session and photo opportunities with drivers. The Monster Experience program will happen at 6 pm on Friday, May 11, 11 am and 6 pm on Saturday, May 12, and 11:30 am on Sunday, May 13. Tickets are $25 each and space is limited to 75 participants each show.

Tickets: Monsters on the Beach tickets are available through Ticketmaster . Monster Experience tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster. Monster Xperience tickets are available here.

For Tough Truck Competition and Truck Show & Shine registration information, visit www.BeachStreetUSA.com.

Need info on planning a visit to the Virginia Beach area? Go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.
Monsters on the Beach Schedule:

Friday, May 11, 2007
5:00pm-10:00pm, Monster Truck Rides on the beach at 4th Street
7:00pm, Monsters on the Beach show at 6th Street - doors open at 6:00pm (Monster Experience at 6:00pm)

Saturday, May 12, 2007
9:00am-6:00pm, Truck Show & Shine on the boardwalk
11:00am-10:00pm, Monster Truck Rides on the beach at 4th Street
Noon, Monsters on the Beach show at 6th Street - doors open at 11:00am (Monster Experience at 11:00am)
7:00pm, Monsters on the Beach show at 6th Street - doors open at 6:00pm (Monster Experience at 6:00pm)

Sunday, May 13, 2007
Noon-7:00pm, Monster Truck Rides on the beach at 4th Street
12:30pm, Monsters on the Beach show at 6th Street - doors open at 11:30am (Monster Experience at 11:30am)
4:30pm, Monsters on the Beach show at 6th Street – doors open at 3:30pm

April 27, 2007 13:16 - Cheap Airline Ticket Deal Celebrates Jamestown 400th Birthday

AirTran is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown with $16.07 one-way fares to Newport News/Williamsburg, Va. AirTran Airways is the official airline of America's 400th Anniversary.

So what's the catch? Well, yes, there is one or two. Tickets, which can be purchased through April 30, 2007, are nonrefundable and only good for travel between May 8-22 and on nonstop flights to Newport News/Williamsburg on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can only travel from nonstop markets (Atlanta; Orlando; Ft. Lauderdale; New York, LaGuardia; and Boston, Logan). The tickets require a 14-day advance purchase, and the special fare is valid into Newport News/Williamsburg only, not both directions.

Once you add assorted taxes and security fees, the final cost of the into-Norfolk-fare is slightly less than $50 per ticket. Still, it's not a bad deal, especially if you want to make last minute plans to crash the American's 400th Anniversary events in May, including visits by Queen Elizabeth II, President Bush, Bruce Hornsby, and others.

"AirTran Airways is offering deeply discounted fares to honor our nation's history," said Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales for AirTran Airways. "We want to give our customers another reason to celebrate such a memorable and important event. And with AirTran Airways, you won't have to wait 400 years for another great fare - we offer low fares every day."

For more information, go to www.airtran.com for information on planning a trip to Jamestown and the greater Virginia Beach area, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070424/nytu039a.html?.v=2

April 29, 2007 09:10 - What do Virginia Tech Shooter's Family and Queen Have in Common?

Imagine you're 200 years into the future. A descendent of Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung-Hui's family arrives at V-Tech to attend the university. Should they be greeted with a demand that they apologize for what their ancestor did two centuries prior? Should anyone really be held responsible for what their forebears' actions?

So why the pressure for Queen Elizabeth II to apologize to Native American tribes for her countrymens' "invasion" of the New World 400 years ago?

The Queen will visit Richmond, Williamsburg, and Jamestown May 3-5 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the the first permanent English colony in America. In addition, she will meet with survivors of the Virginia Tech massacre. However, "PC" (politically correct) apologists are demanding that she give a public apology for the colonists' actions.

First the state of Virginia apologizes for slavery (as if anyone alive today can be held responsible for something that was outlawed almost 150 years ago), now this. Whatever happened to just putting out the welcome mat?

Things have certainly changed since the Queen's last visit to Jamestown 50 years ago on the 350th anniversary of Jamestown's founding. Back then, Americans could just accept the honor of the Queen's visit and focus on being good hosts.

This time, political correctness threatens to overrule good taste and hospitality. Will our descendents have to apologize for that two hundred years from now?

Jamestown Celebration Info:

Tickets for the final Jamestown Celebration weekend May 11-13 (including admission to the sights, concerts and fireworks) are still available. Single-day tickets ($30 for adults, $15 for children) can be purchased at Colonial Williamsburg's visitor center and online at Americas400thAnniversary.com.

For tips on planning a visit to Jamestown, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

April 29, 2007 10:42 - Free Online Game Teaches Kids About Jamestown

It's 1606: you and 105 other adventurers have set sail from England to set up the first permanent English colony in the New World. But will you survive?

A free online game--sponsored by America's 400 Anniversary Celebration--gives kids a hands-on pportunity to understand the challenges facing the early settlers in Jamestown. In fact, the early years of the settlement were a disaster. In the first year, almost half of the settlers died from starvation, disease, and conflict with local Native Americans.

"Jamestown: The Online Adventure" allows kids to pretend that they are the captain of the new colony, and see if they can do better than the original settlers. Kids have to make choices about how to provide food, avoid disease and starvation, and figure out to to profit economically (like finding gold). At they end, they compare how their colony did with the original colony.

To access this free online game, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

For information on visiting Jamestown and the greater Virginia Beach area, go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.

April 29, 2007 19:53 - Busch Gardens Europe Fun Card is Back!

Virginia residents who love Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Busch Gardens Europe) can have their dreams come true again...and again...

Once again, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is offering its Fun Card (commonly known as the Fun Pass) to Virginia residents. Just by your regular price ticket by May 31 and you can return all spring and summer for free.

Busch Gardens Europe has 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.

Want details on how to get your Fun Card, info on the latest spine-tingling ride "Griffin," advice on getting discount tickets, and insider tips? Go to www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com.