By Tammy Lee

Busch gardens falls under the catchall category of amusement. It provides rides, games, shows, food, and the utmost keystone of my generation’s enjoyment: the experience.

For many, it is a place of many firsts. The first amusement park. The first funnel cake. The first taste of European food. The sights and sounds of each country. The live music in Italy while eating a huge chocolate cake greater than the Great Wall is quite an experience. And for many, the first rollercoaster ride on either Big Bad Wolfe or Lochness Monster is a rite of passage. I will never forget that my first coaster was Lochness Monster when I was tall enough at age 10. Even now, ten years later, I love riding Apollo’s Chariot in the pitch black night. I love the fear of not being able to see where the chariot will fling my body. And if you’re not careful, the immediate stop at the end of the ride might be a bit uncomfortable. It is rather an oxymoron that the thrill and fear that a rollercoaster lodges in the human psyche renders enjoyment in many, at least for me.

No longer will any amusement park will make the grade by simply having great rides lined up side by side with a bleak surroundings. Everywhere you turn at Busch Gardens is some landscaping artwork with beautiful blossoms maintained by a dedicated crew. The walkways contour the natural landscape of Williamsburg. Steep hills and stairs, bridges over water, all sprawled over 28 acres will remind you of how thankful you should be for automobiles and escalators. By closing time under the twilight night sky, children are sound asleep in their parents’ tired arms or comfy strollers. A full day of adventure has zapped the energy dry by day’s end.

So you ask me what I love about Busch Gardens. The many feelings one may experience at the park are not always positive such as the fearful rides and exhaustion at the end of day. Joy, anxiousness, thrill, relaxation, engagement, the coming of age, and adrenaline rushes are positively felt too. It’s the dynamic mixture of these dualistic experiences that lets you know how great it is to be human. So if someone asks me if my recent trip to Busch Gardens was good, I would correct them by restating their question. “Was your trip an entertaining experience?” Why certainly, and Busch Gardens never fails.

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