Busch Gardens

First of all, there has to be a great big thanks to Anheiser-Busch. Their salute to heroes program has enabled us to get free admission to Sea World in 2005 and now to Busch Gardens. Very cool. We also ran into the Majors Wolverton and their son and Major Hudspeth that day.

The weather was cold on Tuesday. We were glad for jackets and coats and sometimes hats. We didn't get any rain though. We did get some mist in the later afternoon, but it never really seemed to get anything wet. It wasn't so cold it was miserable, but it did keep a lot of people away, so we rarely waited for anything. As a matter of fact, when Ashley wanted to go on Corkscrew Hill a second time, she decided against it, because there weren't enough people in line yet, and she would have done it all by herself.

After many negotiations between Ashley and Trent, this trip was planned. You see, Ashley tends to be scared of the bigger rides, and Dad wanted her to do at least one with him. The trade off was kind of funny. She rode Escape from Pompeii with Dad.

Trent, in turn, rode the tea cups and Corkscrew Hill with Ashley. I went on Corkscrew Hill with Ashley and Jon last August, so I knew what he was in store for. He definitely needed to sit down after that experience. Nothing like the feeling of being shrunk down to leprechaun size, put in a box, picked up by a couple of boys, shaken around, taken on a horse ride and then dropped by a Griffon into the sea only to be saved at the last minute.

It appears that Samantha is our roller coaster rider. Unfortunately, she is still too small. She cried hard and sincere tears at not going on Escape from Pompeii, Corkscrew Hill, or The Big Bad Wolf. She did go on the Battering Ram (think variation of popular ride in which ship swings back and forth and gets higher each time) with me. She liked it until it got too high. At that point, she buried her head in my arm and screamed, oh dear! Too funny.

There was plenty Sami could ride on this time around though, and the kids had a great time.

Ashley and Sami on the hot air balloons in the Davinci section

There was also the Land of the Dragons, which is just for kids. The kids can get on all of those rides by themselves. There is also a three story tree house with rope bridges and several "trees." Jon, our climber, absolutely loved that part. He climbed every route possible I think.

Ashley and Samantha on the egg ride. Think small ferris wheel.

Jon in a dragon boat

Those hats were a big hit by the way. Many a park worker referred to my kids by name. Thanks again Randi, Keith, and Destri.

Sami and Jon on one of the many rope bridges

Did I mention that we didn't really have to wait for anything? It was great. As a result, at the end of the day, Trent decided to take a quick ride on the Griffon. He swears it was amazing. I think I can skip the whole floorless 250ft. 90 degree drop, but just so you know, Trent highly recommends it. You can click on the link for much better footage of the whole thing. The kids and I ate treats and watched. Jon loves watching The Griffon. He loves watching it splash through the water and create the huge rooster tails. He is too small to go on it, but he wouldn't even if he could.

Turns out this was the car before Trent. This gives an idea of the first drop that they hang you over before dropping the coaster. Yes, Trent waited for one car, because he wanted to sit IN THE FRONT!

Trent is actually in this car. Want to try and figure out which one is him? That is Ashley at the railing watching for her Dad.

Warner family totem pole. As good as it was going to get.

No pictures, but we ended the day with a train ride, and the girls petted Barry the Clydesdale. I have NEVER seen stables so immaculate in my life as the stables for those Budweiser Clydesdales. After petting the horse, Sami amused the workers by saying, "Barry, I kiss you," and then giving Barry a kiss on the neck. A VERY fun day.