— Busch Gardens —
Williamsburg, Virginia
Few amusement parks brag about their gardening and landscaping, but beauty is one of the selling points of Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
“We’re known for winning the Most Beautiful Park award from the National Amusement Park Historical Association 24 years in a row,” said spokesman Kevin Crossett. “The park follows the topography of the land, with landscaping everywhere you look.”
Busch Gardens uses the culture, architecture and history of numerous European countries to give guests an experience that blends thrills with beauty. Visitors will see cobblestone streets, European building facades and classical-style statuary throughout the park. The landscaping even features a variety of plants native to western Europe.
Guests enter through the England section of the park, which has replicas of Big Ben and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The Ireland section features taverns, stone castles and Celtic music. In France, traditional artisans and sidewalk cafes replicate the feeling of a holiday in Paris. Among other themed areas of the park are Scotland, Germany and Italy.
Groups that visit Busch Gardens will find shopping, dining and entertainment in each area themed around the country it represents, setting the stage for diverse culinary and retail finds not common in other amusement parks.
