BGW: for a non-coaster rider (help)

ok. i'm dragging my wife to Busch Gardens Williamsburg this sunday. myself, i love coasters, but she absolutely refuses to ride them, and i'm not going to force her to (although she has said maybe to the Big Bad Wolf). spinning flat ride type things are also a no-go.

anyway, i've gotten her to agree to this trip by telling her "oh the park is so pretty, you'll love it, there's so much to do other than ride rollercoasters, they only have four of them after all..." so, guys and gals, can you help me back this up? what else should we definitely check out that she might enjoy? oh, and where should we eat?

thanks!

PS: the last time i was at BGW was Drachen Fire's first season. i know it's a controversial topic, but i loved the thing. can't wait to ride apollo's chariot and alpengeist, i've heard nothing but good things about them. *** Edited 6/25/2004 1:44:11 PM UTC by pezpunk***

All of the shows!

Beer School!

How about the 4-D Rides?

Shops especially the Hummel Museum

In Italy there is usually a artisan doing some sort of painting on pottery

If she doesn't want to ride the Roman Rapids, she can have fun squirting water at people.

Water Wars

Arcades

Escape from Pompeii has a steep drop other than that it is an excellent ride.

Boat ride on the Rhine

Train ride around the whole park.

Eat at Trappers, get the sampler platter and share it together.

Visit the Eagle Sanctuary

My wife really likes Busch Gardens out of all the parks we visit and she doesn't ride rides at all. There is more than plenty to do.

If she doesn't want to go to BGW, dump her off at Water Country USA and she can lay out by the wave pool and have a good time on Hubba Hubba Highway.

Ok, I will stick up for you on this one. The first time we went to BGW I was Prego! I would suggest BGW over any park if you do not ride. I think it was the only park that had more for me to do . The shows and food are great there. Its a very beautiful park. The flowers are amazing. I think she will enjoy it there. I would pick there pver any park if i were not able to ride.

Coasterguts covered most of the details. He did miss the beautiful views from the skyride. The shows are the best on the east coast north of Florida. The place is of course beautiful. The food is some of the best in any park.

BGW is one of the few parks where you don't have to ride anything to still enjoy the experience. Soaking up the atmosphere and looking at the animals are enough for me.

Be sure to visit Lorikeet Glen. If you buy a cup of nectar, the birds will land on your hand/arm/head/chest/etc. to get a snack. You can make even make them run an obstacle course around your body if you move the cup at a pace where they just get a taste before they have to move. Just don't tease them by moving the cup before they get a small reward.

Outside the Lorikeet area during early afternoon, they put a hawk, eagle, raven and some owls on perches where you can get a really close look at them.

They also have a nice pasture for the Clydesdales, where you can get a really good close-up look of these huge animals.

I even enjoy just hanging out by the boat landing and watching the swans and turtles beg for food, while taking a break from the rides.

By the way, if you want to try to convince her to go on Apollo's Chariot, you should stand by the exit and have her watch the faces of the (amazingly) young kids coming off the ride. Even have her ask 1 or 2 if they thought it was scary. It seems every other ride I take, I sit next to someone who has never been on it before and whether they are young or old, apprehensive on the lift hill or not, every single one is giggling and happy by the time the ride is over. Because it doesn't go upside down, it is usually easier to convince a newbie to try it, and almost all admit it looks much more intimidating than it feels.

Just don't push her if she really doesn't want to go. Make the one attempt, then drop the subject if she completely rejects the idea.

Have fun.

I forgot about the bird exhibit and the Clydesdales. She will ooh and ahh over them for sure.