Hotel for BGW

My dad doesn't wanna drive 11 hours and some odd minutes all at once...but doesn't only wanna stop at amusement parks either. Now I might be able to talk him into PKI or CP but prolly not both...anything else to do on the way there, or maybe even any other amusement parks? Now the small amusement parks are fine for like day trips but we'd like to go to places like CP or PKI and we have already been to Hershey.

PS- Have you guys heard good things about the KingsMill resort?

The parents like the fact that there is a shuttle that will take them to other places on some days when I can have fun at an amusement park. I heard Colonial Williamsburg is boring for kids.

Is Busch Gardens Water Country any good too?

Thanks for all the help :) *** Edited 4/9/2005 6:55:01 AM UTC by Kyle Fobe***

Water Country USA is a nice water park. I love Hubba Hubba Highway. The wave pool is decent, lots of slides all packed away in a nicely landscaped setting. The newer rides have walkways (not stairs) that lead to the top of the ride.

I don't know much about the Kingsmill Resort. However, if it's owned by the Anheuser-Busch Corporation, I'm sure it willn't be to bad.

Link
http://www.kingsmill.com/index2.html.

Stayed 10 years ago, it was great then.

For those of you staying 1-2 weeks I highly suggest looking into getting the Revolutionary Fun Pass. For one price you get into BGW, Water Country, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown unlimited times during your stay (it also includes parking).

It is really nice to spend a morning at BGW, hit Colonial Williamsburg once the crowds set in and finish the day off at Water Country.

Add on:

Water Country is a fantastic waterpark, I believe it was #5 on the Travel Channel countdown show. It is impecably clean, has a large collection of rides, and they dont allow tubes in the wavepool and instead offer FREE lifejackets for all to bob around in. *** Edited 4/9/2005 1:14:26 PM UTC by Touchdown***

The Days Inn in Lightfoot near the back Pottery Exit is very nice. A complete opposite from the one near Water Country.

Water Country USA is the best water park in the area. Great slides, wave pool, and landscaping. Food isn't bad, either.

If you are looking for another park in the area, Kings Dominion is one hour from BGW, though I prefer BGW.

Oh, and for the best bar-b-que in the area, go to Pierce's. It has been written up in Southern Living magazine. Their web site is www.pierces.com.

Kyle - if you got the bucks, check out Kingsmill Resort (www.kingsmill.com). It's a real, honest-to-gosh resort, with several golf courses, a tennis academy, spa, marina, etc. They also have an array of packages that include golf, tennis, admission to BGW and WCA, plus "first in the park" and "first on DarKastle" priveleges - something I'm not sure BGW has ever offered before.

My wife and I have stayed at the Radisson Fort Magruder for years now - clean, good service, two pools and tennis courts, and a five-minute drive from BGW - but with those "first on" perks we are looking seriously at Kingsmill this year ...

yeah my dads springing for the kings mill just cuz of all the nice perks. lol I dunno parents got the money I guess. I can't complain ;)

Just one more since you guys have all been very happy to supply with info. :)

Is there anything else to do on the way from South Bend, IN to Williamsburg, besides tons of themeparks, the parents prolly wouldn't be interested in, since we are going to try and fit in PKI and CP?

Also, since my dad doesn't want to drive 10-12 hours at once on a straight shot. For the way there if we went to CP that'd be 4 hours, then to PKI thats like 3 1/2 from CP and then from PKI to Busch its probably like 6 or 7, but on the way back we have nothing planned. Any suggestions?

If that is totally incoherent tell me and I will try to reword it. :)

Thanks. :) *** Edited 4/9/2005 8:43:10 PM UTC by Kyle Fobe***

If you could give us a route your taking we might be able to make better suggestions.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is about 3-4 hour drive from Washington, DC where there is a host of things to do.

Yeah, depending on your route, there are countless things to do along the way. What are your parents into? Sports? Museums? Fancy restaurants? Scenic overlooks?

Speaking of fancy restaurants, no matter what route you take you'll probably swing close to Washington, Virginia, a few hours NW of BGW. If your folks are into food (and, again, have the bucks) there's a real chi-chi hotel there called the Inn at Little Washington (http://www.mobiltravelguide.com/button6.asp/cro_lodging_main.jsp?id=25340), which happens to house what is considered one of the very best restaurants in the world ...

I doubt they'd spring for that kind of treatment. That seems to be just a step out of our price range. ;)

I stayed at the Marriott next door to the Kingsmill Resort last summer when I was at BGW. The hotel was very nice and close by, however it is not attached to the park (the Kingsmill Resort is the closest). From the Marriott, your choices are to drive to BGW, walk over to the Kingsmill Resort and take their shuttle (be sneaky), or there is a public bus that runs along the road where the hotels and BGW are.

I second recommendation for the Days Inn in Lightfoot. Being local I haven’t stayed there personally, but people visiting me liked it. It is your standard clean place to sleep with not much in the way of frills. But it is considerably less expensive than most Willamsburg hotels than since it is further out from the heart of Williamsburg. It isn’t a bad drive in to any of the attractions since you are still on the Richmond Road, which is the main tourist strip.
The Williamsburg Hospitality House is also really nice hotel if you are looking for something more upscale. It is right down by the historic district across from William and Mary. So there is a lot to do and see all within walking distance.
Wherever you stay, take the time to check out the historical sites and museums. Williamsburg and the Hampton Roads area has a lot more to offer than just BGW.