The Busch Gardens Adventure
Taking a leisurely getaway, tickets in hand on a cool cloudy day, we made preparations to board the Busch Gardens coach. Last minute checks for necessities water, peanuts, some cash, we were ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
Our Sea World tour guide took the head count, several times eventually concluded 50 people were aboard. Our driver Carl a colonel in the military, close the door of the bus and off we went Busch Gardens bound.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is famous for it’s menagerie of themes including the Conga, Nairobi, Timbuktu, Bird Gardens, Stanleyville, Egypt, Serengeti Plain, Edge of Africa, Egypt, and Morocco. At Busch Gardens, guests can actually touch some of the animals creating a special atmosphere for children.
Originally, the brochure explained that the park would be open for its special Summer Nights theme until 10:00pm but our tour guide explained that this was an error and that we would have to return to the bus at 9:30pm. Fortunately, she came prepared with a movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off which helped distract us while we headed south for our 1 hour trip.
Just when Ferris’ geek friend Cameron discovers that his father’s Ferrari speedometer registered over 300 miles after it was left in the care of the garage attendant, we entered the Busch Gardens Parking lot.
"Make sure your back before 9:30pm" exclaimed our Sea World tour guide, and she also suggested that we eat at the Zambia Smokehouse for delicious smoked Salmon. The gate leads right through Morocco where Gwazi is located. Its been a while since I rode a adrenaline-pumping coaster. I’m in the car, heading up the first steep incline and I said to myself “Michael what where you thinking of?” That first drop stressed my senses to the max and from that point I was anxious to get it over with. The G-force on the turns is inexplicable, and can be somewhat diminished if the turns are visible ahead.
Slightly dazed, I found my wife watching the hula-hoop contests and I though for sure she would enter. Next stop, the Bird Gardens. Fortunately, my wife brought some mixed nuts, what a perfect combination for tropical birds. Just lift your arm and they jump right on for a ride. Distracted, I had my hand on the fence and next moment a red parrot jump on my arm for a short ride.
A nice cool breeze was refreshing with no sun due to cloud cover by my standards made the perfect day for the theme parks. We could hear the screams of guests on Sheikra in the distance as we headed toward the Stanleyville train station. We could see the 200 foot drop at 90 degree angle as the passengers legs where just dangling for the big plunge. My wife said “no way, your on your own.”
Boarding the train, or should I say “boring train” we sat there as Sheikra plunge into the water and children waited for the big splash as gallons of water propelled 50 feet in the air came down in torrents on gleeful guests.
Imagine four hundred people on this train as they filled the tank with gallons of water and then with a big lurch we were on our way. Truly this was not worth the hour that it required for a ride from Stanleyville to the Edge of Africa, wait 20 minutes, and then a train ride back to Shiekra at Stanleyville.
Slightly frustrated at the waste of time we headed for the Congo River Rapids. My wife slightly apprehensive, decided to go for it and before you know we were in a river raft with 10 other thrill-seekers. Rough waters were ahead, I thought maybe I’ll get lucky and not get wet. Blue jeans, short sleeve shirt, tea shirt, pockets full of stuff including a cell phone, I really wasn’t prepared for what was coming. First huge swell of about 3 feet deep and it was all over, soaked to the bone. It wasn’t so bad until we boarded the air-conditioned bus.
It was 8:30pm and we decided to eat at the Zambia Smokehouse. I selected a refreshing tropical punch, apple cobbler, side salad, French fries and a nice smoked Salmon. When we reached the register, I handed the cashier our meal vouchers and then selected some seats under Sheikra. I wasn’t exactly relaxing meal, but it was however in middle of all the Summer Nights action.
Heading back to the bus we reflected on our day at Busch Gardens and realized you need more than 1 day to enjoy everything. Once on the bus, on came the movie, Cameron has gone into shock because his father’s newly restored Ferrari has over 300 miles on it and he knows that he’s dead meat.
Movie playing in the background, a dull roar from the other passengers, my wife getting comfortable in the seat, I thought back on the day and all the delights that Busch Gardens Tampa provided. It was simply a marvelous voyage, a time to get-away from the kids, memorial moments that we can cherish for years to come. I highly recommend this trip for family's of all ages.
Our Sea World tour guide took the head count, several times eventually concluded 50 people were aboard. Our driver Carl a colonel in the military, close the door of the bus and off we went Busch Gardens bound.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is famous for it’s menagerie of themes including the Conga, Nairobi, Timbuktu, Bird Gardens, Stanleyville, Egypt, Serengeti Plain, Edge of Africa, Egypt, and Morocco. At Busch Gardens, guests can actually touch some of the animals creating a special atmosphere for children.
Originally, the brochure explained that the park would be open for its special Summer Nights theme until 10:00pm but our tour guide explained that this was an error and that we would have to return to the bus at 9:30pm. Fortunately, she came prepared with a movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off which helped distract us while we headed south for our 1 hour trip.
Just when Ferris’ geek friend Cameron discovers that his father’s Ferrari speedometer registered over 300 miles after it was left in the care of the garage attendant, we entered the Busch Gardens Parking lot.
"Make sure your back before 9:30pm" exclaimed our Sea World tour guide, and she also suggested that we eat at the Zambia Smokehouse for delicious smoked Salmon. The gate leads right through Morocco where Gwazi is located. Its been a while since I rode a adrenaline-pumping coaster. I’m in the car, heading up the first steep incline and I said to myself “Michael what where you thinking of?” That first drop stressed my senses to the max and from that point I was anxious to get it over with. The G-force on the turns is inexplicable, and can be somewhat diminished if the turns are visible ahead.
Slightly dazed, I found my wife watching the hula-hoop contests and I though for sure she would enter. Next stop, the Bird Gardens. Fortunately, my wife brought some mixed nuts, what a perfect combination for tropical birds. Just lift your arm and they jump right on for a ride. Distracted, I had my hand on the fence and next moment a red parrot jump on my arm for a short ride.
A nice cool breeze was refreshing with no sun due to cloud cover by my standards made the perfect day for the theme parks. We could hear the screams of guests on Sheikra in the distance as we headed toward the Stanleyville train station. We could see the 200 foot drop at 90 degree angle as the passengers legs where just dangling for the big plunge. My wife said “no way, your on your own.”
Boarding the train, or should I say “boring train” we sat there as Sheikra plunge into the water and children waited for the big splash as gallons of water propelled 50 feet in the air came down in torrents on gleeful guests.
Imagine four hundred people on this train as they filled the tank with gallons of water and then with a big lurch we were on our way. Truly this was not worth the hour that it required for a ride from Stanleyville to the Edge of Africa, wait 20 minutes, and then a train ride back to Shiekra at Stanleyville.
Slightly frustrated at the waste of time we headed for the Congo River Rapids. My wife slightly apprehensive, decided to go for it and before you know we were in a river raft with 10 other thrill-seekers. Rough waters were ahead, I thought maybe I’ll get lucky and not get wet. Blue jeans, short sleeve shirt, tea shirt, pockets full of stuff including a cell phone, I really wasn’t prepared for what was coming. First huge swell of about 3 feet deep and it was all over, soaked to the bone. It wasn’t so bad until we boarded the air-conditioned bus.
It was 8:30pm and we decided to eat at the Zambia Smokehouse. I selected a refreshing tropical punch, apple cobbler, side salad, French fries and a nice smoked Salmon. When we reached the register, I handed the cashier our meal vouchers and then selected some seats under Sheikra. I wasn’t exactly relaxing meal, but it was however in middle of all the Summer Nights action.
Heading back to the bus we reflected on our day at Busch Gardens and realized you need more than 1 day to enjoy everything. Once on the bus, on came the movie, Cameron has gone into shock because his father’s newly restored Ferrari has over 300 miles on it and he knows that he’s dead meat.
Movie playing in the background, a dull roar from the other passengers, my wife getting comfortable in the seat, I thought back on the day and all the delights that Busch Gardens Tampa provided. It was simply a marvelous voyage, a time to get-away from the kids, memorial moments that we can cherish for years to come. I highly recommend this trip for family's of all ages.
posted by michael at
11:53 AM
