Plan Your Spring Adventure

Spring break is like an island of calm in the midst of an ocean of chaotic school schedules and commitments. This is the time for everyone to recuperate and relax, prepare for graduation, and have some fun. Luckily, due to the location of Fluvanna, residents have many options when it comes to spring plans.  If you’re looking for a different and exciting way to spend the break, consider the following options.

1. Massanutten Water Park

One popular location for locals, this indoor water park in Massanutten, Virginia, is always heated to a toasty 84 degrees, so it’s impervious to rain or potentially chilly April temps.  Budget Travel Magazine describes is at as “one of the ten best indoor water parks in America.” The park has many delightful amenities, including the Shenandoah Hot Springs and Cove, The Pipeline, body slides, tube slides, Blue Ridge Rapids, and its Massanutten Meltdown, which is a massive bucket hanging above the park that slowly fills with water until it spills, dumping hundreds of gallons of water onto the people below.

Also available to visitors is Diamond Jim’s Arcade, and dining options within the water park. Within the massive resort is also an outdoor water park. A general admission, all-day pass will cost $38, but if you are an Activity Card holder (a card which offers many discounts and benefits), the ticket will cost only $19. For more information about Activity Cards. hours, rates, and more, visit https://www.massresort.com/play/waterpark/hours-rates/.

2.  Virginia Beach/The Outer Banks

Generally, most people aren’t bothered by a lengthy car drive, as long as they can get their toes in the sand. At just three hours away, Virginia Beach is often a spring break favorite, but some prefer the extra two to three hours to the Carolina coast. Although the water may still be chilly this time of year, there are many attractions in these beach towns, including mini-golf, go karts tacky shops, and seafood restaurants.

Since spring break is still technically the off-season for beach home renting, it isn’t difficult to find a house for a week at a steal of a price. In both Virginia Beach and OBX, many popular hotels have an ocean-view and are the perfect lodging location for an exciting weekend. If you just can’t wait until summer to hit the beach, this is your chance to do so.

3. Virginia’s Historical Sites

One perk of being a Virginia local is the rich history of the state, with attractions such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Michie Tavern, James Monroe’s Highland, and George Washington’s Mount Vernon, all within a two-hour drive of Fluvanna.

Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, is open for house and garden tours year-round. Visitors get an in-depth look at the life of this former president and his wife, Martha. The day pass for this house tour is $28 for adults, but when ordered online the price is discounted to $25. Also offered is the Behind the Scenes house tour, which takes you up the narrow staircase to the rarely seen second and third floors of the estate. This option allows visitors to see more of the home, and have a truly immersive experience at Monticello. This tour is offered two to six times a day throughout the year, and the tickets cost $60 for adults. If you’re looking to save money, you can take advantage of the excellent free exhibits and movie at the Visitor’s Center, as well as visit the gift shop before going for a walk on the nearby Saunders-Monticello Trail.

Only a ½ mile below Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is a popular restaurant that has been serving for over 200 years. The dining experience at Michie Tavern is like a blast from the past, with servers dressed according to the time period and“18th century southern fare”including fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and more. Afterward, you can tour the historic tavern for an added $3 per person, or browse the historic grist mill and tiny shops. An adult lunch buffet costs $17.95, and they offer local resident discounts, as well as takeout.. For menus, prices, hours, and more information, visit http://www.michietavern.com/.

Only a few miles away is James Monroe’s Ashlawn-Highland, where visitors get to tour and experience the 5th president’s home, gardens, and grounds. Visitors can expect to spend 1.5-2.5 hours overall on the tour. Tickets for adults cost $14, and more information can be found at http://highland.org/.

If you’re willing to drive further, Mount Vernon, the home of America’s first president George Washington, is an experience you won’t want to miss. Just 15 miles south of Washington, D.C., is the historic mansion, gardens, a museum, and Washington’s grave site. The grounds feature a working distillery and grist mill, museum, and educational center. Adult tickets cost $20, and Mount Vernon is open 365 days a year. Take a look at www.mtvernon.com for a discount on tickets, address, and more information.

4. Busch Gardens/Kings Dominion

Located in Williamsburg, Virginia is Busch Gardens Williamsburg, or “world’s most beautiful theme park,” voted by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA) year after year since 1990. The park allows you to “travel” the world in one day. The park features nine villages inspired by six countries, including France, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Germany. The park is known for its many exciting thrill rides, including the Alpengeist, Apollo’s Chariot, Griffon, Loch Ness Monster, Tempesto, and Verbolten. Each year, the park announces its newest addition, and this year’s new ride is Invadr. The park’s first wooden roller coaster, this viking-themed ride is expected to open in April.

For a limited time online, if you buy a Busch Gardens Fun Card, you can get unlimited admission all season, plus free admission to Water Country USA when they open in May. Busch Garden’s opening day is March 25, and the park will be open from 10am-10pm. To come immerse yourself in the joy and experience of this park, you will first need to choose a ticket.

Fun Cards are $80, but if you are 100% sure that this will be a one-time visit, you can often find single-day admission ticket discounts online. Busch Gardens also offers dining plans which can save you money and help ensure that you will enjoy the park on a full stomach. So, for the park map, calendar, tickets, and more information, click here for the site’s link.

Another closer and less expensive option is Kings Dominion, a theme park located in Doswell, Virginia. Kings Dominion is known for its adrenaline-rush causing rides, which include the Anaconda, Berserker, Delirium, Dominator, Grizzly, Intimidator 305, Rebel Yell, Crypt, and Volcano. Daily admission tickets cost $45, and are often discounted online.

Kings Dominion’s opening day takes place on March 25, but pass-holders will get a preview of the fun on pass-holder Preview Night, with exclusive access to the park from 5pm-9pm on March 24. The hours of the park change depending on the day and what event is going on, so be sure to check the calendar in advance when planning your visit.

5. Colonial Williamsburg

This spring break you can “bounce back and forth between centuries” at Colonial Williamsburg. By purchasing a Spring Bounce ticket, visitors are allowed unlimited admission to the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens within a seven-day trip. This offer is valid from March 25-May 25, and includes free parking as well as admission to two art museums at Colonial Williamsburg for $99.

Colonial Williamsburg allows visitors an in-depth look at what life was like for the colonists in the 18th century. By visiting the Historic Area, guests can tour buildings and become immersed in the culture in which colonists lived, by visiting a blacksmith shop and public armoury, the apothecary, book bindery, colonial courthouse, gunsmith, The Governor’s Mansion, and much more in the historic village.

There are more than twenty guided and self-guided tours  included in each admission ticket and offered daily. Tickets for the spring season are $41 for adults.

6. The Premium Outlets

Students who love to shop will love this massive outdoor shopping complex in Williamsburg. This shopping attraction is open from 10am-9pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-7pm on Sundays. Visitors can enjoy over 135 stores and dining locations with outlet prices and deals that are sure to please. The outlets include stores such as Nike, Oakley, Vineyard Vines, Coach, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren (Polo), Calvin Klein, Adidas, Converse, and many more. Expect to see some even deeper discounts from the end of March through early April in celebration of spring break.