Just five miles southeast of Colonial Williamsburg, this 42-acre amusement park is divided into ten “villages” inspired by a a half dozen European countries/cultures. Just a sampling: in Banbury Cross (representing England,), you can catch a show in a replica of Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre. Aquitaine, themed after Belle-Époque France, has among other things the Griffon roller coaster, with a 205-foot drop and speeds up to 75 miles per hour. Down beer and Teutonic specialties at Germany- themed Rhinefield´s Das Festhaus along with a taking a ride on the “haunted-ski-lift” Alpengeist roller coaster. Take in a show of traditional dance and a spin on the Finnegan´s Flyer swing ride in Killarney (for Ireland). In San Marco (themed on Renaissance Italy) you´ve got pasta, Turkish Delight whirling cups, and the exciting water ride Escape from Pompeii.  And thrill to another cool coaster, the Loch Ness Monster, in Scotland´s Heatherdowns, as well as getting up close to  Anheuser-Busch´s famous Clydesdale horses and other critters at the Highland Stables. In addition to all that, there´s a kiddie section themed after Sesame Street plus  a water park called Water Country USA. Tickets aren´t cheap – beginning at $90 per person – but still a relative bargain compared to many other theme parks out there.

Read more in Tripatini contributor Lowest Flight Fares´ post 6 of Virginia´s Top Destinations.