When people think of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, they often think of the rides, but at this beautiful theme park, animals also rule.  Families can enhance their experience and have fun learning through a variety of unique animal tours.  

Animal Tours offered at Busch Gardens Williamsburg:
(Please visit this link for a more in-depth descriptions) 

• Keeper for a Day: 6 hour tour.  Must be 12 years or older.  Includes park admission, parking, lunch and a t-shirt.  The tour involves caring for and learning about a variety of animals such as lemurs, birds of prey, wolves, and the famous Clydesdales. 

• Animals Up-Close: 30 minute tour for ages 5 and up. Meet, interact, and learn about unique animals such as armadillos, a sloth, lemur, birds, wallaroo, and more. Animals vary. 

• Clydesdales & Collies Up-Close: 30 minute tour for ages 5 and up. Meet and pet Scottish Blackface Sheep, Border Collies and Clydesdales and learn their history. 

• Wolf Training Up-Close: 30 minute tour, ages 6 and up.  Learn the basics from a wolf trainer and try out your skills with the wolves.  

• Birds of Prey Up-Close: 60 minute tour, ages 12 and up.  Get face to face and learn about raptors and the role they play in the wild.  

• Ultimate Animal Insider:   Ages 6 and up,  Features three Animal Spotlight Tours (Clydesdales & Collies Up-Close, Animals Up-Close and Wolf Training Up-Close) packaged together.

For my children (ages 4 and 7,) we found it was best to do the "Animals Up-Close Tour."  This tour is just 30 minutes and perfect for younger kids or those looking for a short tour. We were excited to meet and interact with a sloth, opossum, armadillo, and some tropical birds. Plus, the Animal Ambassadors kept us entertained with funny stories about the animals as well as facts about each animal's diet, environment, preferences, and more.

Check out some of our highlights:

Besides the animals, the Busch Gardens Animal Ambassadors are just fantastic.  I have seen a few of the Ambassadors before in various shows and programs, but the tour gave me a chance to have great conversations with them. They are enthusiastic about their jobs and love the animals like they are their own children! I was impressed with their knowledge and commitment to the animals in the park.  Plus, money from every Animal Tour booked is given back to conservation efforts.  Learn more at the official Busch Gardens Williamsburg Animal Webpage. 

by Jeannine Miller, Moss Building and Design

With all the square footage a basement provides, it’s surprising how often this area of the home is overlooked.  Once your basement becomes the catchall for everything you don’t quite know what to do with, it can be hard to see a way back to a space you can be proud of.  Perhaps I can offer some inspiration to get you on the right track. 

A great way to transform the look and feel of a typical basement without changing the footprint is by adding texture.  You can do this on the ceiling, the walls and the floor.  By adding texture, you gain dimension in your basement thereby making it feel more like an extension of the upstairs.

Ceiling texture can come from a number of sources such as exposed beams, tray ceilings, coffered ceilings, textured panels or tile.  The beams shown below also add depth and architectural interest.

Basement walls are typically painted and forgotten.  Look how much presence the above walls have now that faux brick has been added.  In the McLean, VA basement seen below, the featured brick wall provides a focal point from which the rest of the basement design can grow.