Although many Americans plan week-long vacations in the summer or winter, sometimes it isn't possible to get away for seven days or longer. Fortunately, there are plenty of shorter vacation possibilities in the eastern United States, including amusement park visits and historical sightseeing trips that can be completed on a long weekend. Whether you decide to go from zero to 60 in less than three seconds on a roller coaster or wax nostalgic on the country's history, your short vacation does not have to skimp on the fun.
Washington, D.C., offers a history lesson around every corner. The beautiful landscaped monument area includes famous memorials to Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Memorials to veterans are also popular places to visit, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial.
The beautiful National Mall offers great photo opportunities or the perfect place to sit and relax on a sunny day. These memorials are all free to visit, and there are a number of companies that provide tours, including Washington Walks and Old Town Trolley Tours.
Other popular spots to visit are Ford's Theatre, the Holocaust Museum, the massive Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum and Air and Space Museum, both world renowned for their exhibits and historical pieces.
With a little advance notice, visitors may also reserve tours of the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
Destination DC
901 7th St. NW 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20001
202-789-7000
washington.org
Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, has more than 350 rides and attractions in a park with a European theme. The park is divided into sections for Italy, United Kingdom, Germany and France, which also has a French Canadian mini-section. Popular rides at the park include roller coasters such as the Loch Ness Monster, the Alpengeist and the Griffon as well as water rides such as Le Scoot, Roman Rapids and Escape From Pompeii.
For kids, the park offers the Sesame Street-themed Forest of Fun and Land of the Dragons. The park hosts live concerts at its amphitheater, animal shows at Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve and daily stage shows at Abbey Stone Theatre in the Ireland section of the United Kingdom area.
The park opens part time in late March and closes in October, and it is open daily starting in June. The hours of operation are generally 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
1 Busch Gardens Blvd.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-253-3350
buschgardens.com
Cedar Point, an Ohio amusement park that is open from May to September, wears the nickname "Roller Coaster Capital of the World" proudly. The park has 17 roller coasters for adults and children, including the world-famous Magnum XL-200, the wooden behemoth Mean Streak and the Blue Streak, the granddaddy of the bunch.
The park also has other rides such as Power Tower, which blasts riders up and down 240 feet in three seconds, and water rides such as the raging rapids of Thunder Canyon and the water coaster Snake River Falls. For an extra fee, guests also receive access to Soak City Water Park, which is located within the park grounds.
The park provides special rates for seniors and children, as well as para-sailing and jet ski rentals for use on Lake Erie. During its open season, the park hours vary, but the most common hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cedar Point
One Cedar Point Dr.
Sandusky, OH 44870
419-627-2350
