Virginia Roller Coaster Tour

As you arrive in Richmond, you’ll get acquainted with your guide. Get your engineering-themed week off to a start at Bottom’s Up Pizza, where you can sit outdoors and watch trains pass by overhead. Nearby is the Triple Crossing, a unique spot — the only one in the U.S. — where three train tracks cross on different levels.

Today, you’ll travel to Kings Dominion in Doswell, about a 35-minute drive from Richmond. You’ll take a behind-the-scenes tour of several of the park’s roller coasters. Afterward, spend the day experiencing the thrills of drops, loops and negative Gs on the park’s coasters and thrill rides. 

The steel Intimidator 305 is 305 feet tall with an 85-degree drop angle, goes 90 mph and has amazing 4.5 Gs, meaning riders are subjected to 4.5 times the amount of Earth’s normal gravity! Built by Intamin, this Giga coaster has what is called a “cable lift hill launch system” and is one of the tallest and fastest in the world. Other roller coasters include the wooden Grizzly, Racer 75, the Dominator, the wood/steel combo of Twisted Timbers and the linear induction motor launching Backlot Stunt Coaster.

Today you’ll take off to Williamsburg, about an hour drive from Richmond. You’ll take a behind-the-scenes tour of the park’s roller coasters, including the steel dive coaster Griffon, Alpengeist, Apollo’s Chariot, Verbolten, Tempesto, the wooden InvadR and the Loch Ness Monster — the only coaster with two interlocking loops.  

After you’re done swooping, soaring and dropping down wooden and steel tracks, you’ll visit Water Country USA. Located nearly next door to Busch Gardens, this surf-themed water park features the innovative Cutback Water Coaster. It has a water jet propulsion system that launches riders uphill, a thrill not usually found on water slides. Try out the Vanish Point drop slide, the funnel element of Colossal Curl and a variety of other toboggan-style and inner-tube water slides.

Today you’ll experience the engineering of treetop zip-lines at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Zoom high above a creek in a wooded setting as you travel more than 3,000 feet on zip-lines. Afterward, pay a visit to the Science Museum of Virginia where you can check out exhibits on astronomy, biology, nature, the environment and more.

What goes better with roller coasters, thrill rides and high-flying fun than the sweetness of chocolate? Today, you’ll travel from Richmond to Hershey, Pennsylvania, about a 4.5-hour drive. The thrills, fun and sweetness of Hersheypark awaits with the 50-mph wooden Comet coaster, the 75-mph Skyrush and the vertical loop of the Sooper Dooper Looper. The Lightning Racer is the first wooden racing/dueling coaster in the U.S. 

Located next to Hersheypark, Hershey’s Chocolate World, is the place to find sweet treats for all of your friends. You can take the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour, create your own candy bar and learn all about anything and everything chocolate. 

You’ll also want to check out The Hershey Story Museum and its interactive exhibits, tour and story of Milton S. Hershey’s rise to fame.

This morning, you’ll visit the stalactites, stalagmites and geologic formations at Indian Echo Caverns. Afterward, you’ll take a tour of the town built by Hershey. Hershey Trolley Works takes you on a guided historic trolley tour of Milton S. Hershey’s birthplace and world-famous town.

Spend your last morning in Hershey with a chocolate-infused cup of coffee and a sweet roll or bun. Pick up a few last-minute souvenirs in the historic town before heading home.