This is celebration to buy a new swimsuit for your Virginia Beach vacation. Ocean Breeze Waterpark, the only family water park destination in Hampton Roads, will be giving the park a multi-million dollar facelift. The enhancements include Caribbean theming of the park, the new state-of-the-art Neptune’s Revenge monster slide complex and renovations of the children’s play area, to be called Hook’s Lagoon. Improvements will be ready for the park’s May 27, 2011, opening day.

“This capital improvements plan will dramatically improve the quality and variety of attractions Ocean Breeze offers, and enhance the park’s ambiance and guest experience, said Kieran Burke, one of the park’s new owners. “We think our patrons will instantly appreciate and value the changes as soon as they step through the gate.”

Located less than 2 miles south of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, the park features 16 waterslides, a million gallon wave pool and a children’s area with pint-sized slides and a lazy river called Buccaneer Bay.

Here’s a rundown of the improvements scheduled for 2011:

Neptune’s Revenge is a four-slide complex and visitors can choose to take a one- or two-person tube one of four slides, “The Trident,” “Sea Serpent,” “Earth Shaker” or “Vortex,” then take a wild ride befitting of the King of the Sea. Riders will maneuver through dark, enclosed serpentine tunnels, multiple open and closed funnels and high-speed drops. Two slides have TOPSY-TURVEY funnel flumes and a third will have a section called a BulletBOWL. This is the only water park in the country with two TOPSY-TURVEY flumes.

Argh! Hook’s Lagoon is a new addition to the “Buccaneer Bay,” is for the little pirates. This new water play structure is packed with interactive features like sprayers, a slide and a tipping bucket ready to shower fun. Kids can climb to the top and look for land or slide down and enjoy the other water playground features including the youngster-proportioned pirate ship, silly slides and a pint-sized lazy river.

Other improvements include enhancements to the million gallon Runaway Bay Wave Pool, numerous aesthetic and architectural renovations throughout the park to create a Caribbean vibe and various guest amenities such as the addition of six more private cabanas, perfect for parties or groups.

A Virginia Beach vacation is the place to chill out this summer and a visit to Ocean Breeze Waterpark is one the whole family will enjoy.

Image Source: Ocean Breeze Waterpark

Virginia and the term “the Great Outdoors” go hand in hand and this year, the Commonwealth is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Virginia State Parks system. Special events and programs highlight the anniversary celebration, making a state park visit the perfect thing to do during a Virginia vacation.

Virginia’s State Parks had their beginnings in 1936 and from an original six park system, it has grown to 34 parks found in nearly every corner of Virginia. Organizations as the National Sporting Goods Association have honored the collection as the best state parks in America.

The state parks encompass a variety of environments from sand beaches of the Atlantic to the high mountains of far western Virginia, from Civil War battlefields to railroad beds-tuned bike trails and from bald eagle sanctuaries to an abandoned gold mine. Though each park offers its own special experience each is maintained in keeping with the quality expected of America’s best state parks.

June 18 marks 75 years for Virginia State Parks and the celebration will be marked with free admission and cake. The great outdoors and cake - what a fab combination!

Some of our favorite Virginia State Parks include York River State Park near Williamsburg for the guided canoe trips and First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach for the miles of nature trails. First Landing is also the most visited state park in the system.

Also celebrating a 75th anniversary is Shenandoah National Park with its more than 200,000 acres of protected land, more than 500 miles of trails and the 105-mile Skyline Drive running the length of the park.

Virginia is for lovers and who doesn’t love a grand celebration combined with the outdoors? We certainly love it.

History doesn’t have to be boring and Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg is proof. During a Williamsburg spring break, families can see first-hand how living history and modern adventures collide to create a fun and memorable vacation.

Spring is a beautiful time to vacation in Colonial Williamsburg. Crocuses are blooming and 18th century history is cool. Kids can dress-up in period costume and skip through the Palace Maze, learn how science is used to preserve the destination’s attractions and get messy at Great Hopes Plantation with hands-on work.

The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg introduce youth to the museum collections. Programs of note include “Material World,” which explores the world of art through eyes of a conservator through hands-on activities. The program is at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, March 16-June 8.

“When Insects Invade: The Unwanted Museum Visitor” illustrates how museum conservators deal with bugs in museums. Families can participate in this program at 2:30 p.m. Thursdays, March 17-June 9.

The month of March is Women’s History Month at Colonial Williamsburg and the Historic Area and Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg will be hosting a kaleidoscope of activities telling stories of vital roles women played in the home, at work and at war. Events include “The Polite Academy,” where attendees will learn activities as tea, poetry and music which were part of an 18th-century woman and “Only Your Hairdresser Knows: The Latest Fashions and News of the Day,” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at wigmaking.

For a complete list of Colonial Williamsburg activities during spring break, visit www.history.org and be sure to check with Resort Rentals for your affordable Williamsburg accommodations.

Image Source: Williamsburg Area Destination Marketing Committee