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Only 25 miles north of Richmond, Virginia and 85 miles south of Washington, DC, Kings Dominion is within easy driving distance for millions of families. Easy access is just one of the reasons that this Virginia amusement park is a great place for a family vacation that people have been enjoying for more than 40 years. Located in the small town of Doswell, Virginia, Kings Dominion is a 400-acre facility filled with all types of thrill rides, activities, and shopping.

As you enter the gates of the park, you will work your way down International Street, which is like the main avenue for the theme park. International Street is lined with all sorts of unique shops selling candy, souvenirs, toys, and other items. The General Store is a favorite with budget minded families, since everything in the store is less than $10. It's tough to find a deal like that in an amusement park.

Soon after entry, you will notice the replica of the Eiffel Tower that is the focal point for the park. Before deciding which part of the park to hit first, take an elevator ride 275 feet up to the observation deck and see the facilities from above. The Eiffel Tower is also helpful as a point of reference- tell everyone in the family that if they get separated, they should meet back up at the Eiffel Tower.

The neighborhoods or themed sections of Kings Dominion are Old Virginia, with frontier-themed attractions, the Grove, with an arcade and several exciting coasters, Nickelodeon Central and Kidzville, which are friendly to even the youngest kids, the Congo, which features an African theme, and WaterWorks, a 20-acre water park. Each section is dotted with food stands, restaurants, and souvenir shops that are uniquely designed to fit the section's character.

The best thing about Kings Dominion for families is that there are attractions that will suit adults and kids of every age. In one stop, everyone from the toddler to the teenager to the parents can have a great time.

For adventure-seekers in the family, the Dominator coaster is the newest roller coaster in Kings Dominion. It opened in 2008 as the longest floorless coaster in the world and the world's largest loop. Speeds of up to 65 mph at a height of 161 feet and a total of five inversions will definitely provide an adrenaline burst. The looping Anaconda in the Congo section will spin riders upside down over and over again before plunging them into an underwater tunnel. The Drop Tower is a 30-story tower that will lift riders up and drop them

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