The Virginia is for Lovers site is featuring travel in honor of Presidents – one of my favorite topics. Turns out, there are many places in Virginia to learn about Thomas Jefferson besides Monticello!
June 18, 2009
Fishing with Kids
We have all seen the introduction to The Andy Griffith Show…Opie and his Dad walking down the lane, fishing rods in hand…..Americana at it’s best.
There has been a resurgence in the popularity of fishing. It’s affordable, easy to do and kids love it!
From aa-fishing.com come the following recommendations for fishing with kids:
Courtesy of aa-fishing.com
Remember to plan the fishing trip around the kid’s interest level, not yours. Also, kids want instant gratification. They don’t have the patience to just “fish”; they want to “catch”. No matter what the catch, make a big deal out of it and watch their eyes light up!
June 4, 2009
Virginia Family Road Trip!
Over the next couple of months, we will highlight a few inexpensive, yet fun-filled road trips for families to take throughout Virginia. The first in the series begins here:
West Central and Shenandoah Valley
1. Montpelier – the home of James Madison
Come visit the newly restored home of the Father of the Constitution, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison. Madison was raised at Montpelier, lived here after his marriage to Dolley, returned here after his presidency, and died here in his study surrounded by the books and papers that marked so much of his life’s work. It was at Montpelier where Madison researched past democracies and conceived of the system of government that became our republic.
The Montpelier estate features the Madison mansion, historic buildings, exhibits, archaeological sites, gardens, forests, hands-on activities, a new Visitor Center, and a freedman’s cabin and farm. Learn about the man whose contemporaries called “Father of the Constitution,” and the woman who was the first to be called First Lady.
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery from the grounds of this historical masterpiece.
2. Monticello – the Home of Thomas Jefferson
After lunch, head over to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Be one of the first to visit the new visitor center and be sure to take the Famiy-Friendly Tour offered here. These special guided tours of Thomas Jefferson’s house are designed for children ages 6 to 11. The 30-minute tours feature hands-on opportunities in every room and provide a glimpse of what life was like for the children who lived at Monticello in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
I wrote a post about visiting Monticello with kids. Click here to access the post.
3. The English Inn of Charlottesville
Spend the night at the beautiful and affordable English Inn in Charlottesville. Rooms start at just $110 and include a full hot breakfast in the morning. In addition, the English Inn offers free wireless internet access, an indoor pool, sauna, and free cribs if needed.
4. Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton
The Frontier Culture Museum tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated to colonial America, and of the life they created here for themselves and their descendants.
These first pioneers came to America during the 1600s and 1700s from communities in the hinterlands of England, Germany, Ireland, and West Africa. Many were farmers and rural craftsmen set in motion by changing conditions in their homelands, and drawn to the American colonies by opportunities for a better life. Others came as unwilling captives to work on farms and plantations. Regardless of how they arrived, all became Americans, and all contributed to the success of the colonies, and of the United States.
To tell the story of these early immigrants and their American descendents, the Museum has moved or reproduced examples of traditional rural buildings from England, Germany, Ireland, West Africa, and America. The Museum engages the public at these exhibits with a combination of interpretive signage and living history demonstrations. The outdoor exhibits are located in two separate areas: the Old World and America.
The Old World exhibits show rural life and culture in four homelands of early migrants to the American colonies. The American exhibits show the life these colonists and their descendants created in the colonial back country, how this life changed over more than a century, and how life in the United States today is shaped by its frontier past.
5. Route 11 Potato Chip Factory in Mount Jackson
What’s more American than the best potato chips in the world crafted right here in Virginia? Not too long ago, about 10 years to be exact, with lots of potatoes, good oil, salt, serendipity, and a little luck, Route 11 Potato Chips sprouted in an old feed store in Middletown, Virginia.
Their goal? Produce the best potato chips on the planet. Chips to be proud of. Chips, that with every potatoey crunch, make you feel like you were experiencing something very special. Everything they make is hand-cooked. This is much more labor intensive than the continuous frying methods of the big boys, and if you visit the factory, you will have the opportunity to view the production process.
Oh yeah…you can also taste and buy some potato chips while there.
6. The Inn at Narrow Passage – Woodstock
Enjoy a comfortable and restful night’s sleep in this historic inn. This 1740 Shenandoah Valley bed and breakfast is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty and history of the Valley. Once a haven against Indian attacks on the Virginia frontier and later Stonewall Jackson’s headquarters during the Valley Campaign of 1862, the Inn now welcomes travelers looking for comfortable lodging and friendly hospitality.
Enjoy the beautiful setting over looking the Shenandoah River and allow yourself to be taken away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Play a quiet game of checkers in the main lodge and take in a cool drink on the deck. Leave plenty of time to indulge in the delicious homemade breakfast lovingly prepared each morning by the Inn’s owners, Ed and Ellen Markel.
7. New Market Battlefield State Historical Park
Where 257 Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute made the difference between victory and defeat.
Explore the Civil War in Virginia here in this 300 acre park, 19th Century Bushong Farm and Hall of Valor Civil War Museum. Commemorate a unique moment in American history, when Cadets from VMI engaged in pitched battle and helped win a victory for the Confederate Army.
Spend the day at the New Market State Historical Park and enjoy the museum, explore the historical farm, scenic Shenandoah River overlooks, picnic spots and walking trails.
May 14, 2009
A Fun Summertime Activity
Wow – this looks like so much fun! A water balloon piñata! Thanks to ZiggityZoom.com for this great idea!
This Water Balloon pinata is a fun way to cool off on a hot summer day. The kids love this and it gets them up and moving. Just be sure to only use a plastic bat for swinging at the pinata.
Need:
- Package of Balloons
- Cotton String
- Small plastic Funnel
- Outside Hose
- Plastic Bat or Cardboard mailing Tube
What To Do:
- Prior to filling balloons, select a spot where you can tie the balloons overhead so that the kids will have to reach up with the bat, but not too high. We utilized a patio structure, but a tree limb or another structure would work well.
- Attach a balloon to the skinny end of the funnel and then slowly fill the balloon with water. Tie end. Note that the fuller the balloon is filled, the quicker it will burst.
- Fill about 7 (seven) balloons, setting each aside on a soft surface, such as patio furniture or an old blanket, to prevent puncturing the balloons ahead of time.
- Cut a piece of string about 40 inches long. Tie each balloon securely to the string, keeping each balloon about 2 inches apart. Do not tie balloons to the last 12 inches at either end of the string.
- Tie ends of string to tree limb or selected structure. Tie securely , as balloon string is going to be heavy.
Children should line up and take turns, swinging the bat one swing per turn. Make sure all children remain back a safe distance from the batter and definitely make sure that the bat is made of plastic. If you don’t have a bat, you can fashion one from a length of cardboard, rolling it up and taping with duct tape
May 7, 2009
FREE Family Film Festival
The Regal Cinema’s Free Family Film Festival begins June 2009!
When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theaters for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE! Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival.
First-come, first-served seating is limited to theater capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.
Tickets are available the day of the show at the theater box office. Click here to go to the site and search for theaters near you.
May 4, 2009
There’s No Place Like The Home Place!
What do you think of when you think of southern cooking the way “grandma” makes it? Meals that take all day to prepare? Vegetables that are fresh from the garden? Breads that are made from scratch? Meats that are purchased from the farmer down the road?
You will find all of that…..and more at The Home Place in Catawba, Virginia.
The Home Place sits on the top of a hill in a renovated colonial farmhouse. Flanked by big trees and a huge front lawn perfect for playing – it is reminiscent of the quintessential “Grandma’s house”. Be prepared to spend some time out front too….reservations are not accepted and it’s not unusual for the wait to be over an hour for a table.
But, you don’t go to Grandma’s to eat and run and you don’t do it here either.
Dinner is a family event at The Home Place. It’s not unusual to hear a call for “Brown – party of 25!” while waiting for your table. Families bring frisbees and footballs to play on the lawn until “called” to come in for supper. While the young kids play, the adults visit on the benches or in the gazebos out front.
When you finally sit down for dinner, you’re hungry and ready!
Prices current as of May 3, 2009
The menu here is simple…2 or 3 meats? Choose from country ham, roast beef or fried chicken. Then the vegetables: corn, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, cole slaw, pinto beans…..yum! And then the biscuits…..the best biscuits in the word with homemade apple butter. Best of all, you get refills of whatever you like.
For dessert, homemade fruit cobbler with or without ice cream.
The Home Place is open Thursday through Sunday. Located about 7 miles from I-81 and Roanoke and a 30 minute drive from Blacksburg. Don’t worry about driving the country roads, no alcohol is served at The Home Place so you will be fine for the drive home.
Tina’s tips: Wear elastic pants! Bring a few toys or things for the kids to do while waiting for the table. Don’t be in a rush. Bring a camera and some friends! For drinks, The Home Place offers tea, coffee, lemonade, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi. If you want the kids to have something else, be sure to bring it with you.
April 22, 2009
FREE Admission to Museums!
If you have a Bank of America credit card, you can now get FREE admission to area museums through their “Museums on Us” program. Eligible dates apply.
Currently, there are only 2 museums in Virginia participating; however, hopefully, there will be more in the future.
The 2 participants are: The Chrysler Museum in Norfolk and The Children’s Museum in Richmond.
The Phillips Collection in Washington DC is also on the list.
The eligible dates for 2009 are:
- May 2nd & 3rd
- June 6th & 7th
- July 4th & 5th
- August 1st & 2nd
- September 5th & 6th
- October 3rd & 4th
- November 7th & 8th
- December 5th & 6th
Free admission is valid for card holders only.
April 19, 2009
Disney World Orlando Tips and Tricks
I am fully aware that Disney is NOT in Virginia. That being said, I seem to have a lot of people ask me about “doing Disney”; which appears to be a rite of passage for anyone who has children. So, for what they’re worth, here are my tips.
1. Plan for the trip. Disney World in Orlando, Florida (unlike Disneyland’s Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo and California) is not something to be done as a spur of the moment afterthought (unless you reside in Florida and go there regularly). Prices vary greatly depending on the time of year, so do your research and try to avoid the busy seasons of spring break, summer break and Christmas holidays, if at all possible.
2. Do research on the web. There are lots of Disney World forums filled with people who live for vacationing with mouse ears on. Observe and ask questions….these people know their stuff. Disney World discounts are not easy to come by and are often reserved for those in the “know”. Sign up for a free Disney Vacation Planner and that will put you on the mailing list for discounts. Also, consider getting a Disney credit card – they will also send you free promotions and a portion of all your purchased go toward a vacation. One of the best sites for all-discounts-Disney is mousesavers.com. Sign up and you will be the first to know about significant promotions and discounts.
3. Before going on your trip, buy some Disney “stuff” at Target and Disney Outlet (they have both online and retail stores). This way, you will have something to give the kids and will avoid paying $30 for a plastic toy in the park.
4. Stay in a hotel in the park if you can. There are 4 levels of accomodations ranging from economical to very nice (note that I am not calling anything they have in the resort “luxury”). There are benefits to staying on-site that just make life easier, such as: free transportation to and from the airport, free transportation to all areas within the resort, extra hours the park is open just for resort guests, preferred reservations at “character meals”, etc.
5. The best investment I have made in our Disney World vacations has been to sign up for a customized tour guide from tourguidemike.com. Mike is a VIP tour guide at Disney World and knows EXACTLY how to see Disney with the least amount of lines and stress. The first time we went, we found out that we were going during the busiest week of the year. Mike’s guide was our bible for the week and we managed to never wait in a line or fight crowds. For $21.95, it is well worth every penny.
6. Do not go in a large group. The larger your group, the less you will see. Staying together can be difficult, matching adults with various aged kids for rides while other kids want to run off, trying to get tables together for meals, seats together on trams…it’s a hassle. You will end up spending a lot more time waiting on reach other than enjoying yourselves.
7. Don’t spend all day at the park. Go in the morning, early, before the crowds arrive. Then, go back to your hotel and enjoy the pool (while the crowds are at the park), take a nap (the kids need it!) and go back to the park in the evening while the crowds are at dinner.
8. It will not be perfect. Last time we were at Disney World, I was so disheartened to see parents swearing at each other, kids screaming and crying and families just appearing completely stressed out. Why? It’s supposed to be a vacation. If you cannot handle crowds, last minute changes in plans, heat, loud noises, etc., than Disney World is not for you. Take the time to explain to the kids where they’re going and what is expected of them. When kids are pulled unexpectedly out of their comfort zone and thrust into the chaos of Disney, of course they are going to misbehave!
9. Don’t get addicted. Disney World is a drug-like dreamland that can easily suck you in. Yes, it’s fun and magical and people love it…but it is not cultured. It is a fantasy-land that can be a great vacation, but not the only vacation. There are many, many other places offering kids a sense of adventure, family togetherness and affordability along with a learning and cultured atmosphere. My two cents….there’s more for kids to see in the world besides Orlando, Florida.
March 31, 2009
Cyrus McCormick Farm
Cyrus McCormick
Who was Cyrus McCormick?
“Cyrus Hall McCormick invented the first successful reaper and founded the harvesting machine industry. In July 1831, at 22 years of age, McCormick first demonstrated his invention publicly. This, the world’s first successful mechanical reaper, opened a new era in agriculture, an age of mechanization that changed life on the farm, altered American advertizing, and made it possible for millions of people to leave the land and enter an industrial society.”
Located in Steele’s Tavern, the McCormick Farm is conveniently located off I-81 exit 205. The park is open daily from 8:30am – 5pm and admission is free. There are picnic tables on site and plenty of room for the kids to run. They will particularly enjoy seeing the real working grist mill.
The Farm features a grist mill dating back to the 1800’s, blacksmith shop and museum, school room, smoke house and other items of interest from the period.
Grist Mill at the McCormick Farm
Blacksmith shop and museum
Map of McCormick Farm
Duck pond at the McCormick Farm
March 31, 2009
The Inn at Narrow Passage
Finding a place to spend the night in western Virginia can be challenging; especially for a family with children. Most of the chain hotels are located in the larger towns and are of the discounted variety that lack amenities such as breakfast. The smaller inns and bed & breakfasts can be hard to find and/or not kid friendly.
The Inn at Narrow Passage, in Woodstock, Virginia is both easy to find and kid-friendly! This restored Inn located on the Shenandoah River was built in 1740 and is a comfortable place to stay as well as a great history lesson. Once a haven against Indian attacks on the Virginia frontier, during the Valley Campaign of 1862 it was Stonewall Jackson’s headquarters.
Ellen and Ed Markel, the Inn’s owners welcome visitors with open arms and treat you like a valued member of their family. The Inn’s rooms are spacious, charming, updated and affordable. We called the Inn as we traveled down I-81 and our accommodations were secured in a matter of minutes. Our 2nd floor residence featured a queen size poster bed with comfy bedding along with a twin size bed, spacious sitting area, clean private bathroom and a warm fireplace.
The Inn sits on 5 acres overlooking the river allowing for lots of “running room” for children who have been in a car for a while. The included hot breakfast is delicious and served with the same warm hospitality.
Here is a link to the Inn’s brochure. You can also call them at: 800-459-8002 or reach by email: innkeeper@narrowpassage.com.
Tina’s tips: there are so many places in this area that are kid-friendly. Give yourself plenty of time to relax and explore. Luray and Shenandoah Caverns are within a 20 minute drive, along with the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory, American Celebration on Parade and many other attractions.
Even on a cloudy day it is beautiful
Playing checkers in the main building by the fire
