Dinosaurs and Potato Chips, Oh My!

We asked Elijah if he wanted to see some dinosaurs and went in search of old fashioned roadside amusement, heading for Dinosaur Land near Winchester, VA.  What a fanciful place full of outdoor sculptures of dinosaurs--not to mention King Kong, an octopus, a shark, and some oversize bugs.  At $4 to $5 entry a person, it's a bargain as far as dino attractions go.  It's also terrific for preschoolers and young elementary-aged kids.  Fences allow for some running, and the sculptures are captivating.  If we lived closer, it would totally be the site of a birthday party.  The attraction is almost 50 years old, and the gift shop sells plenty of classic souvenirs.   Interesting sculptures include uniquely-positioned birds and a dino attack scene, a la Jurassic Park movies. 

If making the journey from Roanoke, consider stopping at one of the many other attractions "up I-81."  Options certainly include the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory, a pop-in factory "tour" that involves viewing the potato chip creation process for yummy Route 11 chips.  If buying, Justin recommends the lightly salted, Kim recommends dill pickle, and Elijah recommends BBQ.  There are plenty of samples, it's free to visit, and given the nature of the viewing, there are no age restrictions.    For other ideas, see our posts about The Factory Antique Mall, Green Valley Book Fair, Johnny Appleseed Restaurant, and the Shenandoah Caverns Family of Attractions (or click their live links for their websites).