Touch a Truck!!

We were thrilled to be in town for Roanoke County Parks and Recreation's Touch a Truck at Green Hill Park.  We surprised Elijah with a visit, and at age 4, he thoroughly enjoyed it and firmly requested we come back next year.  The free-admission event is exactly what the name implies--a day when vehcles of all types park on the spacious fields and kids are allowed to explore them.  It's become an annual event and is apparently the largest such event on the East Coast.  As Elijah was quick to indicate, there were more vehicles to touch than trucks.  Among his favorites were a police car, a Red Cross 18-wheeler with a kitchen on board, and an inmate transport vehicle.  There were ambuances, firetrucks, cranes, SWAT vehicles, a VDOT snowblower...even a utility bucket truck that lifted volunteers in the air.  With about 100 vehicles, it was a great place to spend a few hours of pure childhood. 

If you go, prepare to be outside and active no matter the weather--and definitely wear sturdy shoes for climbing construction equipment.  We were hit by showers, but the event went on without a hitch.  There was a pit of fireman's foam (and a firehose "sprinkler" for afterwards) for those interested.  Elijah was more interested in the daisy-chaining of fire trucks to make the sprinkler work, but if your kiddos want to play in the foam, bring towels and quick-drying clothes or swimsuits.  There are some concessions, including local favorite Homestead Creamery ice cream, so don't forget some cash for snacks.  A backpack for carrying freebies may also be helpful; we came away with a new frisbee and fire helmet.  Expect to park in a field, and if you or anyone in your party is startled by honking horns, be prepared.

Relevant Twitter Handle:
@Recreation

A Real Castle in the Sand: Myrtle Beach's Hidden Gem, Atalaya

For this year's "Myrtle date," Justin and Kim went to Huntington Beach State Park to see Atalaya, an historic homesite.  Both of us had seen small features about Atataya in older tourist literature (from before the Grand Strand had more "whiz bang" attractions), and both of us had attempted to research Atalaya online.  Justin had heard it was "ruins;" Kim had heard it was a "castle."  Neither was exactly true, and we were most pleasantly surprised.  Here's a highly-recommended Myrtle Date for those with an interest in history and the more peaceful side of the Grand Strand. 

Within Huntington Beach State Park, Atalaya sits near the shore of Huntington Beach, reasonably near the south end of Myrtle Beach.  It is a piece of 20th century Moorish architecture created by the philanthropic Huntington family as a winter retreat.  A quick tour informs you of the Huntingtons generosity--and their sense of social justice.  Thinking about the time period in which the estate was built creates a sense of the surreal:  Atalaya is nearing 100 years old and was build during a time when most of this section of the Grand Strand was full of run-down plantations.  It's also an interesting site for art.  Anne Huntington was a sculptress, and she kept live animals on the grounds (including bears!) as subjects, bringing them down with her from New York.  At the site, expect walkable brick grounds that are decently preserved but essentially unfurnished.  Be fascinated with the architectural details, including a large clothes drying "room" and a small but well-designed guttering system near the walks.  There's also a one-room interpretive exhibit.

We recommend touring the site on your own--after engaging the volunteers that staff Atalaya in good conversation, of course.  You'll pay a small fee to enter the park (about $5 per adult) and add on admission to the home (about $2 per adult).  If you are very interested in the Huntingtons, spring for the add-on audio tour--it features Anne Huntington's voice.  Consider contacting the park before you go; while it is difficult to find some of the information about the site online, they do "ghost walks" at night and have other fun options in the park including alligator talks.  Parking for Atalaya is plentiful and close to the shore as well, so walk out to the beach.  A beach house for changing is very nearby, and there are many fine spots for a picnic.  The park gift shop is nearby and boasts a solid selection of souvenir Christmas ornaments, some postcards, and some gear you might need in the park. 

If you go, consider tagging on a trip to Brookgreen Gardens, another site with Huntington family connections, particularly if you are in the area in the off season.   The gardens are essentially across the street, and they feature many seasonal events.  Justin recommends reading The Remarkable Huntingtons, Archer and Anna: Chronicle of a Marriage by Mary Mitchell and Albert Goodrich for good background, as the role of the Huntington marriage is important to both sites and to understanding the family (the book is generally cheaper on site than at Amazon).  If you're looking for more time on site, there's an annual arts and crafts festival at Atalaya in September.   Be mindful of how close you are to Market Common, Coastal Grand Mall, and Broadway at the Beach--it's pretty easy to tag on a part-day trip to Atalaya with another attraction, too.  If you are at any area within the Brunswick Beaches and/or the Grand Strand, Atalaya is driveable adventure. 

Relevant Twitter Handles:
@SC_state_parks
@Brookgreensc

A Little Lex-perience

Our newest addition has been enjoying several close-to-home trips.  We're being a bit more sensible than when Elijah first arrived, although Kim's travel hunger has been returning full force.  In any case, it's`been pleasant to enjoy some places that are not too far afield.  Consider our small adventure to Lexington, Virginia.

We visited the VMI Museum, largely to see some "new" Stonewall Jackson artifacts relating to the 150th anniversary of his wounding and death.  The VMI Museum is small and worthwhile, and the displays include a mock-up of a VMI dormroom, an impressively-displayed collection of guns, and purple hearts from VMI soldiers.  The museum's gift shop is the best in Lexington featuring VMI gear, souvenir Christmas ornaments, and books.  On each visit, Kim makes it a special point to remember Josh Hurley, a friend from the Alleghany High School Class of 1997, who was among the first soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the current war.  

From the VMI campus, it's an easy walk to Washington and Lee, also a lovely campus.  The Lee Chapel and Museum chronicles parts of university history and even boasts a small gift shop, but the beautiful grounds may be the main attraction.  On the date of our visit, there were two weddings; if you are making a special trip to see the interior of the chapel, be sure to call ahead to check the schedule.  Justin and Elijah went in search of a smaller historical collection housed in the university's administration building, but we found ourselves locked out on the weekend.

When in Lexington, remember to walk--simply park at the Lexington Visitor's Center for free, take a minute to orient yourself to the area by viewing their excellent selection of information on regional attractions, and walk where you wish downtown.  Both of the museums mentioned here are free to visit, and it is easy to "add on" a visit to the Stonewall Jackson House.  We recommend strolling over to The Bookery, a crowded bookstore in which we've found some history texts and local features.  It's easy to find ice cream to enjoy while you walk, and there's a Macado's for sandwiches.