Roanoke's Latest Exhibit: Play at the Taubman Museum of Art

A fun art exhibit in your hometown is cause for excitement. Play: Toys Reimagined as Art at the Taubman Museum of Art is a great excuse to get out and enjoy, and at the time of this writing, it still has a few weeks left.  K, E, and G  have visited several times and found the exhibit highly accessible and interesting, if small in terms of the number of pieces (which could be a great asset for many children exploring art). 

When we say accessible, we mean there are sculptures to climb on (clouds) and walk under (balloons) as well as pieces constructed from familiar materials (Legos, crayons).  Additionally, the Art Venture creation and play space features related materials like large quantities of Legos and base plates. There's always something interesting in the other galleries as well.

If you go, know that membership is a good value for many families. Yes, admission is typically free, but special exhibits and Art Venture access have fees.  For families making multiple trips and taking advantage of these features, membership can easily pay for itself, and right now, there is a 20% off membership sale with the code Play18.  Don't miss visiting the porch overlooking the nearby roads, and walk to the Roanoke Market Building food court or Nawab's buffet for lunch.

The Bedford Area's Best Pumpkin Patch: Layman Family Farms

Our area of Virginia includes many fun "pumpkin patch" ongoing fall festivals for kids.  Two of the best are Jeter Farm, winning the Roanoke area, and Layman Family Farms, winning the Bedford area. Region-travelling families could actually take a nice weekend and drive 460, spending time at both. This year, we took in opening weekend and teacher appreciation day at Layman Family Farms first. It was a great blast from the past:  K and J went on a date to their original corn maze at their previous site, and we have great memories over the years of our tiny kids visiting this type of attraction, like these of young E at Layman's just a few years ago.

Vast and full of little amusements, Layman Family Farms includes a variety of fun attractions for elementary-aged kids in particular, including a corn crib "sandbox," a train of "cows" pulled by a tractor, hayrides, a corn maze, a treehouse-type playground, an "underground" slide, a farm animal "zoo," a set of short zip lines, and more.  General admission gets you in--and gets you a few chances on some of the attractions that are sort of "ticketed."  These attractions include one of our kids' favorites, the jumping pillow.  Other attractions do not require any form of tickets and include E's pick, the Bee Line zip lines, and G's pick, the corn crib--but don't worry: you can purchase more tickets as needed if you like other areas more.  We smiled with pride, though, as our kids enjoyed some of the simpler things to do, including also a ball toss game that caught E's attention (no prizes, but lots of fun).

Layman Family Farms is likely the area's largest such pumpkin patch site.  Active kids can spend a long time here, especially when the site is not terribly crowded and their adults are willing to indulge them with lots of time on the jumping pillow, on the zip lines, and/or in the corn crib.  We've found less crowding early in the season (September) and later in the season (November), making it easier to spend a little more time on these attractions.  Take time to admire the views, especially from the hayride and "pumpkin patch" area.

If you go, dress to play and be comfortable--and be set to get dusty.  If you are doing photos on site as lots of families do, consider doing them first before you start serious exploring and get a little messy. Take some money for fair food available at the farm; we very much appreciated the lemonade and twisty fries.  Deal hunters should follow the Layman Family Farm Facebook page seasonally for advance purchase and season pass savings; many others can save on special admission days for educators, first responders, and others as advertised on their website.  Early season admission tends to be less expensive as well.  Layman's is home to a small gift shop-type store, and you can, of course, buy Pumpkins.  And definitely review them on TripAdvisor--they just got added!

Childhood Legacies: Babyland General Hospital

If you grew up in the 1980s or had kids growing up then in the US, you undoubtedly know the Cabbage Patch brand.  Kim had a few dolls: Kerry Ann, a preemie, an astronaut; Justin had some as well.  Kim also remembered her dad telling stories of seeing some people fight over them at a Roanoke, Virginia, Hills store--they were a BIG deal.  So big that a related tourist site emerged in Georgia: Babyland General Hospital.  Basically, it was the place the Cabbage Patch Kids were born--a center where you could pick them out from a "nursery."  Once in a small building, it graduated in 2009 to a custom-built mansion in Cleveland, Georgia.  This became a perfect surprise destination trip for G this spring break.

Babyland General Hospital is a truly delightful location for young kids interested in dolls, about age 7 and down, that inspires the imagination as well as some shopping. Free admission makes your visit easy, and you can come anytime and wander the large combination simulated hospital-birthing tree-doll nursery-large gift shop.  You shop from the displays, which include cribs full of dolls and a "cabbage patch" of dolls as well as more conventionally-displayed items. Various souvenirs include T-shirts, postcards, limited edition dolls, baby accessories, and the like.  If you ever visited the now-defunct Boyds Bear Country, you have the idea.

We spent about two-and-a-half hours on site on an extended visit with a very impressed G.  She particularly enjoyed the large number of stuffed animals available (that's what she wanted to take home) and the birthing tree, a little show where a Cabbage Patch doll is "delivered" by a patch nurse or doctor every 45 minutes or so.  The delivery features a lot of vague references to actual childbirth and results in a new Cabbage Patch doll the audience names.  G helped name two dolls while we were there: Gwen Amelia and Elijah Alexander.  All of the staff are dressed as medical staff, and the dolls are transported about the center in cradles and incubators.

If you go, this is an affordable outing.  Admission is free, parking is easy, and signs to Babyland abound once you are within about 5 miles.  Some of the dolls are priced upward of $200--but the hard-to-find smaller dolls are plentiful here and start at around $9, the various souvenirs are affordable, and there are sales on overstock dolls also with very reasonable prices.  The site itself is large (so large that the ballroom hosts weddings), and you could easily take a picnic (bring a blanket) and eat on the grounds.  Babyland General Hospital is not, however, super close to the interstate system, so you will be getting off the beaten path.  The nearby small town of Alpine Helen, Georgia, can provide you a place to stay.

Explore and More: Gettysburg's Wonderful Playhouse

On a recent trip to Gettysburg, we had a bit of dismal weather.  This situation became a great excuse to check out Explore and More, Gettysburg's children's museum.  K had seen simple ads for it, and in town with our two kids and friends and their two kids, we figured it would be worth a shot for spending a bit of time together.  We wound up turning our "bit of time" into about 4 hours with our combined kids, ages 18 months to 7 years.  Everyone had a great time!

Explore and More, situated conveniently "behind" the town library and walkable from Lincoln Square and Steinwehr Avenue hotels on the Baltimore Street end, is a repurposed older home turned hands-on exploration area.  In short, if we could turn our whole house into a playroom, this is what we would build.  Downstairs, you'll find exploration stations including a giant bubble making area and an imaginative play space with a civil war period "home" and campsite.  Upstairs, there's a small black light room and multiple art activities--as well as our boys' favorite space, a construction/manufacturing "site" with a loft and play office.  K, principal of a career-technical education center, was thrilled to see E, age 7, enjoy it so!  There are also small animals to observe (not pet)--think pet mice in cages--and there's a mini gift shop to boot with educational toys.

K, a kindergarten and first grade teacher in a previous segment of life, was impressed by how developmentally-appropriate the museum is--exploration comes naturally in this environment. The owners are two former teachers--and they work to provide this opportunity for the community without paying themselves.  Therefore, pay your admission happily--it's a good value at $7/kid 2-14 and $5/adult.  Those with the potential to visit frequently should investigate a frequent-visitor punch card; there is no membership available.  The atmosphere is quite welcoming and low key, making the museum an excellent place to frequent.

If you go, really consider walking if you are staying at such places as the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg or the Inn at Cemetery Hill.  The walk is pleasant and will allow you to see the living town of Gettysburg--after all, the town was a town at the time of the Civil War battle bearing its name. Metered parking is, however, available and can be free in some circumstances (like holidays)--check ahead.  We agree with the official website that the museum is pretty perfect for ages 2-8, but kids older and younger can enjoy it as well.  Remember that you can walk to Lincoln Square; there are several nearby moderate pub-style restaurants directly on the circle, and the economical and fun Lincoln Diner (truly situated in a diner) is about a 10 minute walk away, albeit through intersections.  Art activities do include paint and glitter; while there are smocks, dress accordingly. Our best advice, though, is to come on out to Explore and More and get messy!

Naturally Magical: Boxerwood Garden in Lexington, VA

Labor Day weekend always thwarts us in some regard.  This year, we had planned a trip in the direction of Richmond, VA, and then, Hurricane Hermione made the weather in that direction too unpredictable for our easy day trip liking.  We wanted to be outside; we wanted to walk around; we wanted to keep it simple.  We heard Lexington's Boxerwood Gardens, a place we'd seen pitched in the window of the Lexington Visitor's Center some time back, calling.

Boxerwood, billed as a park and nature center, is a little chunk of paradise for outdoor exploring.  An outgrowth of industrious citizenship if you will, Boxerwood was a family collection of plants and now serves the greater good as a private recreation ground, giving it quite the history.  It's a little bit hippie and a lot magical, especially for young kid explorers.  There's a fantastical children's "trail" that is reasonably confined and includes fun tightropes of repurposed fire hoses, a giant birdhouse-shaped tree house, a mud pie restaurant, "doorways" between trees, and similar places for imaginative play. Beyond these gates, there are acres for the wandering along simple trails.  Seemingly random metal sculptures "pop up" and pathways bend off across swampy lands and near small ponds throughout the more-wild-than-manicured botanical garden setting. Don't expect a ton of signage or staff--this is a mainly volunteer, community-supported enterprise, and that is part of the charm.  We were a bit frustrated we never found the Fairy Garden, but we met some happy travelers who couldn't find it either and will simply have to return.

If you go, venture out in pleasant weather--and be dressed for it.  Consider bringing a picnic--or do what we did and work up a hunger for nearby Niko's Grille for an interesting combination of Greek food and all-day breakfast.  Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty and take along extra shoes--there's a creek in the children's area. There are no fees, but you can leave a donation in the box at the front.  GPS Boxerwood (963 Ross Road) knowing you will be entering a slightly-off-downtown residential section to get there. Visit dawn to dusk--Google told us it was "closed" weekends, but this definitely wasn't true.  They do host special events, and the best way to find out about those may very well be their Facebook page.  We easily combined this trip with pleasant walking in Lexington...

...to Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, also open dawn to dusk...

...to Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University, a site with outstanding docents and a great glimpse into the school...

...to Virginia Military Institute, where K always stops to find the memorial plaques to fallen Alleghany High School classmate Josh Hurley...

...E even walked the Labyrinth at Robert E Lee Episcopal Church.  Maybe not prayerfully yet, but he walked it.

So, go wander.  For our young roadschoolers and afterschoolers, this was a pretty perfect outdoor classroom.

Simple and Small: Gettysburg's Land of Little Horses

Gettysburg is J's favorite history site, of course.  G, however, adores being outside on a battlefield but doesn't quite have historical tourism down yet.  We're still teaching her, but in the meantime, it's sometimes effective to explore in other ways.  On a recent trip to Pennsylvania, G and K were inspired to visit Land of Little Horses, a family farm attraction in Gettysburg's countryside, accordingly to indulge G's enjoyment of animals and the outdoors.  The farm is celebrating its 45th year!

K had always been curious about this attraction, a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. Famous for miniature horses as the name implies, Land of Little Horses is a simple, peaceful farm on which at least 20 or so friendly mini horses reside by our count.  The park has special times during which one can groom and interact with the horses daily.  Other special events include simple animal shows during which select horses and other animals including dogs and pigs perform cute tricks.  The performances, low-key and in a covered arena, are a nice way to take a break on a hot day.  The information is also inspiring--many of the animals are rescued and all are cared for by the family that owns the farm (the dogs even go home at night with them).  The show demonstrates kindness towards the animals as well--a far cry from a rigorous "animal trick exhibit."  A semi-famous horse will even do math for you--addition through division and including number recognition.  Nifty.

The park is a pretty place to walk aimlessly on paths, venturing barn to barn and showing up for hourly special events like the animal show.  There are rabbits, turkeys, goats (twins born on K's birthday, actually), a "racing" tortoise, and more.  Yes, you can buy food pellets for them, but we opted not to.  There's also a small park, a snack bar with indoor seating (we had ice cream), places for picnics outside, a "wild west" village with props for imaginative play, and a gift shop (of course we bought a Christmas ornament--as well as a fancy pink cowgirl hat).  G's favorite experiences?  Saying hello to the rabbits, brushing the horses during the grooming event, climbing on the playground, and riding the saddle swings in the wild west village.

This farm park has no amusement rides and put me in the mind of the type of pleasant family/friends outing one can have at a fall pumpkin patch in Virginia.  If you go, dress for the weather outdoors, and know that closed-toed shoes are optimal.  Search online for deals (try sites like Groupon, Certifikid, and Living Social as well as coupon sites like Val-Pack).  We enjoyed eating just ice cream at the park, enjoying an air-conditioned break at the snack bar, and then meeting our family for a bigger dinner at Blue and Gray Bar and Grill, one of our favorite local restaurants.  Management makes sure you are aware the park does not offer pony rides (apparently, they did before an insurance increase).  The park is open, weather permitting, select days April to October with season passes available and makes a perfect trip for preschoolers and young kids who enjoy animals.

Part Zoo, Part Nature Walk, Part Museum: Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA

Virginia Living Museum is a little gem of a day trip, especially for kids with any interest in animals or nature.  Easy to find from the interstate system (but not in sight from there), the museum includes live animals in spaces inside and outside along a pleasant boardwalk.  Lots of rescued animals native to Virginia can be seen along the walk, and we found the docents knowledgeable of the animals and their habits.  Stop and ask them to explain the behavior of the animals--they'll tell you interesting stories that often include stories of the rescue of the animals, injured, from the wild.  Also outside are a small play area perfect for preschool and young elementary kids. For us, visiting on a quick stop, the boardwalk on a pleasant day was the highlight of the trip.

Inside, you'll find regionally-based exhibits about Virginia wildlife--a dream for teachers of Virginia Studies and science!  There's a taste of aquarium-style exhibits as well as smaller enclosures with smaller animals.  The facility is well-maintained and has a spacious travelling exhibit space--recently, it was featuring large robotic models of bugs.  Check the website for updates--a temporary dinosaur exhibit opens in May 2016.  Attention shoppers: There's also a reasonably-priced gift shop.

If visiting with kids say, 10ish and younger, we recommend considering going on a clearly "good weather" day, dressing for inside and outside temps, and packing a picnic or bringing carryout--you can eat right outside the museum.  ASTC Passport science museum members, this is a participating site!  It's also Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited, so check any related memberships you have for possible reciprocity. The museum is a very easy drive from Williamsburg and a reasonably easy one from Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Right now, it would be fun to combine with a stop at Lantern Asia.  We made a quick trip of about 45-60 minutes, but we'd actually recommend 2-3 hours or more.

Greensboro Science Center: Good Deal, Day of Fun

K, E, G, and family friend A took off for the Greensboro Science Center in Greensboro, NC, a perfect distance from Roanoke for a day trip.  Recently renovated, the center includes a zoo, an aquarium, and a science museum with play area.  It's all very attractively presented, and on the weekends, we found lots of competent teen volunteers able to provide some interpretation.

For the zoo,  think "bigger than Mill Mountain but smaller than Asheboro; for the aquarium, bigger than aquatics in  Roanoke but smaller than Chattanooga; for the museum itself, around the size of the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville.  This all combines to make a very manageable day for young kids.  We adored the pneumatic tubes in the play area, the tigers in the zoo, and the expansive sting ray touch tank. Taking bigger kids?  Consider the Skywild aerial ropes course add on (must be at least 10 and 70 pounds).  E and A enjoyed an add-on dome theater show about stars.

If you go, know you can pack a picnic--there are tables in the zoo and at Greensboro's Country Park (it literally backs into the property).  There's a fountain you can play in and animals to pet at the zoo, too.  The public park also has playgrounds and paddleboats.  Educators, take your ID--basic admission to the center is free.  ASTC Passport holders are also free, or if based regionally, discounted.   We were able to combine both programs for a great deal.  You may come and go, using your receipt for re-entry.

We Found Another Train Museum: North Carolina Transportation Museum

There's a transportation museum in the area the Haltermans hadn't visited?  There was!  Recently, Kim and Elijah took a guided tour of Spencer, NC,'s North Carolina Transportation Museum with an organized group from Roanoke's Virginia Museum of Transportation.  We saw Roanoke's engineering landmark 611 under restoration on our trip, but even if you have no special purpose in going, it is easy to make a day of train fun or family fun at this museum.  The museum is in fact more fully described by the term site--it's big.

If you like to think about such things, it's easy to marvel about how this place stays so attractive--even for a self-professed museum snob like Kim--with a mainly volunteer workforce.  It includes a restored depot, an impressive roundhouse, and other exhibit buildings, all in restored railroad structures like shops buildings.  A Wright flyer replica is on display, as are many restored train engines ranging from steam to electric diesels.  You can take a 25-minute train ride and a standing ride on a turntable for minimal extra cost.  Elijah particularly enjoyed seeing the five fire vehicles under restoration in the back shops building--but know you can't get too close to these and need to see them from a viewing platform.  This place is a vast 57 acres, and if you are traveling with any transportation buffs (including vehicle-minded preschoolers), you can make a day of it.  Kim has many friends who take kids day tripping to the North Carolina Zoo and is a bit surprised more folks don't make similar pilgrimages to this site, too.  It's a hidden gem that's more reasonably priced. 

If you go, know that Spencer's a small place but this site is not--dress for walking in the weather.  It's a great place for a picnic--there's a shelter.  Going on a field trip?  This site seems able to customize things for your group.  Going as an adult, no kids?  Check out the excursion offerings and make it a weekend or take a special tour and make it more informative.  There's a toy museum in the area, too.  We felt very close to Winston-Salem, which would make combining a repeat trip with an excursion to Old Salem doable.

An Introduction to the Factory Tour: Chocolate World and Utz Potato Chips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ask Elijah what he wants to be when he grows up, and he'll tell you he wants to be a firefighter.  Ask him what else he might want to do, and he'll tell you he wants to be a factory worker.  In our tradition of wanting to indulge our kids' interests a bit (we can't wait to find out what more of Gwen's are!), Kim took Elijah and Gwen on two kid-friendly factory tours while Justin "historied" in nearby Gettysburg. It was a milestone trip in that Gwen seemed to engage as much as Elijah.

In Hershey, Pennsylvania, we obviously found Hershey's Chocolate.  Hershey's Chocolate World is a simulated factory tour that features a free ride through of a factory mock up that also includes anamatronic singing cows for the entertainment value.  Elijah and Gwen both loved the ride--so much so that we rode it four times.  There's also a large chocolate/souvenir store with a food court and a few other attractions, like a pay-per-view 4D movie and an opportunity to create your own chocolate bar, that you can purchase.  There's no cost for the ride and for parking at the site under three hours, however, and with two small ones, we did the inexpensive trip and didn't regret it. 

In Hanover, Pennsylvania, we chose Utz Potato Chips, which is, in Mom Kim's opinion, the ideal factory tour for young kids.  The tour is self-paced and includes a walk along an observation deck so you can see the factory in operation; recordings play on demand to explain what you see.  The kids loved watching the action and, in Elijah's case, learning some content.  Highlights included seeing potatoes "dump" off a truck into the factory and watching the forklifts.  There's a nearby outlet store a very short drive away that sells a great variety of affiliated snack foods, including Kim's new favorite chip (Zapp's in many flavors).  While we skipped their tour as we were unsure how Gwen would fare on it, Snyder's of Hanover is nearby, as is Renovah Pretzels.  Both offer regular tours, and we tried Renovah but were offered a chilly welcome and were informed that their website provided inaccurate information about their abilty to provide tours.  If you go, talk to them beforehand--we are in sincere hopes we caught this small bakery operation on a bad day.

If you go, check out TripAdvisor for up-to-date reviews and tips, especially about crowds at the Hershey site, and bring a cooler for any choocolate you might buy.  Kim also considered the Turkey Hill Experience, which may be right for your family and is nearby but didn't appeal as much to us this time.  If you are going with family members who aren't preschoolers, check out the Steel Toe Tour at the Harley Davidson plant (you must be 12 or older).  We took each factory tour we selected on separate days, paring them with other attractions in their respective cities and/or in Gettysburg, to cut down on driving for us. 

Nearby Wilderness: Virginia Safari Park

It must be the year of the zoo for the Haltermans.  Justin and Elijah are just back from Virginia Safari Park, commonly known in the area as Natural Bridge Safari Park, and E's fourth zoo visit this year.  This zoo is a drive-thru safari--yes, you read correctly.  You literally drive your vehicle, or ride an open-air wagon, through an expansive zoo that looks like the African veldt, only with Virginia hills inserted.  You are able to buy a bucket of feed and invited to get close to animals including zebras, camels, kangaroos, and others.  Elijah especially enjoyed the aviary in the "Safari Village," a small walk-through area.  He also loved the opportunity to use his new camera to take pictures--in fact, these are his pictures above.  We realize not all our Halterman Weekend destinations are popular, but this one's a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence winner, a testament not only to fun to be had but also to broad-based appeal. 

If you go, Justin explicitly recommends planning to take one of the wagon rides for an additional charge so you don't worry about your car/driving.  We have plenty of friends who have driven their vehicles through without issue, but we've also met folks who've had vehicle damage like scratches or who have been distracted by their own concerns about driving in an unfamiliar situation so much that they haven't enjoyed the experience as they might have otherwise.  You will need to plan your trip accordingly, as wagons don't run continuously, and you can find out more at the public wagon rides page.  If you are weighing the option of using your vehicle, read the specific requirments at the FAQ page.  It's a great attraction to experience as a group--a family with siblings/friends, an organized school/scout/church group, you get the idea.  Wear weather-appropriate clothes that won't mind a little animal slobber, too.  Picnics are allowed and there's a snack stand; for nearby casual food, try the retro Pink Cadillac Diner.  Don't confuse this destination with Natural Bridge Zoo, a more traditional zoo that is not included in your safari admission price. 

While you are in the area, check out other Natural Bridge attractions.  It would be easy to "add on" one of the "quick visit" attractions like Foamhenge.  As admission to the zoo is good all day long, you could also do a morning drive thru followed by another attraction/lunch and then a repeat drive thru--just keep your receipt. 

A Fire Truck Muster: To Claytor Lake with the Old Dominion Historical Fire Society

As Justin completed his summer teacher workday, Kim surprised Elijah and Gwen with a trip to Claytor Lake State Park for the annual Old Dominion Historical Fire Society (ODFHS) Claytor Lake Muster.  Elijah has so enjoyed seeing the antique fire trucks in Roanoke "around town," especially at special events at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, and we heard about this event as we began following ODHFS.  With Claytor Lake being only about an hour from Roanoke, it was an easy trip for us.

The fire truck muster involves a short, simple parade of antique and late-model fire trucks that then park near the lake itself for viewing.  We hung out as they connected various pumpers, spraying water out into the lake and thoroughly impressing Elijah; we had our questions about various trucks answered by the truck owners.  Apparatuses on display ranged from early 20th century (about 1917) to just-a-few-years-older-than-Kim (about 1977) and included around a dozen vehicles.  It's like being at a specialized car show, but Kim finds that the owners of old fire trucks are more willing to allow you to be "hands on" with their treasures.  

We also played on the nearby playground and took in the atmosphere, including beautiful Claytor Lake.  The muster seems to coincide with a simple, laid-back annual festival at the park--think fried food vendors, a local radio station playing, opportunities for the kids to do sand art.  The people we met were friendly.  Note that the festival is extremely relaxed--we asked at the park gate about the timing and location of the parade, and no one seemed very knowledgeable, probably because "things just happen when they do" in this not-so-type-A atmosphere. 

If you go, know that park admission is raised (but still inexpensive) on festival weekends--we paid $10 instead of the usual $5--but they do accept Visa and might knock off a few dollars for a canned food donation.  Your visit is a great opportunity for a simple picnic, so bring one from home.  Few other attractions and restaurants are in the immediate vicinity, but you are not far from the Radford/Christiansburg area and from Pulaski.  For our recent visit to a simple transportation museum in Pulaski, click here. 

More Excursions to Animals: Natural Bridge Zoo and a Jaunt to Lexington

Justin surprised the family with a low-key day out of town that we all appreciated.  First stop: Natural Bridge Zoo.  Kim took a group of kindergarteners there and went as a first grader herself; Justin went as a child and has a picture with his brother under a big fake bear at the site.  As we visted, we found charmingly little had changed.  A family zoo, Natural Bridge maintains a large feeding/petting area with llamas, goats, deer, giraffes, and other animals.  It's home to a number of primates, an alligator, flamingos, a few snakes...it's a menagerie.  Kids are unlikely to mind some troubles with organization, parking, landscaping, and signage.  The North Carolina Zoo it's not, folks, but fun it is.  Take a picnic lunch, buy a small bag of animal food (and grab a bit at the "recycled" animal food area just inside the zoo on the other side of the admission doors), and have a no-frills-zoo good time.  Don't confuse Natural Bridge Zoo with the nearby drive-thru Virginia Safari Park.  We're planning a trip there in July, so stay tuned. 

We drove to Lexington for a late lunch, stopping in at Pure Eats.  Pure Eats is a classy, locovore burger joint inside an old Pure filling station.  It's decorated in a delightful retro style and serves great fries--not to mention milkshakes made with Homestead Creamery ice cream.  It's also close to Lexington's The Antique Mall, an old Roses department store converted into some good junking, particularly for those interested in flea-market furniture.  They also have Toys in the Attic, a vintage toy vendor; and Mike's Postcards, a well-organized and reasonably-priced place to start a collection.

If you go, there's plenty of American roadside to amuse you in the area.  You are obviously near the Natural Bridge area, including the bridge area itself.  You are also in for treats in nearby Lexington, including two historic universities, quaint shopping, and a nifty local ghost tour.