A Little Adventure, Close By: SeaQuest Lynchburg

There's a new attraction at Lynchburg's River Ridge Mall in Virginia, a shopping destination many locals will once remember through images like these (follow link to Live Malls blog).  In an effort to attract new crowds, the mall's latest tenant is the edutainment venue SeaQuest. SeaQuest is part petting zoo, part aquarium -- and definite attraction.  On the day of our weekend visit, we experienced crowds in the SeaQuest space itself and a bustling mall corridor in the area near SeaQuest, if not foot traffic in nearby stores we quickly visited.  The SeaQuest site itself looks smaller than expected from the exterior of the mall but larger than expected once inside.

SeaQuest features a variety of animals, mainly small amphibians, reptiles, and marine life.  Yes, the animals below are wallabies -- there are some exceptions to my list of animal types.  Visitors progress through themed areas that give a sense of ecological diversity in a constructed environment.

G, age 6, was proud that she touched a silky chicken, and the stingray touch tank, including a "crawl in" space, was a clear favorite.  Popular exhibits with guests at large include sloths and tropical birds.

In short, the kids enjoyed the surprise mom date at SeaQuest and did not seem rattled by the crowds -- but did want to go rather than swing back through with tokens for food and add-on experiences.  They do want to return -- and E wants to snorkel with the stingrays for his birthday this year if we can swing it.

Things to Know

• Tokens are available for purchase that can be spent on food for animals and/or added experiences.  Not completely knowing how the system worked, I decided to take the kids through, scope out what we wanted to do with tokens, and then return to buy the desired amount.  We had fun petting many animals without need for tokens.  The kids found dropped food on exhibits (there was actually a lot) for the animals and were delighted to put their hands in touch tanks even without food.
• Are you a teacher in Virginia?  If you take teacher ID (must say teacher) to this location or are listed in the Virginia Department of Education license query as holding a teaching license, you and your family enter for free!  Foster families have a similar deal.
• There are some concerns reported online about SeaQuest's treatment of animals from various sources.  I reviewed a smattering of this information and still decided to make a visit, wanting to become more knowledgeable about the attraction.  The apparent physical crowding and constant stimulation of some animals gave me some pause, but I also noted that the attendants seemed to genuinely enjoy their work and show concern for the animals.  I am hopeful this location will avoid some of the possible challenges of others in the chain.  The public also needs to be engaged in showing appropriate care; an overheard employee story, for example, revealed that a guest had tried to add found amphibians from the community to one of the tanks.
• Try to plan your visit for a weekday to skip the crowds.
• There is a gift shop with themed merchandise -- but we did not find logo items.
• Planning a birthday party?  They do have a party space -- but you could also add a SeaQuest visit on to a visit to a nearby fast food restaurant meal or candy store shopping experience.
• This is not really a zoo.  It is an animal attraction, and the animals will be close to you.  If you are interested in a zoo, we definitely recommend the North Carolina Zoo.  This site is also not your traditional aquarium.  If you'd like a kid-friendly zoo/aquarium experience, try Greensboro Science Center.  The Clearwater Aquarium is also a great, father afield experience.  Want to find out if your kids like touch tanks in an environment that also provides other experiences?  The Science Museum of Western Virginia may scratch that itch.

For Further Exploration

• If you are out and about in Lynchburg with kids, you also want to know about the children's museum Amazement Square -- an excellent option for your visit.  If you visit like the Haltermans, it would be hard to do both Amazement Square and SeaQuest in one day.

Bargain DC: Halterman Weekend's Smithsonian Edition

OK, so if you actually know the Haltermans, you know Kim is Coupon Kim.  We'd rather spend our money on travel and similar experiences than things--but in all ways, we emphasize the frugal still.  So, on K and E's recent mother-son Halterman Weekend in DC, notoriously free DC Smithsonian Museums were part of how we lived up to our thrifty standard.

K knows this sounds like a "duh" moment for DC, but remember how many museums are free as you plan your trip.  Because they are free, though, they can be crowded.   Try to time your visit when crowds are less likely if you can.  Where we could avoid the crowds:  Smthsonian's National Zoo, E's pick for the Smithsonian he most wanted to visit.  We arrived early and, while we did start seeing exhibits as soon as we entered, we were deep in the zoo when most people started showing up.  We recommend ensuring you reach Amazonia, a simulated indoor rain forest with "loose" animals like birds, and the Small Mammal House in particular.  The Elephant House has been substantially renovated, becoming an elephant community room--a very interesting place to ponder how zoos are changing.  If traveling with small kids who can get wet (think summer and quick-dry clothes), there is now a small fountain play area near the sea lions and on the way to Amazonia.  It's perfect for about age 4 or 5, but E also adored it at age 7.  Park in the shade as a parent--there's only one way in/out of the fountain system.  A knowledgeable dad nearby suggested eating lunch in or near the "cave" used for viewing the sea lions to continue enjoying the cool.  An aside:  E had WAY more interest in this zoo than K has seen him have at the North Carolina Zoo and at Mill Mountain Zoo.  We don't know if this was a function of age, changing interests, the zoo itself, or what--but it was delightful.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History was also clearly navigable, even with field trip crowds.  Just head to the interesting-but-less-traveled exhibits when you can.  E was fascinated by the Human Origins exhibit: it was the first time we had a great opportunity to discuss different views on creation timelines and some scientific timelines, and it was great.  E also adored the current Objects of Wonder special exhibit and its interactive quiz, as well as the opportunity to play a rebranded classic 1980s "Can you become a fossil?" arcade-style computer game that looked a lot like old MECC Oregon Trail software.  Even with the main dinosaur hall under construction (it is right now), there's still plenty to take in here.

Where we had trouble avoiding crowds:  The Smithsonian Museum of American History.  Our experience of most of the security staff was that they seemed frustrated with large crowds, the design of the museum itself was a bit of a challenge (lots of sections are under renovation), and there were throngs of middle schoolers just walking around.  We were there at closing time, and it felt like an emergency evacuation--we're talking security barking that everyone had to leave right NOW with no "We will be closing in 10 minutes"-type warning.  To avoid some of this, find the transportation exhibit--it's often not crowded and is quite interesting--or make this an early day stop if it is a priority for you.  Security check in is cumbersome here if you have any bags of any type as well--consider walking around "back" and entering from the entrance that is not right on the National Mall where lines are often shorter.  Note to those traveling soon: A new exhibit opens June 28, 2017, which may produce more crowding.

If you go, we highly recommend Metro subway transportation to and from the National Mall.  We found the best subway deal for us to be to buy a 7-day pass even though we were only there a few days.  This pass allowed us better travel options during "peak use" times.  If your trip is going to be over the allowable rate, just get off a few stops ahead and get back on--kids adore the process of getting on and off the train anyway.  Before you plan your trip, search your favorite museums on Facebook and similar tools.  This is how you'll find out about special events, like Hirshhorn's now-touring Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors installation.  It's also how you will find more reasonable prices for the museums that do have a price tag, including the awesome non-Smithsonian Newseum. You can also check coupon outlets like CertifiKID for deals on cool places like the National Building Museum. The Halterman standard would be that one or two large museums a day is plenty--we are museum people, and we definitely don't just coast through them.  On our next museum visit adventure, we'd like to stop by the Newseum (E saw it on the Travel Channel and really wants to go) and Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (so popular it still requires timed passes, available at 6:30 AM online each day).

You'll want to pack in some food, too.  K knows this seems obvious, but a bag of 99-cent-Mega-Sale-at-Kroger Goldfish makes a great breakfast, and 49-cent-Kroger-is-having-a-flash-sale giant Powerades are more refreshing than the smaller $2+ kind in the city.  Taking a few things--it doesn't have to be a picnic--is a great savings and allows you to feel justified in a fancy dinner splurge.  K took E to Dupont Circle one night for dinner, allowing E to select an interesting and upscale restaurant as part of the experience.  We ate at Bistro Bistro DC, which was really still pretty reasonable.  If you are eating in the Mall area, a good tip we heard was to head to a federal office building cafeteria--look up the one at the Department of Agriculture on weekdays (it's very near Smithsonian Metro).

Another Make-a-Day-of-It Museum: Durham's Museum of Life and Science

On a road trip with friends, we went to Durham, NC's Museum of Life and Science, an expansive indoor/outdoor museum campus that's great for kids approximately age 12 and under. In fact, we were there around 4-5 hours, and we probably covered somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of it.  This would make it a great pick for a membership museum--so if you live in Raleigh/Durham, we'd suggest that!  If you are from out of town like us, an ASTC Passport will get you in.  Our kids, ranging in age from 3-9, all had a delightful time.

We came for Hideaway Woods, the fantastic new complex of treehouses, and found a lot more. 

G, age 3, recommends the train ride (purchase tickets for $3-$4 each ride when you check in at the front desk); E, age 7, recommends the sailboats at Catch the Wind.  The adults in our group found Into the Mist, a unique misting/playing area, pretty magical. 

There are also bears, wolves, and darling lemurs, and in several cases, these exhibits have video cameras you can control so that you can see the animals when they are in more secluded exhibit spaces.

The outside area is pleasantly peppered with small indoor attractions like a butterfly garden and a particularly accessible insect zoo. We played in the Hideaway Woods creek and the adjacent playground just before our 3-hour drive home, which was a good move.

If you go, dress for the outside weather--and consider bringing a change of clothes/shoes for kids.  Wear clothing that can get dirty/wet and shoes that can climb. It's fine to pack in some food and drink in single-serving containers, and Sprout, the café inside, is a good place to eat as well.  Expect walking, and if taking in a stroller, take in one that can "off road" if you have it.  We didn't know much about Durham, NC, but we were pleasantly surprised by a variety of things to do, so go to TripAdvisor and take a look.  It's a city worth your time!

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.

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. 

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.

My Kind of Nature: North Carolina Zoo

Another place that we FINALLY made it: The North Carolina Zoo!  Kim, E, G, and Nana had a fabulous spring day exploring the zoo, literally out and about in it from its opening to its closing.  We missed J, who was at work, but we had a blast exploring this vast park.  Everyone told us it was huge--and everyone was right.

Far from a "cages beside each other" zoo, The North Carolina Zoo strives to give its residents a truly natural place to live, and they do so beautifully. There are two park zones--Africa and North America--and both are spacious and fun to explore.  Animals include polar bears, bison, giraffes, elephants, zebras, wolves, and many more; if you pay attention, the vegetation is equally impressive.  Other features include a series of "geyser" fountains (these fascinated E); a pay-per-visit display of oversized animatronic bugs; and a couple of fantastic playgrounds, including one with a stream and one with a "super fast" leaf slide.  The kids were so happy to be outside, and E approached each new path, building, and viewing area with clear joy.  They were also both pretty fascinated by park maps!

If you go, we recommend picking an overcast, temperate day (think 60-70 degrees with a chance of showers, not too hard to come by in the North Carolina spring).  A friend told us to start in Africa to see the animals before the heat of the day--helpful advice that was perfect for us.  Families set on exploring the play areas in the cool of the day, however, should start in North America.  Plan to walk a LOT; bring what you need to make that comfortable (good shoes, sunscreen, hat, water bottle, stroller, etc.).  The zoo itself features picturesque paved paths dotted with sculpture and that include many ramps of varying slopes; you can also hike a trail between park sections.  As out-of-town visitors, we were glad we stayed all day--and we were equally glad we toted in snacks and drinks, making the trip much more cost effective.  When planning your day trip, spend time exploring the park website in advance, as well as reading current TripAdvisor reviews.  For a place this big, you'll be glad you did your research. 

If you'll be staying in the area with small kids, consider a visit to the Greensboro Children's Museum.  E especially adores this place, a wonderland of imaginative play with nifty outdoor classroom to boot.  You can see our earlier visit here.

Roanoke 101

9 months is the appropriate age to start formally touring you local city, say us. Elijah made his first trek up Mill Mountain this weekend, including a drive by Mini Graceland. We walked out to the star, and he was very impressed with the view. It was quite clear--so clear that we could see the Salem flashlight (water tower).

We hit the zoo, of course. Elijah bought Justin family passes for Christmas and seemed to thoroughly enjoy looking at his stroller tray while there. He noticed the monkeys and the vultures most of all but was not very impressed with the goats. We would certainly like to see a book of zoo history (Kim's trying to get Justin to write it), as it is fascinating to hear stories of when the zoo was a "children's storybook zoo." The Zoo Choo still runs--we'll have to take Itty Bit on it later this year! There are no praire dogs anymore, but we did buy some praire dog bookmarks in the sparse gift shop.

We had dinner at Pitt Boss at Cave Spring, one of our new favorite restaurants. Jack and bleu sticks with spicy ranch, smoked turkey sandwich on a pretzel roll...only Cherry Coke could've made it yummier!