Pumpkin Patch

Justin and Kim have appreciated visits to Layman Family Farms since we were dating and visited their first corn maze in Botetourt County.  Now relocated to the Montvale area of Bedford County, the farm makes a great fall family outing.  This year, Elijah (2) seemed to "get" the concept of enjoying the hayride and picking a pumpkin.  The site itself is very child-friendly, and he found features he appreciated like a kid-sized map of the farm.  There's also a corn crib that functions like a sandbox, a big hit with children on the day of our visit, and there's a "child size" corn maze Elijah was able to "run" on his own.
We like this fall festival farm for its other activities, too, including a jumping pillow and a "cow train," a ride pulled by a tractor.  Elijah appreciated reading Little Critter's The Fall Festival and was able to connect his visit to the text.

Of course, there is a large corn maze for those interested.  If you go at night, don't make the mistake of not toting along a flashlight!

If you go, consider planning a side trip to Bedford, about 20 minutes east on 460.  We've visited the farm at various points in the season, and if you aren't interested in the Haunted Maze running at nights near Halloween, early November is a great, less crowded time to go.

We Found a "Secret" Train Event!

One recent weekend in Roanoke, we heard from friends that the folks at Norfolk Southern's Shaffer's Crossing were having an open house.  An apparently unadvertised event for family and friends, we were lucky to know about it and be able to go. Attending reminded Kim of company picnics at Covington's old Hercules plant:  The employees were taking a great deal of pride in showing off their workplace, and there were tons of little freebies.  Elijah's favorite parts were climbing aboard a parked train and getting a new bandana sporting the NS logo.   Someday, we know he'll be impressed with the photo of himself in front of a real turntable that we took, too!

Gettysburg!

Justin wouldn't believe it to be a good summer without a trip to Gettysburg, PA.   It's a town that has grown on Kim, too, particularly for its qwirky tourist attractions.  Late summer is a nice time to visit--businesses are still running "high season hours," affording the opportunity to walk the town at night.

This trip, we enjoyed visiting Ghostly Images Legend and Showcase, a new indoor ghost storytelling room with automated, simplistic special effects.  It's less impressive than Myrtle Beach's similar (but unaffiliated) Ghosts and Legends Show, but we'd judge it a fun place to "sit a spell" and enjoy some classic Pennsylvania ghost stories.  More pleasant than scary, it could be an excellent way for those who do not do walking ghost tours to visit a "haunted attraction."

We also spent time talking with a family member of the proprietor of the Gettysburg Diorama, a large-scale model of the battle of Gettysburg that was once lovingly built and housed at a local campground.  Now inside, it is a treat for model enthusiasts and equally impressive as the History Shop's more famous Alamo diorama in San Antonio.  It has the potential to give new visitors a battle overview commensurate of that with the former National Park Service visitor's center electric map (no longer on display).

If you go, pay the small admission fees to some of the small mom-and-pop attractions in town.  Each of them has their own charms.  If you don't go for these two, Kim recommends the Lincoln Train Museum if travelling with kids; Justin never misses the American Civil War Wax Museum.  This trip, we also discovered a new coupon book, available mainly at the Gettysburg Tour Center, that included some good restaurant deals. 

Dutch Wonderful

Inspired by a friend who grew up in the Lancaster, PA, area, we planned a visit to Dutch Wonderland, an amusement park for young kids a little over an hour's drive from Gettysburg.  Situated in a compact area in Lancaster, the park is a nice place for toddlers with plenty of small rides as well as "big rides" that are as kid-friendly as practical.  For example, two-year-old Elijah was able to ride their "big size" log flume.  Other rides include old-fashioned fun rides like a giant slide and family "thrill" rides the Kingdom Coaster, a wooden ride that most coaster enthusiasts would stamp as fun. 

The park is dotted with a few throwbacks to historic Pennsylvania, including wax Amish figures and a cow statue that can be "milked."  Pleasingly, the park has a sense of its own history, creating a small climb-able exhibit of old ride vehicles.   Our guess is that a good bit of their attendance is boomerang:  parents bringing their kids to a place they remember.

If you go, expect lots of food service ads everywhere in the park.  The place seems crowded on summer Saturdays, and watch the heat on enclosed rides like the monorail.  One of our favorite rides was the out-of-the-way "riverboat;" the friendly driver even took a family picture for us.  And Elijah will tell you the park's 20-minute Thomas show was toddler-perfect!  The gift shop includes a wonderful selection of souvenir pins for trading or keeping, too.  Park coupons/deals are limited, but basic parking is free--go early for best spot selection.

In the Lancaster area, we are curious about the Turkey Hill Experience and the Biblical tabernacle reproduction.  We'll have to return!

Relevant Websites:
Dutch Wonderland

Relevant Twitter Handles:
@FunatDW

Poplar Forest--Finally!

After talking about a trip there for years and buying passes online over a year ago, we finally made it to Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest.  The site is lovely--not to mention substantially more low key than TJ's Monticello. 

Compared to Virginia's other historic Presidential homes, this one is approachable: smaller tours, smaller site, home designed to be the retreat of a private citizen.  Like James Madison's Montpelier, Poplar Forest is being actively researched and reconstructed.  Their reconstruction efforts are historic in nearly every way, down to the use of antique tools; their work in this area has earned them recognition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Don't miss learning about the bricks, as multiple shapes of brick were made to construct the home.  Also worth noting is the amazing skylight in the home's dining area, unique in Jeffersonian architecture.  The exhbits on the lower level answer many visitor questions about the progress of the site and are attractively presented.

If you go, thank the volunteers--your tour may even be led by a knowledgeable one.  Visit the website of special events, too.  In November 2011, the first candlelight tours of the home are planned.

Relevant Twitter Handle:
@PoplarForest

Relevant Website:
Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

Holden On Again

We were thrilled to be able to spend an annual week at Holden Beach, NC! Holden is an excellent island family beach "close enough" to Myrtle if you feel like hub-bub but truly relaxed for the rest of your stay. The island area definitely has enough to sustain you--restaurants, beachwear stores, go carts--without being "commercial." For several years, we've rented a home from Hobbs Realty with good success, and the bulk of this vacation, unlike many of our other trips, is spent very simply: reading, walking, sitting, talking, some souvenir shopping at the Beach Mart.

The beach is the main attraction, and this year, we ventured to the Holden Beach Pier for a couple of walks. Walking the pier costs just $1, and it was a treat for Elijah to see friendly fishermen and to walk above the waves. Visiting in the morning or evening obviously helps avoid the heat of the day.

We always eat several good meals, but this year, one of our favorites was at Boone Docks, a low-key, reasonably-priced seafood place with some great sauces and soups. We are told that it is just wrong to miss their clam chowder. Also worth a stop are the Seafood Barn (great for a group) and Paradise Cafe (think Jimmy Buffett).

If you go, expect to rent a home (there are no on-island motels). As Kim learned on her first Holden Beach trip, a pool is absolutely unnecessary--ocean swimming is great as long as you know emergency procedures for riptides. And one more tip: Take time to learn about the Holden Beach Turtle Patrol, an environmental group everyone on the island respects for their animal-saving work.

Relevant Website:
Hobbs Realty

Relevant Twitter Handles:
@HoldenBeach
@NCHoldenBeach

Myrtle Date 2011

Again this year, we were blessed with a trip to Holden Beach, NC, in mid-summer. Holden is an excellent beach for relaxation--and it's close enough to Myrtle Beach, SC, when relaxation isn't in order. Our beach house check-in time was a late 4:00, so we went to Myrtle on our way south. We also came back as "just a couple" for an anniversary date.

The best part this year? Pirates' Voyage, the new Dolly Parton Dinner Attraction that replaced the Myrtle location of Dixie Stampede. It was lots of good fun with the same tasty food you've heard about from Dixie Stampede fans. Most importantly, the wonderful creamy veggie soup is still served! The show included tumbling, juggling, diving, sea lions... more than we expected in some ways, but we missed the blacklight skeletons featured in the YouTube promo. Watching everything come together organizationally was a special pleasure for Kim.

We enjoyed a lunch at Planet Hollywood. The service was less than spectacular (but still friendly) and the esprit de corps was not as "cool" as Hard Rock. However, the food--right down to Elijah's kids' meal--was spectacularly presented, and we liked the memorabilia displays, especially the spinning aircrafts near the bar/hostess stand. While this location is the only one with which we are familiar, the restaurant chain's publicity materials lead us to think this one is more casual than some.

For shopping, it was Barefoot for us--including the inexpensive jewelry store Black Market Minerals for some good deals.

If you go, use your American Express to book advance tix to Pirates' Voyage, saving money and time. Arrive when you can get in (about 60-90 min. before your show), visiting the gift shop right away when it's at its least crowded. Eating at Planet Hollywood? Head to nearby Broadway at the Beach (a place deserving of a visit of its own, anyway) in search of coupons. We wound up with $10 off lunch thanks to a retro wear store's giveaway. Barefoot Landing is also worth its own visit--especially if you take in Alligator Adventure. We really love the seaside atmosphere of Barefoot. Use the blog search tags South Carolina and North Carolina to find more of our impressions of the area.

Relevant Twitter Handles:
@PiratesVoyage
@BroadwayatBeach
@BarefootLanding

Relevant Websites:
Pirates' Voyage

Our Nation Reunited Next Door

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park being but a short drive from our home, we took in a visit on a recent "lazy" weekend. It was fun to reminisce about how we'd visited the park when we were dating.

Simply interpreted, much of the outdoor area is a beautiful place for a walk on a nice day, although I'd wager that spring and fall visits might be more pleasant. The park presents a great impression of the drama of emotions surrounding the surrender itself but doesn't deal very much in some of the more complex questions about Appamattox (Were the McLeans war profiteers? The reconciliation wasn't as instantaneous as the surrender activities might have implied, right?) unless you ask. You can feel a great sense of history standing at the Grant-Lee meeting spot and listening to the audio recording available via "push button" there. Fun options for families include some chances to have "parole papers" printed for you.

If you go, plan to be on pebble-y walks up to the visitor's center from the parking lot. Do visit the museum upstairs in the center: the displays in this area are designed in a reasonably contemporary way. An electronic map explains the battle (Kim thinks electronic map displays make military history more interesting) and display cases house lesser-known artifacts including the silent witness doll that was present at the surrender signing. There's also a display of objects carved from the mythical apple tree under which it was rumored that the surrender occurred. The park area is nested in a small town, but the Lynchburg area is close for a meal.

Relevant Link:
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Parades + Holidays + Caverns!

When Justin turned 29, he received passes to the Shenandoah Caverns Family of Attractions from Kim (who knew ever since visiting the site on a field trip that Justin would love the displays of Americana there). Recently, we finally made it up to the New Market area on a day trip--and it was a very pleasant one. New Market "feels" far enough from Roanoke to be a vacation.

The caverns have functioned as a show cave for over eighty years and are a great sight. A tour takes about an hour and is pretty stroller accessible. We've visited a number of caverns and enjoyed those trips, but the Shenandoah cave is a wonderful site for seeing a spectacular range of formations and "cave bacon" on a particularly impressive scale. From the caverns, exit to Main Street of Yesteryear to see mid-twentieth century storefront displays. There is a fanciful circus with many moving elements among other nostalgic scenes; one of the funniest is an assorted gathering of holiday figurines "looking for jobs." Do not miss a stop to the "parade museum" of American Celebration on Parade, a gathering of floats from such American institutions as the Rose Bowl Parade. Some elements move, some displays can be climbed, and we hear there are special holiday items at Christmas! Gift shops are available, and a new attraction known as the Yellow Barn may be worth a stop to you. To Kim's delight, there's also a display of vintage attraction memorabilia. Attraction tickets are all-inclusive "combination" tickets.

If you go, take a look at a map. Shenandoah Caverns will be easy to find right off the interstate, but you won't want to miss things nearby. You'll be within striking distance of DC and very near the Route 11 potato chip factory (we've got to go there sometime!), not to mention Staunton, Virginia. Justin would want to put in a good word for the state history park at the New Market Battlefield and the Green Valley Bookfair (when open) near Dayton. We had good luck planning our trip in consultation with Shenandoah Caverns's Allison.

Relevant Twitter Handle:
Caverns

Relevant Link:
Shenandoah Caverns

Homage to Johnny Appleseed

We'd like to suggest a Halterman side trip: Johnny Appleseed Restaurant in New Market, VA. It is one of those places we've always intended to stop on our journeys "up I-81," and on a recent outing to Shenandoah Caverns, we finally made it. The restaurant's exterior is somewhat famous; there's a large Johnny statue at the door that also graces the cover of Weird Virginia.

The restaurant, a family-oriented place inside a Quality Inn, has some standard-but-still-tasty fare but serves exceptional complimentary apple fritter bites as an appetizer. As you might expect, the decor is full of apples; uniquely, there is an interior wall made of apple crates. There's also a gift shop that sells postcards of the giant statue! In talking to the waitstaff, we learned that this location is the sole surviving establishment of a Johnny Appleseed chain and that it is locally-owned. For a friendly, casual meal with a side of nostalgia, we recommend it. The reasonably-priced restaurant is a good "stopping place location" on the Roanoke-to-DC drive and is near the major valley caverns.

Relevant Links:
Johnny Appleseed Restaurant

It's Weird-O Near The Alamo (Weird Museums, That Is)

On our trip to San Antonio, we had to take in the three most fun (and most strange) museums in town!

Believe it or not, San Antonio is home to the largest Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum, Justin's favorite "museum chain." The space itself is full of level changes and the typically-fun Ripley's fare: an Eiffel Tower from toothpicks, a "spinning tunnel" to walk through, some singing carnival figures. Nearby is Louis Tussaud's Waxworks (separately ticketed), home to some interesting statues that are not Madame's. It looks like many of the exhibits are kept contemporary, and on our visit, there was a Lady Gaga decked in meat, a Harry Potter scene, and a Michael Jackson grouping (Michael at different ages). There's also a creepy (but not too scary) hall of monsters, a hallway of integrated fairytale scenes, and Jesus storytelling scenes in a "Passion of the Christ" grouping. If you buy your tickets online, you can receive a joint ticketing discount, and we'd consider both museums worth your hour. This location has a Ripley's Cargo Hold gift shop just like the aquariums do, but don't expect much logo merchandise. They need to get some postcards.

In the category of truly awesome stops is the Buckhorn Museum and Saloon. A functioning--if touristy--"saloon," the staff invites you to grab a drink and tour(we passed on the drinks--something about any food or liquid near artifacts for us, but it was still a cool offer). Their collection consists of substantial taxidermy from around the world; there's a polar bears, numerous sets of entwined deer antlers, and an African safari section. The spacious museum also hosts a mock wild west town that's a good photo op, a display of carnival side show information, and a replica "Mystery Spot," an example of Depression-era tourism. Integrated within the site is the Texas Ranger Museum, a collection of large display cases apparently customized for individual rangers by their fans and families. Walking through this section is like walking through a good "chunky" read full of biography snippets. The overall site would be fantastic for family travel with elementary-aged kids. As a benefit for us, it was just steps from our hotel, the St. Anthony.

If you go, scope out coupons--most add up to the same discount, but it's good to save a few bucks on admission always. The Ripley's and Tussaud sites are just across from the Alamo itself; if you are at the Buckhorn, make time for a quick stop to the nearby antique mall and for a walk through the lobby of the St. Anthony, one of the four "really old" hotels in town. Its gracious peacock alley includes some photos of famous visitors near its end...and those visitors include Princess Grace. If you stay at the St. Anthony, take a swim in the small sixth floor rooftop pool.

Related Links:
Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Antonio and Louis Tussaud's Waxworks
The Buckhorn Museum and Saloon
St. Anthony Hotel

Remember the Alamo!

San Antonio's big draw is, of course, the Alamo. Another historic site preserved by a band of devoted women, it's amazing that visiting the shrine is free. Inside the ruins of the church, see the flags noting "counts" of battle participants, and within the courtyards, admire the flora and fauna including cacti and coy. Expect to find one of the larger gift shops within the walls, too. To learn the mission's potency in history, see the themed IMAX film at nearby Rivercenter Mall; to further understand how it looked at the time of the battle, pay the small fee to see Phil Collins's diorama at the History Shop. If you are interested in the non-battle life of the Alamo, don't neglect to tour the Long Barracks.

If you go, arrive at opening to avoid some crowds and come back again at night just for the beauty. Ghosts and Legends of San Antonio Tours are great excuse to come back by evening: Randy, the owner, gives enjoyable, history-oriented walks that are reasonably priced, fun, and informative. Think pleasant storytelling--not cheesy ghost hunting--that meets on Alamo Plaza, and Randy impressed us by being truly accepted by other service providers we passed...including the Alamo Rangers!

Relevant Websites:
The Alamo
Ghosts and Legends of San Antonio

Romantic Riverwalk

In honor of Justin's newly-minted history master's, we headed to San Antonio, Texas, for a few days of fun. Everything is bigger in Texas, so our trip description will span several blog posts.

While the draw to the city was the Alamo, we were incredibly impressed with the beauty of the Riverwalk, a winding path along the San Antonio River just below street level. Described as America's Venice, it is enchanting--full of interesting masonry, fountains, and outdoor art nestled among shops and restaurants with al fresco dining. There is some presence of "nifty" chain venues like Hard Rock Cafe, but many establishments are decidedly local. A large number of downtown hotels are either directly above the walk or within walking distance (as are destinations like the Alamo, La Villeta artisan village, and the San Fernando Cathedral), and the batteau boat cruises provide a great way to get a sense of place. Soon, visitors will be able to use the Riverwalk as a picturesque public transportation route; it's being extended so that visitors can cruise the river to multiple missions.

If you go, take time to learn a bit of the walk's history from a book like the readable River Walk: The Epic Story of San Antonio's River by Lewis F. Fisher. If you are good on foot and able to dress for the weather, don't bother renting a car and just hoof it and boat it to explore the city. Once you're there, you'll want to spend a lot of time down on the Riverwalk. Feel safe in so doing--the walk is well-monitored at all hours.

Relevant Websites:
Visit San Antonio
Rio San Antonio Cruises

Relevant Twitter Handles:
VisitSanAntonio
RioSanAntonio

Rock Symphony!

For its entire history, Justin and I have attended the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's annual "rock symphony," an opportunity for classical musicians to play popular songs. Elijah enjoyed this year's British Invasion theme very much, becoming a Who fan and ending the night relaxing to "Hey, Jude." Some years they have cirque perfomers; every year, they have Jeans and Classics join them vocally. It's always fun--a means of enjoying some familiar music in a new way.

If you go, know that the event is part of the "pops" series, so you can tote in food and snacks. You can also wear pretty much anything--jeans are fine, as are thematic outfits. It's held at the Salem Civic Center. If you want to dance a bit, get a seat on the floor; if you like watching all the "goings on," sit in the stands. Intrigued by the concept, the symphony, and/or the annual theme? You should go! Next year, the theme is Queen hits!

Relevant links:
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
Jeans 'N Classics

Relevant twitter handles:
RoanokeSymphony
JeansNClassics

Low-Key Grand Strand

For this spring break, we decided to head to the shore. We visited Myrtle Beach in its less-crowded days. While we typically spend about a day at Myrtle in the mid-summer, it's usually hot and bumper-to-bumper, so we don't stay long. The quieter days allowed us to take better advantage of some jewels we missed.

Brookgreen Gardens was one of the highlights of the trip, with Kim remembering how boring she'd thought the gardens would have been as a child--and how fun they were on this trip! The gardens include a nifty history, a varied collection of interesting sculptures, and beautifully-tended plants. There's a children's garden section that is particularly whimsical, and there's a small zoo included with your admission price. The zoo features native animals and farm animals, and it's one of the most naturalistic animal exhibits we've seen. We were particularly impressed by the aviary atop a wetland, affording a real South Carolina lowcountry experience.

New to us this year was the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, a "cleaned up" area stretching by landmarks such as the former location of the Pavilion Amusement Park and the fabulous Gay Dolphin Gift Shop. It still has the "look" of yesteryear in some details, but the overall feel is that of a new boardwalk that makes for a good night walk. And yes, the Gay Dolphin sells the items it always has, including bike license plates that are guaranteed to feature your name!

We also had two great meals at the oceanfrot Sea Captain's House, having a nice sit-down breakfast with an ocean view and returning for a dinner. Dinner was magical--and not just because of the yummy crab cakes! The dinner atmosphere was casual upscale without being pretentious, and while waiting, it was pleasant to hang out around the building, being able to wait on a patch of land near the sand dunes if you wished. It put us in the mind of what Martha's Vinyard must be like. We had Elijah with us, and we still got prime seats inside, looking out upon the ocean. What good service!

If you go, know that we enjoyed staying at the Sea Mist, a hotel Kim remembered staying at in childhood, and we got a great three-day deal. The resort is about to undergo renovations, so if you are nostalgic for the Sea Mist of the 80s, go while you can. Justin recommends Captain Hook's Mini Golf, two eighteen-hole courses he'd wanted to play for years, and Kim recommends a ride on Family Kingdom's Swamp Fox coaster, a rough wooden coaster with no shoulder harnesses. Air time!

Relevant Links:
Brookgreen Gardens
Sea Mist Resort
Family Kingdom Amusement Park
Sea Captain's House

Krispy Kreme Burgers!

One recent weekend "around town," we visited a new greasy-spoon restaurant in Salem. Chili Peppers, an ancillary to a gas station at 206 Apperson Dr., Salem, VA, is a friendly home cooking place inspired by Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. We enjoyed deep-fried hotdogs (you can get them wrapped in bacon and further deep fried inside a tortilla) and a Krispy Kreme burger (donut sliced open, hamburger inside). Also on the menu are homemade shakes and homemade chicken salad. Perhaps no good for your diet--but good for your taste buds!

If you go, expect a cozy place. You'll be close to a walkway along the Roanoke River and to Salem's Cuban restaurant El Cubanito if you want to do a good lunch, a long walk, and then a good dinner. Don't let the bars on the window at El Cubanito be off-putting: the food is substantial and warming (but not spicy-hot); the service is welcoming; and the building is "fixed up" inside, having been previously a sporting goods/bait and tackle shop. You'd never know it!

Dinosaur Run

On a sunny spring day off, Elijah and Kim struck out on a one-day adventure to Martinsville's Virginia Museum of Natural History, one of those places on the "been meaning to visit there" list. The museum, small but glowing with newness, was a fun place for a toddler visit. There's an indoor playstructure called Discovery Reef on which Elijah enjoyed climbing, and the dinosaur skeletons on display wowed him.

In the main lobby, you'll find several large fossil exhibits, and off to the side, the best permanent stop seems to be a gallery of taxidermied animals. There are also view-able paleontology labs, and while there was no work being completed today, Kim can imagine fascinated elementary children staring in the window. Downstairs, there are a few live animals in the teacher resource center. Elijah most enjoyed Shelton the turtle who he quickly described as "turtle swimmin'".

If you are heading there with a young child, we recommend going NOW. A nifty animal exhibit called Animal Secrets is about to go off-display, and while we are sure that the next exhibit will be fun, too, the current display is very child-friendly. Elijah amused himself in the exhbit space for quite a while, particularly playing with the river model and the "life size" Eagle's nest. The exhibit changes May 7--go while you can!

Relevant links:
Virginia Museum of Natural History

Alleghany's Best Bridge

Looking for something laid back and slightly outdoorsy, we headed to Humpback Bridge, Alleghany County's covered bridge. The bridge wayside was a great place for Elijah to get out and run around--an in less fickle weather, it makes an excellent picnic spot, too. Even on a blustery day, there were folks fishing, and in the summer, you'll find folks swimming, too. It's also an interesting place to read local graffiti. While we opted for a quick trip and were then on to visit family, it would be easy to combine a trip to the bridge with a trip to Falling Springs Falls or Gathright/Lake Moomaw's recreational areas.

If you go, you'll be driving just beyond Covington past the Rosedale area. If you need to GPS it, use an easier address such as the nearby Covington Episcopal Boys' Home. While you are in the area, eat at our favorite restaurant in that neck of the woods: Cucci's. You must have some of the turnover sauce!

And Roanoke Becomes Irish...

In recent years, St. Patrick's Day has become a big day to celebrate in Roanoke. Events include an extensive community parade and a vendor area. Kim and Justin had been once before to the vendor area and again, largely on accident, when driving through downtown, but such a beautiful day and an invitation from good friends made this year's festival irresistible. Downtown Roanoke was positively vibrant!

The parade event included entries from community groups like the Parrotheads, many a Girl Scout Troop and animal rescue league, various vehicles, businesses, groups with political positions, pipes and drums bands, the local roller derby league...you name it! Elijah was thrilled with the entire show for its approximate 90 minute duration.

The vendor area was more general than Celtic, but we did visit the Celtic Tides stand where Kim and Justin were introduced to two new sodas: Red Lemonade and Irn Bru. We also made it to the Taubman's community day and to Horizons, a new restaurant on the market. Market businesses were reaping the benefit of the crowds, something we love to see.

If you go, be prepared for crowds and barriers that make traversing the area a bit more difficult. Otherwise, enjoy the community feel of the event, expecting to bump into friends and neighbors. It makes a great day to eat and shop locally as well. Local businesses to visit in the market area include On the Rise bakery, La De Da women's boutique, Beads Indeed jewelry crafting store, and Chocolate Paper gifts.

Relevant Links:
Roanoke St. Patrick's Day Celebration

A Little Bit of Lexington

Lexington is a great place for a quick daytrip from Roanoke, especially when the weather is nice. On a spring-like February day, we snuck off for a nice walk through town and some history research time for Justin.

It's always a simple pleasure to walk from shop to shop in the town, especially when you take in the Victorian Parlor and Shenandoah Attic. In those stores, spend time with the personable, warm owners as you browse. These days, there are a number of restaurants, too--most of which are non-chain.

We typically walk up to Lee Chapel and the Virginia Military Institute Museum, both which feature some interesting collections and are both housed in buildings with churches. Lee Chapel's museum has been retooled recently to focus on Wasington and Lee University history and includes classroom artifacts, and the VMI Museum is in the process of updates as well. At the VMI, don't miss Jackson's horse: yep, Stonewall's actual horse hide, mounted, is there. On a more serious note, Kim is always moved by the display of military medals for those cadets who "died on the field of honor," one of which is her classmate Josh Hurley, Alleghany High School '97, VMI '01. If you visit in a museum mood, also see the Stonewall Jackson House (closed part of the winter season) and VMI's Marshall Museum.

If you go, we think the best place to park is in the visitor's center free lot and that a walk from the center through town helps you feel oriented. The town is pleasantly walkable.

Relevant Links:
Shenandoah Attic and Victorian Parlor
VMI Museum
Lee Chapel and Museum

Relevant Twitter Handles:
LexingtonVA

Art Venture? Our Pleasure!

One lazy Roanoke Saturday, Kim decided to take Elijah to the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke. We came back with a membership! Art Venture, the museum's kid-friendly art creation space, was wide open, and our toddler got a kick out of the stamps, making a 2-D "piece" featuring a goose and some pigs. He also made a frame for our fridge and was given paper "binoculars" for exploring the galleries upstairs. Our visit upstairs was brief but pleasant. On the Saturday of our visit, a local brass quartet was playing music in the lobby--a nice unexpected treat. We also picked up a nifty coloring book for kids called Be the Artist, a great freebie for kids 5-10 provided by Advance Auto Parts. In the gift shop, we found a good balance of logo items like Christmas ornaments coupled with reasonably-priced art pieces by regional artists(including some wearable art).

If you go, consider a walk around Downtown Roanoke before or after your visit. If you are with a toddler, he or she might really enjoy Roanoke's nearby trains! At the museum, you are within a stone's throw of Hotel Roanoke, the Roanoke City Market, and Center in the Square.

Relevant Links:
Taubman Museum of Art

An Eclectic Day in Greensboro

Feeling the need for a little spring travel, Kim encouraged the family to drive to Greensboro, NC, for the day.

We'd been looking forward to taking in the International Civil Rights Center and Museum since it opened in February 2010. The museum is housed in the former Woolworth store building where the 1960s sit in occurred. Several of the art deco store features remain and are a delight to see. The museum's focal point--the lunch counter itself--is hallowed, presented on its initial footprint. It is much larger than we expected, and as Justin aptly put it, it is pretty amazing that it was never moved given the context of the 1960s south. There are also some interesting artifacts in the museum, including a "two-sided" Coke machine made for segregated waiting rooms and of which there are thought to be only 10 in existence (the other 90that were made having been destroyed, apparently, by Coke itself). We really, really appreciate the sprit of the museum, but we would make two critiques: 1) there seemed to be a need for coordination of the multiple tours scheduled on the day of our visit, and 2) we wish the museum would focus on the Greensboro location and local history more definitively in its mission, as the international idea seems broad for now. If you go, expect a guided tour, seek to educate yourself on the museum artifacts by means other than simply reading placards (buy the newspaper supplement describing the museum opening in the gift shop for help), and allot significant possible wait time if you do not schedule your visit with the museum itself.

Following our visit, we headed a few blocks up to Greensboro's Mellow Mushroom--yum! Mellow Mushrooms are such classy pizza joints! We spent only about $20 and had a fresh-made pizza we "designed" along with a yummy soft pretzel appetizer, and Elijah got to sit in a tie-dyed high chair. This Mellow Mushroom location is decorated in a hip gothic style with several throwbacks to old churches including ornate lettering and a pulpit-like hostess stand. Great place to take in lunch!

On the way back up 220, we stopped at Edward McKay Used Books and More, quite an impressive bookstore. Some perks? Inexpensive prices, fun atmosphere, well-organized collection that takes pains to separate "lay" from "professional" books, T-shirts and tote bags for sale... If Kim could add anything, it would just be a postcard to buy! Several families in the children's section were talking about allowing their children to pick a certain number of books per trip to the store, much like one might do by giving a child $5 at the Dollar Tree. What a great idea--with much better results likely!

Continuing our drive, we made a brief pit stop at Mt Tabor United Methodist Church's Talking Mural exhibit as we neared the Virginia state line. The exhibit signs have always intrigued us, and today, we drove by beyond its operating hours (10-4, Monday-Saturday) but found it open anyway. The people of the church have made their house of worship a rest stop of sorts, complete with a playground for kids. They offer an audio drama of the life of Jesus whenever you stop in, and the congreation takes welcoming you seriously: there are even specially-decorated tissue boxes in each pew. The site has a clear evangelical goal but did not strike us as "pushy."

Relevant Links:
International Civil Rights Center and Museum
Mellow Mushroom
Edward McKay Used Books and More
Talking Murals of Mt Tabor United Methodist Church

Relevant Twitter Handles:
GoGreensboro, EdMcKayBooksGBO