The End of Another American Wax Museum: Farewell, Natural Bridge Wax Museum

Natural Bridge Wax Museum, the first wax museum Kim ever visited (at age 10), the first wax museum Elijah ever visited (at age 9 months), and the first wax museum Gwen ever visited (at age 14 months), is closing.  We're lamenting the loss of these treasures--the 171+ figures from this site and the wax museum genre in general.  Wax museums, like taxidermy displays in natural history museums, inspire imagination in ways supposedly more "interactive" displays do not.  In the past year, we've seen the closing of the National Civil War Wax Museum in Gettysburg, PA, too.  We suggest you immediately take in a wax museum if you can--introduce your kids to one while we have them.  Here's a plus on this one, right now:  Before closing Labor Day 2014, the Natural Bridge Wax Museum is offering reduced admission and a great sale on postcards in the gift shop (a penny each!). 

The Natural Bridge Wax Museum is an interesting hodgepodge of tableaus with touches of humor.  There are Biblical scenes of Adam and Eve in the Garden, of the Last Supper, and of the Resurrection--and the museum owner is an Orthodox Jew.  There are two famous displays of wax figure Presidents--and there's a George Bush figure also serving as a security guard.  We also swear we saw a figure of former Presidential candidate Michael Dukakis downstairs in the wax figure factory exhibit.  Scenes of history include serious scenes of the US Civil War--and a scene of a truly scary "elevator" that once lowered folks down Natural Bridge and of a silly story where a gentleman traded his wife for whisky.  Check out our family visiting the museum a few years earlier here. 

This article captures the tone surrounding the closure of wax museums, although we're pretty sure it contains an error, as the Harpers Ferry John Brown Wax Museum seems to still be in operation.  Yes, you can still buy wax figures, and some will still be made in Virginia.  Find out more about Dorfman Museum Figures if you are interested.

If you go, take lots of pictures and/or video (both are encouraged) and talk to the museum staff.  We met very friendly workers on this visit, and they told us fun stories like the fact that authorities visit annually to make sure the still in the moonshine scene isn't really making anything!  You should also visit the main Natural Bridge gift shop--we hear they are redoing it sometime soon and that it will sell less "kitsch."  Therefore, we stocked up on Natural Bridge snowglobes today.  Visit here first and you may find some $2 off admission coupons (good if you don't have AAA).  You can mail those penny postcards from the Natural Bridge Post Office downstairs in the main gift shop building, too.  Of course, there are many other attractions at Natural Bridge, including the splendid bridge itself and caverns, as well as two nearby zoos: the Natural Bridge Zoo and the Virginia Safari Park.  If you like to follow the changing landscape of roadside tourism in America, check in here frequently, as there is a move to make the Natural Bridge complex a Virginia State Park. 

If you just want to learn about wax museums, the blog Houses of Wax is a good place to start--even if it hasn't been updated in a while.  We hear some of the Natural Bridge figures are headed to Bible Walk in Ohio, where some may be repurposed into other scenes.  That's always fun--ask Justin if you'd like to be able to spot MASH characters and others from Gatlinburg's former wax museum in Christ in the Smokies displays. 

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.

Transportation is Everywhere: The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum

Since Elijah's birth, our family has learned a lot about transportation thanks to his interest in it.  During a recent trip to Pennsylvania, this interest inspired us to discover the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum, a gorgeous facility devoted mainly to antique cars. 

It's not your average transportation-type museum--in fact, it is a Smithsonian affiliate.  The building is clean and classy; the set up is on theme and beautiful; you will quickly see why it moonlights as a wedding reception venue.  Areas of the museum are designed to look like, say, a drive-in movie theater, providing a wonderful backdrop that allows you to explain often-forgotten technologies to young kids.  There's a permanent display of cars ranging up to the 1980s, and there are changing vehicle exhibits, too.  When we were there, a small fire engine was on display to Elijah's delight.  An impressive collection of buses forms a bus-museum-within-a-museum and includes a bus featured in the movie Forrest Gump and a bus that featured stewardess-type service.  Other vehicles on display include a hearse used to transport alcohol during prohibition and a collection of a dozen or so early motorcycles.  Expect a nod to visual art as well; a gallery was full of vehicle photos, and there were cases of hood ornaments. 

Within the collection, you'll also find delights of Americana including an actual diner (yep, the real thing) that you can enter and a room of model train displays with a few interactive components.  These components of the museum are different than antique cars, but they sure are fun. 

If you go, know you are very, very close to the Hershey's Chocolate attractions, including Chocolate World, which easily can be paired with a museum visit in a single travel day.  Within the museum, you'll find a children's play area featuring a few train tables and various toys as well as tables near vending machines--it's a comfortable place to give kids a break.  There's a AAA museum entry discount--always ask. 

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. 

Now Here's Something Different: Town Creek Indian Burial Mound

 

Kim gets really curious about roadside signs pointing to unusual attractions.  On our way back to Virginia from a recent trip to Holden Beach, we spotted a sign for the Town Creek Indian Burial Mound.  This prompted memories of Kim's feelings of intrigue when presented with aerial pictures of such structures in her 6th grade social studies book.  So, Justin, being the thoughtful person he is, drove a few miles through rural North Carolina byways to find one.  And, by the way, you can definitely get there with the aid of your GPS and multiple directional brown "attraction" road signs.

About 15 minutes off 220, and we'd found the small park, an official North Carolina State Historic Site.  We were expecting some informative plaques and something hard to see; we were pleasantly surprised by the interpretation present.  There's a small staffed visitors' center that includes an exhibit with a short film, information on the mound's archeology, and the history of the site's development.  There's also a gift shop that sells, among other items, a reasonable selection of local history books and academic books related to the site.  Most significantly, there's a reconstructed Indian village including an earthen fortress protecting an actual burial mound.  You enter through a guard tower, proceed to a recreation of clan's funeral ceremony presented using wax figures and recordings, and climb the mound to a small space used for worship and ceremony.  This isn't a mound in the shape of an animal, so you will be able to experience the site directly by walking it. 

If you go, pick a day when you'll be comfortable outside for about 20-30 minutes if possible.  Know you'll be "off the beaten path"--this site is not right next door to fast food outlets, gas stations, etc. and is in a truly rural location.  There's no actual admission charge, but it's good to give a small donation.  We're coming to enjoy the North Carolina Historic Sites and encourage you to explore them.  This one is definitely worth your hour.   

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.

Vintage Weekend: Carlin's Amoco

Did you know that Roanoke is home to, of all things, an impressively restored gas station?  It just goes to show you that you never know what you will find in your hometown if you just look.  This spring, the restored Carlin's Amoco Station on Williamson Road was open for a special day of tours based from the Virginia Museum of Transportation.  We pass by the beautiful station often, thinking it would be a great spot for a photo op, but we've never been able to be inside. 

Recently, E was thrilled to ride a 1960s tour bus from VMT to the station, where we all disembarked to look around and enjoy Moonpies and Cokes.   The restoration is impressive and includes authentic uniforms, including one belonging to the previous owner; vintage tire ads; vintage maps; and even vintage bathroom decor!  The obvious effort spent making the station a true blast from the past is to be commended.  As we toured, we couldn't help but think how much Papa Danny, Papa Bud, and Granny Helen would have enjoyed a visit here.  At this special event, Wayne Henderson of Petroleum Collectibles Monthly was there signing his books, too!

The hours for touring the station are irregular, as it is currently open only for special events, some of which seem to be connected to VMT or to antique automobile "crusing" festivals.  If you are a local Roanoke area family, we highly recommend you become museum members if you have interest--you'll hear about museum special events like this one!  If you are touring the station, you find yourself on Williamson Road, one of the most interesting streets in Roanoke.  You'll be close to several non-chain restaurants, including The New Yorker, and can easily venture to attractions in the downtown area. 

More Trains and Local History: The C & O Railway Heritage Center

If there are trains, we will come.  On our way back from Nana's house recently, we made a quick stop at Clifton Forge's C and O Railway Heritage Center, a truly focused site for corporate and local history that is also very kid friendly.  An indoor-outdoor museum situated around a restored depot, the center celebrates the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and many related ventures, including Clifton Forge's former C and O Hospital.  For us, there are nifty family connections: Granny Helen was a C and O secretary, working as the first female employee in her department; Kim's Great Grandfather Painter once worked at the depot, too. 

Anchored by a model train display of the C and O's main line, the depot building features an extensive exhibit of C and O history, professionally presented.  Significantly, there's a small but beautiful selection of "rolling stock" (trains for the uninitiated) on display.  You can enter two cabooses, a passenger car, a baggage car, and a dining car--all of which have been lovingly restored.  In our humble opinion, they are the best restored cars we've seen in Virginia.  On good weather days, you'll also find a working miniature train outside, big enough for riding in a loop with the kids, and there's a well-stocked gift shop with local history books and nifty local logo T-shirts.  You can also climb up a replica of JD Cabin, a signal tower.

If you go, know that the staffing is thin--if someone else is there, you may have to wait for a tour to conclude before you can pay admission.  A visit like ours will take an hour or so unless there is a special event.  We've been by on some of their special events days in the past--they tend to be well-organized and generally "worth it," if more crowded, if you are interested.  For a nearby meal, we recommend Vic's for something simple and tasty.  Clifton Forge is a nice place to visit, as is Alleghany County.  Please click the links to see some of our other trips.

Wartime Curiosities: The Tank Museum

 

The American Armoured Foundation (AAF) Tank Museum--another one of those places we've thought of going many times and that we're so pleased we visited.  Situated in a former factory in Danville, VA, the Tank Museum is a place that is likely to impress you, whether or not you typically like military collections.

The museum is home to over 100 tanks of various pedigrees as well as other military items such as uniforms and munitions.  Items are neatly arranged and labeled with interesting information; if you look, you will find that many of the tanks were actually built by US auto manufacturers.  The collection includes ecclectic items, including wartime Hollywood memorabilia, and there's a range for remote control tanks that's used by club members on special event dates.  Some artifacts are set up to climb on for photo ops--mind the signs.

If you go, we recommend you begin your visit by sampling the news clippings about the museum on display in the entry area.  These notes will give you a good sense of the museum's history.  It is, essentially, one man's collection on display, transported all the way from New Jersey.  The resourcefulness involved in setting up the museum is simply amazing.  Wear your close-toed walking shoes--you'll cover a lot of ground in the old factory--and dress for the weather.  The museum is indoors but is not climate-controlled; therefore, you may want to visit on a spring or fall day.  Plan your trip in advance, as it is usually open just 1-2 days per week.  Look for the owner riding an antique military bike around and flag him down with your questions. 

For lunch afterwards, we recommend the diner-like Golden Skillet down the road in Tightsqueeze.  It has an awesome fiberglass sign and is a throwback to a simpler time--such a throwback, in fact, that it serves Kool-Aid and doesn't seem to have a website.  If you are travelling with kids, consider adding on a visit to the Danville Science Center, reading about our trip there here.

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.

The Ratcliffe: A Local History Museum That's Fun For Kids

 

If you've been exploring our blog, you know Justin and Kim will enjoy just about any type of museum, and we're raising our kids in the hope they'll be able to do the same.  Pulaski's Ratcliffe Memorial Transportation Museum makes it simple to get kids--or anyone--interested in local history, whether or not you know much about Southwest Virginia.   The Ratcliffe's presentation is impressive, including appropriate signage and an attractive museum catalogue for sale to those interested.  If you know local history and local museums, you do not take these things for granted. 

The collection features prominent transportation-related items, most notably two antique fire engines from the town's early departments and an extremely impressive model train layout of Pulaski, VA.  The layout was crafted as a life-long hobby of a local dentist, and it was obviously a realistic model of the town, even to our first-time visitor eyes.  Most of the structures in the model are made of reused cereal and shoe boxes, and you can see professional photos of them on the museum's Facebook page.  Expect the majority of the rest of the collection to showcase Pulaski history.  There are photographs of workers from local industries, architectural components from local theatres, and signage from local stores.  For kids, there's a "train table" for play.

The museum's friendly staff welcomed us warmly and provided nifty information as we toured, even allowing Elijah to access one of the antique fire engines.   He can describe its parts, including its hand-cranked siren, quite well, and he'd be happy to give you a tour if you want to take him on your trip!  If you go, know there is a playground nearby, and it looks like a decent spot for a simple picnic.  We didn't readily find lots of other tourist stops or shops, but there are plenty of fast food outlets for lunch.

Simply Amazing That Our Kids Hadn't Been Here: Lynchburg's Amazement Square

We live in Roanoke--and we'd never taken our kids to Lynchburg's children's museum, best known as Amazement Square?  Hard to believe, but true, so we were very thankful when dear friends invited us out with their family for a day at this truly-geared-for-kids museum. 

Amazement Square is an impressively interactive place--and among children's museums, its indoor climbing tower is known as the tallest in the nation and has many fun features, including a room-to-room zipline.  The museum is also well-known for its plexiglass painting room, but Elijah's favorite exhibit was the canal water table.  Gwen enjoyed the Big Red Barn toddler area--and honestly, her mom did, too, playing in the "underground" tunnel.  Several exhibit spaces allow for lots of "getting energy out" with gross motor activities, including a fun bug exhibit built for crawling in and on.  It's also one of those places when you can feel good about your kids exploring pretty freely--there's only one real entrance/exit, and it is monitored; just be advised that there are stairs if you have kiddos that aren't particularly sure-footed or are still crawling.

We recommend you visit, especially if you have kids between about 4 and 8, but kids of other ages will have a blast, too.  If you go, The Depot Grille is nearby (walkable) and good for a casual lunch.  It impresses Elijah as a restored train station.  On the date of our visit, we seemed to have "good timing"--eating lunch at the Depot noonish and then going to the museum just as lots of other families seemed to be doing the opposite.  For our take on another children's museum, this one in Greensboro, NC, click here. 

A New Treasure: Discovering the Danville Science Center

Inspired by a field trip at Kim's school, we headed out to the Danville Science Center--a place we'd barely heard of but thoroughly enjoyed.  The center is full of interactive exhibits and play areas--and it's worth the drive from Roanoke. 

Permanent exhibits span two buildings and include rocks, small "stuffed" animals, and a few live animals like a lizard and a turtle.  There's a large temporary exhibit space, and exhibits rotate reasonably frequently.  There are also seasonal attractions like a butterfly garden.  Elijah was a huge fan of the From Here to There temporary exhibit, enjoying the "air tubes" for moving balls very much.  Picture a large see-thru bank or pharmacy drive thru that you can control, and you'll get the idea.  This exhibit has a small "ball pit" with building toys including various simple machines (a ramp, a gear and pulley system, etc.), and both Elijah and Gwen could have stayed in it all day.  While the museum isn't as expansive as some similar museums, there was plenty for us to do--and in a visit of about three and a half hours, we didn't even make it upstairs.  This, of course, is a sign we'll have to go back.

The site itself is interesting and features a restored active train station--complete with a model layout of the city and a red caboose you can play in.  A recently-added Digital Dome Theater is prominent in the center's architecture.  On our trip, the kids took in their first such show, seeing a film about the solar system and a sky show.  We understand why the dome is advertised as the best theater of this type in the region.  The technology for the sky show was particularly impressive, and our guide was able to show us a 3-D model of our galaxy. 

If you go, expect a kid-friendly place, including a small room for snacking (bring your own) and a gift shop with low-cost items (we picked up a globe keychain for less than a quarter).  The staff spoke genuinely to the kids, which is always a friendly plus.  In fact, Kim recommends it as one of the best science museums we've been to for preschool-to-elementary aged kids.  On a warmer day, pack a picnic--there are lovely, if urban, grounds for it--and take in a walk across the river on a nearby pedestrian bridge.  Another plus?  Admission is more reasonably-priced than many similar attractions in the region.  If you live close, the center's birthday parties sound like a great deal.  On the day we visited, a group of young kids were launching toy rockets as part of their planned party activities--Elijah would love it.

More and More Art-Venturous: An Additional Visit to the Taubman Museum of Art

One wintery afternoon, Kim, Elijah, and Gwen decided to head to the Taubman Museum of Art just to see "what was new."  We always begin by walking the upstairs galleries.  These galleries change frequently and often feature both contemporary and more traditional art, so they make for good discussion with small children.  On this trip, Elijah particularly enjoyed Motomichi Nakamura's "monsters," an collection of art including animation of bold creatures in red, black, and white.  Motomichi was at the museum preparing for weekend events, and he even stopped and said hello to Elijah!  You can say hello to Motomichi yourself on Twitter: @motomichistudio. 

As always, we spent a fair amount of time in Art Venture, the museum's first-floor children's space.  With free admission and a plethora of art and play supplies, Art Venture is one of the best deals for families in Roanoke.  Today, we noticed there were additional toys for younger kids, including several that were accessible to our infant-daughter Gwen (even though it is important to note the space is designed for ages 2-13).  There are many types of blocks, gears, and puzzles for kids of all ages to explore as well as stations for creating art to take home.  There's also a "stage" and many puppets for dramatic play, and recent additions included creations made by a 3-D printer.

If you go, know that there is a "new" nearby surface parking lot a block away that hosts free weekday parking for two hours or less.  It's maintained by the City of Roanoke and is close to a private paid parking lot near Beads Indeed, a fun make-your-own jewelry store, and Nawab, Kim's favorite Indian restaurant.  Read more about one of our previous museum visits here for more information.  If you are not accustomed to visiting art museums, know they can feel, well, a bit pretentious.  Make yourself as "at home" as you can within reason, and at the Taubman, I recommend engaging the security staff upstairs in conversation.  They know the collections well and are always approachable.