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.