One Great Gettysburg Experience: Hall of Presidents

Here's a great experience to have...while you still can.  Gettysburg's long-lived Hall of Presidents and First Ladies wax museum of the American Presidents is closing permanently November 26, 2016.  This demanded a trip to Gettysburg by the Haltermans.  If you have any interest,  we recommend it...and you need to go NOW. 

 

Inside the museum, there are four narrated rooms and wax figures of each of the Presidents through Obama.  The likenesses are reasonably realistic,  and even better,  the narrations of their accomplishments are reasonably apolitical.  There are also means behind the Presidents regarding key accomplishments, but as the rooms have grown more crowded over the years,  they are a bit out-of-sync with the figures.  Tour as slowly as you can and take lots of pictures!

 

Following this exhibit, visit the Hall of First Ladies for smaller figures of the First Ladies in their gowns.  These likenesses are less realistic, but the display is enjoyable.  It is not narrated; you can move at your own pace.

 

At the time of our visit, some of the employees,  all also part of a larger group of Gettysburg attractions, seemed unaware of the closure.  However, it is "Facebook public," payed by the company itself.  We are awaiting news of the next destination for the figures.

 

If you go, a visit here would be easy to pair with Evergreen Cemetery and/or the National Park Service Visitors Center.  The Inn at Cemetery Hill and The Inn of 1873 can provide you with super-close lodging.  AAA discounts are still available at the site as are combo attraction tickets. Consider it...and help preserve the legacy of the American wax museum.   Few exist anymore.

 

Long Overdue: American Shakespeare Center for the Evening

In 2011, K bought J a gift card to the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA.  It was part of our tradition of giving experience gifts whenever we can--we like adventures more than having things, mostly.  Blame it on busy lives, but we didn't get around to using the gift card until 2016. 2016.  It was just 5 years later.

This fall, we were inspired to take in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, an historical rock musical (think in the vein of Hamilton).  The performance does contain adult content, but the staff warn you fairly.  Would we take our young kids?  No. Would we recommend it to all our friends without exception? No. Were we glad we had the experience? Yes. Did we think it was exceedingly well performed?  Yes.  So, fellow history nerds, ponderers, and people who generally like holding disparate ideas in tension and thinking about connections between the past and present, we promise you can handle it if you so choose.

The play was a great introduction to the intelligent design of American Shakespeare Center seasons--the company is currently featuring three plays, two Shakespearean, designed to get the audience thinking about power.  It's stunningly perfect for an election year.  The physical design of the theatre is quite intelligent as well.  It's the only replica theatre of Shakespeare's indoor theatre, and performances are given in conditions similar to those in Shakespeare's day.  Expect the lights to be on--and the troupe of actors to be interactive, especially if you sit on (yes, on) or close to the stage.  We selected second-level seats because we usually like balconies, and we found our choice, guided well by the box office staff when we called, to be pretty perfect.  It's a good thing as we've already booked close by seats for A Christmas Carol in December.

Really, even if you don't like Shakespeare, don't like theatre, or think one of those two things is true of you, it's pretty impressive that the American Shakespeare Center is in Staunton, VA, and that is excuse enough to try it out and see if your mind changes.  That's right, everyone: The only recreation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre is in Staunton, not Europe and not at the Folger Library.  You can also get ticket deals if you look--there AAA discounts, student rates, and fun specials in their Twitter feed (@shakespearectr).  This is theatre that feels like a shared experience and it. is. worth. it.  Plus, there's a gift shop!

If you go, we recommend arriving when doors open for the pre-show, a time of music and other vignettes from the actors.  Arriving early will also get you good--and sometimes free--nearby parking.  Enjoy walking downtown Staunton while you are there.  Our sense was that it was a very safe area for walking around, and we found a few restaurants open after the show and ate a lovely dinner at Joe's Steakhouse.  There were small shops aplenty, although many had closed for the day. These attractive little places included used bookstores (more than one) and specialty grocers (more than one)--very fun.  If staying the night, the classic Stonewall Jackson Hotel is nearby, and we spotted several B&Bs and boutique hotels, too.  They even have an app for your walk!

Alleghany County Gets a Ghost Tour: Haunted Clifton Forge, VA

K grew up doing a little acting in what was then the Stonewall Theatre--and hearing tons of ghost stories from the cast and crew.  Folks talked about entering the theatre for the evening and seemingly interrupting a crowd, hearing the sounds and smelling the perfume of theatre-goers. There were reports of people watching shows in the balcony--people who weren't people.  And one can't forget the reports of a death in the theatre's apartment.  K has told J the stories and has wondered if anyone else remembered them, true or not.  So, when on a recent trip to Clifton Forge, this sign meant we were headed out for a Halterman Evening ghost tour.

Haunted Heritage Tours is a new venture from a new resident of the Alleghany Highlands named Audrey.  She's grown to appreciate the area and has a desire to both tell its history and attract folks to pay attention to the stories and places nestled in the beautiful hills.  Her 90-minute walking tour is well-priced, not gimmicky, and worth your time.  A gracious storyteller, she is receptive to input from locals and incorporates information about her primary-source local history research.  Expect an outdoor tour from Town Hall to C & O/Jack Mason's and back again with outdoor stops for stories and sightseeing.  We were particularly pleased to hear stories of Mary, the former proprietor of what was the Stonewall Theatre and what is now the Historic Masonic Theatre, and of the apartment above what was Zimmerman's menswear store.  This tour is strong on history and safe for kids who enjoy stories of ghosts and odd happenings.

The tour goes on, for now, weekends through October, although you should watch the website for future offerings at other times of the year and for different events.  In our humble opinion, the Highlands have not yet reached peak colors, so this is a great excuse to get Roanokers to drive over this month and take it in, routing through Craig Creek-Richpatch-Roaring Run encouraged to see the great fall colors in Botetourt.  While you are there, visit a great outdoor site like Humpback Bridge, take in a good meal, and, of course, enjoy the ghost tour.  Couples on an adventure, consider Cat and Owl for steak and seafood or Cafe Michel for French food--both can be destination restaurants. Families, try Vic's Family Restaurant.

Beautiful Spiders: An Evening with OVO

Sunday evening, K received a surprise email from the Science Museum of Western Virginia and Center in the Square.  The email offered invited guests--who I'd later learn were principally museum members and volunteers--the opportunity to attend a reception, at no cost excepting parking, celebrating Cirque du Soleil's OVO touring show and its arrival in town on Tuesday.  The insect theme worked for the science museum's connection, and the celebration was held on the Center's lovely rooftop.  What a wonderful way to end a workday!

Needless to say, G and K proudly RSVPed.  This was a low-cost, low-commitment way to introduce G to Cirque, something K felt she'd probably be fascinated by...but might be scared by if the timing was off.  She enjoys dancing and art, but it would be debatable whether or not she'd be awake and interested for a full Cirque show.  G got to attend the "fancy" party, enjoying cookies, crackers and cheese, as well as polite conversation with a new friend.

Then, G adored the main attraction, a brief performance by OVO's contortionist spiders.  She was transfixed and immediately approached them as soon as the photo op opened.  She even wanted to show the performers her pictures.

She took home flyers about the show including pictures of the "spiders' friends."  This settles it--a performance next year is likely in the cards for us.

While there, we saw flyers for a membership promotion from this our home science museum.  The ASTC Passport "add on" is free for the month of September when you purchase a membership with the Science Museum of Western Virginia.  Local parents willing to travel to nearby museums included in passport (translation: reciprocal membership, AKA free) museums like the Museum of Life + Science in Durham and Marbles Children's Museum in Raleigh, this is a great deal.  You do not have to live in Roanoke to join Roanoke's museum, but keep in mind ASTC reciprocity "kicks in" 90 miles from your "home" museum.  ASTC museums include many science centers, some children's museums, and some other nifty places, like the North Carolina Museum of Transportation.  Other places we've been on ASTC Passport?  Danville Science Center, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Virginia Living History, Science Museum of Virginia, and Whitaker Center.  For folks who travel with kids, this is a DEAL for most.  Look at the ASTC list for places that you might be near across the next year!

Naturally Magical: Boxerwood Garden in Lexington, VA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Simple and Small: Gettysburg's Land of Little Horses

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

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

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

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

Desert Refreshment: Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ

K was not always a fan of botanical gardens, but of late, she's had several occasions to visit them.  Turns out that she's found new treasures in all of them and plans to be a more consistent garden explorer.  There was the special Lantern Asia exhibit at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, there were fantastical sculptures at Airlie Gardens, and now, there were beautiful cacti aplenty at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ.

Simply put, if you want to see stunning desert landscapes, this is the place for you.  The cacti are beautiful, and in various seasons, there are plenty of flowers and butterflies.  Within the garden, there is a "desert living" home decorated with opulent landscaping for the arid climate.  The paths encourage wandering and the "finding" of such fun treasures.

Various areas of the garden depict different desert areas around the world, and we saw a fair amount of small wildlife, including numerous birds.

Was it hot?  Well, yes. It was Phoenix in July. Bring water and sip it constantly--there are plenty of water bottle refill stations, and garden employees were even driving about with trucks that could refill your waterbottle. The gardens are open relatively early and late if your schedule can so accommodate.

Be alert for special events.  A Bruce Munro lighted art exhibit had left recently, and while we snagged gift books picturing it in the gift shop, we missed it by some weeks.  Our understanding is that the garden is a fantastic venue for special events that include open-air concerts.  On this trip, K stayed late, hanging out near closing.  A special night walk event was planned, and we were able to enjoy parts of it, including conversations with great volunteers who were very welcoming locals who gave great dinner recommendations, just because we were in the right place at the right time.

Speaking of the right place at the right time, head to the Sonoran Desert area at sunset--specifically the seating area known as Pratt Ramada.  You won't regret it.

If you go, check Groupon and similar sites for possible ticket discounts.  The Desert is also near Scottsdale, AZ, and it would be easy to head there for dinner after a visit.  We recommend Olive and Ivy near Scottsdale Fashion Square, an upscale mall.  The mall area is open late, but many of the shops in "old" Scottsdale are regrettably closed in the summer "off season." In the garden itself, there's also a cool gift shop and an esteemed restaurant.  Park for free onsite, but reach the area by driving if at all possible (public transportation would have been much more complicated).  Plan to spend several hours.  In our 2+ hour visit, we estimate we saw around one-third of the garden.

Red Rocks: Stunning Sedona

K was told not to miss Sedona while in Arizona--and that turned out to be exceptionally good advice! After a long day of conference sessions in Phoenix, K and some colleagues were determined to find the McDonald's with the turquoise M...and of course, enjoy views of the Red Rocks.  We stopped at Bell Rock--no, we didn't climb it, but it was still a great stop.  If we had more time, we may have done the hike or found a local canyon, too, in a nearby state park...but driving and hiking distances would have required more time.  Nonetheless, sunset visits to the area are spectacular--even with some clouds.

Views were so breathtaking that this is how we behaved, everywhere...

We also learned that wrong turns into neighborhoods bring solid views, too, including this awesome one of the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

We ate a leisurely dinner in one of the Gatlinburg-like small roadside mini shopping areas--substantially more upscale than Gatlinburg, but with similar parking challenges and quirky architecture.  We found lots of quirky outdoor sculptures and grand views.  Shops close down early, but the boutiques in several places we walked made for delightful window shopping. We particularly enjoyed wandering through Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, even if everything was closed for the evening.  In case the last shopping area you visited didn't resemble some opulent version of a Spanish mission...

If you go, the drive from Phoenix to Sedona is a treat for East Coasters--you take in some views of changing desert topography.  In the summer, you also experience a substantial temperature drop...we went from 106 degrees F to the 70s.  We know summer is not high tourist season in Sedona, but in K's humble opinion, it's still not a bad time to travel there.  You will find good overall travel rates--if some closed attractions and early closings on others.  Just take plenty of water.  When driving in the desert, keep your tank full--we found that our car's "miles remaining" decreased rather oddly and rapidly, probably due to the driving conditions, and this made for a little adventure in an area where service stations are few and far between and most apparently close at 8 PM.  Our night was a bit cloudy, but stargazing in the area is described as generally spectacular--even on a cloudy night from a car, a sense of grandness is apparent.  There are even stargazing tours--but they are best taken outside of July/August monsoon season.  And there really is a McDonald's with a turquoise M...

Roanoke's Tiki Landmark: Fiji Island

In college, K visited the Roanoke, VA, Fiji Island Restaurant with friends.  She had a great time, but for whatever reason, had not returned.  Recently, it was high time to do that for a little dinner party with friends from church.  Our large party was easily seated in the classic, dark dining room, a throwback to a different era and a bit of transport to another world.  Red carpets, dark walls, no windows, Tiki decor, seats on different platforms, glowing wall hangings...the setting had been so spectacular that E was shocked it was still daylight when we emerged outdoors. Plastic leis at each seat add a good deal of fun.

The menus are a classic, too, with pretty classic typesetting and prices.  K had a bowl of savory hot and sour soup for $1.50; many at our table enjoyed egg rolls at a similar price.  Pu pu platters are available and fun, as is a solid selection of various Asian foods.  There's more standard fare for interested kids--ours ate mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers.

The longtime restaurateurs are retiring, and the restaurant property remains for sale as we understand it.  We also hear it will close at the end of August 2016, so locals, you need to go!  Take a look at this institution's own photos, too.

Castle for Kim: Montezuma Castle (and Well)

Since fourth or fifth grade social studies, I (K) had always wanted to see some cliff dwellings.  When I realized I'd find myself in Phoenix, Arizona, in July 2016, I was inspired to go find some.  So, after my plane landed mid-day on a Sunday, I found Montezuma Castle, a, 800-year-old well preserved set of dwellings in a naturally-occurring opening on a cliff face.

A small National Park Service site, Montezuma Castle is easily accessible and a wonderful glimpse into the ancient past in the desert.  The castle is not one family's dwelling--it's housing for more like 30-50 people. Misnamed as an Aztec site at one point (hence the Montezuma), this Sinagua native site helps the visitor understand desert survival. There's a short sidewalk-style trail that is relatively flat that will give you a view of the castle and some pretty desert landscape.  No, you can't enter the castle--it's too challenging to preserve--but the view from the ground is grand.  There's also a wonderful diorama to view to give you a sense of the "inside"--and I have been trained by hubby J to appreciate these delightful touches that help interpret such sites. And there's a gift shop (with an educator discount)!

Run up the road a few more miles and you'll find the less busy but quite splendid Montezuma Well, an interesting "lake" made by a spring that's home to unique species of leeches and other such nifty-ness.  Take a short "hike" (also on a sidewalk, but with some stairs with decent steepness) .25 mile up to the top of the lake (and looping back around to the parking lot).  Venture off the beaten path (but still on a marked trail) down to the lake edge if you wish--this was also pretty terrain. For diver shots from 2006, the last research dive into the well, click here.  There's no gift shop at the well, so be sure to pack water.  It's the desert--if it is summer, basically walk around sipping water.

If you go, the drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is north about 90 minutes and will afford you some excellent desert scenery.  You could easily visit the small town of Jerome or the Red Rocks of Sedona in the same little road trip--admission here also gets you in to Tuzigoot National Monument for the week, too, and it is easily accessible from the same drive.  For some thought-provoking reading on archaeology, historic preservation, and plunder, check out Craig Childs's Finders Keepers.  If you are interested in other things K was inspired to see thanks to elementary school social studies, check out our blog on Town Creek Indian Burial Mound in North Carolina.

One BIG Children's Museum: Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC

If you need a kids' day out in a large size, Marbles Kids Museum is a great place to be!  A truly large children's museum, Marbles is also extremely economical--it's just $5 to enter in any case, and it is an ASTC Passport museum, so your membership gets you in free if you have one! We went on a trip with friends, and our group of 5 kids, ages 3-9, all had a great time and spent about a full day in the museum.

Marbles is full of imaginative play spaces that truly encourage kids to interact and cooperate.  Our favorites include Kid Grid and Moneypalooza, both of which have transport systems for disks and balls that are just plain fun.

Kid Grid is particularly manageable in size--and our kids got into the theme, declaring there was a power outage and they had to restore power quickly.

There are also imaginative play spaces like a pirate ship and submarine.  Exploratory places include a large maker space that is well-stocked for a variety of age levels and an "art loft."

Another big hit for our kids? Power2Play, a workout area with a trampoline, log rolling, pulleys that allow you to lift yourself, a small hockey rink, a basketball area, and some additional gym equipment.  G really enjoyed the "swings"--gym rings.  We started at the "top" of the museum at Moneypalooza and worked our way "down" and through--ending at Around Town.  This worked well--and ended our day with a quieter section of the museum before we headed to the car.

If you go, this is another place where you can pack snacks--just plan to eat them outside.  We found surface parking nearby at a reasonable cost ($2 an hour) and ate at Pogo inside the museum courtyard.  Expect crowds in the museum no matter the day of week or time in the summer.  While in the area, also consider visiting the Museum of Life and Science in nearby Durham, NC--we made an overnight trip of the two this time.  For our previous visit to Marbles, click here.