The Virginia Living Museum

The Virginia Living Museum was one of my favorite places to go growing up, the absolute best field trip destination. While I always loved the zoo and the aquarium, there was something special about the VLM. The animals weren't exotic but native to my home state, ones I could, theoretically encounter in my backyard. And yet at the museum, I had a chance to see them up close in their own habitats, not bounding away or freezing in fear but doing the kind of things they do in their daily animal lives.

I was excited to share it with Anne. This is a kid who loves all things outdoors and animals of all stripes. She's a Virginia girl, too boot. So J and I hit the museum on a cloudy day last week with high hopes of initiating her into the tribe.

But we ran into trouble early on. Surprise tantrum -- hit the deck! I think it was prompted by the fact that we wouldn't let her take her coat off. Oh, almost two...you are a delight.

Still, despite a few squalls, we ended up having a great time exploring the VLM (which was nice, because after paying over $30 to get in, we weren't looking forward to 1-2-3 Magicking our way out before we'd seen everything). The interior exhibits, featuring plants and wildlife from different geographical regions of Virginia, were punctuated by interactive discovery centers where kids can piece together fossils, climb through tree trunks, and examine brightly-painted butterfly wings. We especially loved the Coastal Plain aquariums and the World of Darkness gallery, and seeing all of the animals that have so creatively adapted to life without light.

But the real highlight of the trip was a stroll over the elevated boardwalk that spans Deer Park Lake to see the big stars of the museum: coyotes, foxes, eagles, deer...  My favorites were the crafty (and slightly neurotic?) raccoons, James liked the wolves, and the playful otters made A. laugh out loud. Not an easy task on this particular day, but those otters are seriously charming. Even the most crotchety of toddlers cannot resist.

Have you been to the VLM lately? What was your favorite exhibit?

Springing forward at Deer Park

At long last, spring is beginning to spring in earnest, and Anouk and I are saying a temporary goodbye to some of our favorite indoor play spaces in favor of some old -- and new -- outdoor ones. Our goal for the warmer months this year is to try to hit up a new park at least once a week (hopefully we can make this happen). We started our new project with Deer Park, in Newport News, over the weekend.

Deer Park is special for a few reasons. It's located adjacent to the Peninsula museum complex, which makes it a nice place to have lunch/run off a little steam after a morning of museum-going. There are walking trails that wind throughout wetlands and flower gardens (the azalea garden was just beginning to bud the day we went), a picnic area large enough to accomodate big groups, and plenty of waterfront access to Deer Park Lake. A. had a blast poking around in the mossy water with a big stick, and waving to a few ducks and to one beautiful blue heron who was sunning himself (herself?) on the opposite shore. It's the same view you'll get from the Virginia Living Museum, on the other side of the lake, only at 0% of the cost.

But the truly exceptional thing about Deer Park is the playground, which is a Boundless playground, meaning it was specially designed so that children with and without disabilities can play together. Many of the swings feature harnesses and neck supports, the rubber-and-mulch surfacing allows wheelchairs to roll easily over the ground, and each of the large play structures has ramps and wide openings to allow children who might need help getting around to access them. It reminded me a lot of Clemyjontri Park, which we visited frequently when we lived in the DC area, and loved.

We didn't have very long to spend at the park the day we visited, but in the short time we were there, A. did manage to tire herself out enough for an extended nap time, and we both got a ton of much-needed sun and fresh air.

Look at all that light! Have I mentioned that we love Daylight Savings Time?

Peninsula SPCA Petting Zoo and Exotic Animal Sanctuary

Baby A. and I met this badassed rooster (and a whole bunch of other animals) at the Peninsula SPCA petting zoo last week. Click on over to My Active Child to read all about our visit!

(I love this photo, btw. I think it sums up my focus for the new year. Sometimes you gotta climb on the fence, who cares what they say?)

Paint Day at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center

I think Anouk and I found a new favorite place today. It just happens to be the Hands on for Kids Gallery at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, a veritable Aladdin's Cave of creativity featuring (among other things) a chalkboard wall, light table, bins of blocks and Legos, and an art station stocked with everything from yarn to colored pencils to crayons, scissors, silk flowers, and googly eyes.

All of this by itself is pretty rad, but it gets EVEN better because Tuesdays and Thursdays are Paint Days at PFAC! If you stop by between 10 AM and 4 PM, you can don a smock and take your place at one of the easels to create your masterpiece (with very washable tempera paint) (thank goodness).

At home, Baby A. is usually kind of ambivalent about her crayons and paints but today she turned into a whirlwind as soon as we stepped through the door into the kids gallery, determined to touch and experiment with every. single. thing. in the room, from the tiniest Lego block to the googliest eye. I don't know if the unfamiliar surroundings made everything seem new and fresh and exciting, or if the space is just conducive to creative action in a way that our kitchen table is not (probably the latter). Either way, we (both) had a blast.

A few other things to remember if you're visiting PFAC:

• Admission is $7.50 and $4.00 for children older than 6, but discounted admission is available if you are a student, teacher, Triple A member, and a few others (I forget!) Be sure to ask & bring pertinent cards/IDs/etc when you visit to take advantage of this.
• Save your admission ticket: it will get you back into the museum for a whole week after you visit! 
• Don't forget to stop by the Biennial 2012 exhibit, especially to check out 'The Story of Numm," a show by husband-and-wife team Rebecca Davis-Kelly and Kevin L. Kelly that's very steampunky and thought-provoking and cool.
• And don't forget to exercise your own creativity muscle while you're there: