SewingMom2many Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I am driving from northern Illinois to visit my daughter who recently got married and moved to Norfolk. It will be me, my dd23, dd19, ds6, ds3, and ds2 - so a mixed age group. We are looking for a few things to see or do while we are there that the kids would find interesting and are educational. We travel frequently but we've never been out east and I've heard there are some really great things to see out that way but searching on Google was overwhelming. I'd love some suggestions from real people :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Nauticus was a fun museum. You can see the Monitor being restored if you go to the museum in Newport News (not terribly far from Norfolk). Of course, you could do Jamestowne, if you don't mind driving a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 The Living Museum in Newport News is great. VB Aquarium Nauticus in Norfolk Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown aren't too far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treestarfae Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 This outlines a bunch of things to do http://www.virginia.org/regions/HamptonRoads/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 The Mariners Museum in Newport News is pretty good. For something fun, I would recommend a cruise on the tall ship the Rover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Seriously, just trying to navigate that area is an education! Print out maps and have the kids try to direct you to a destination. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 The Mariners Museum in Newport News is pretty good.. Understatement. I'd call it the best museum we've ever done as a family! We went last year when my kids were 12 and 16 and loved this place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treestarfae Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 There's a zoo in Norfolk and a Children's Museum the next town over in Portsmouth. The Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 If your boys like military stuff, like seeing the Wisconsin at Nauticus, they may also like to tour the Oceana Naval Air Station in VA Beach. My ds liked that stuff when he was little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffnus Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Oh my goodness...this is a great place for educational museums (we're in Portsmouth). You've had some suggestions...there's also the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, the Virginia Air and Space Museum and IMAX in Hampton, the Va Aquarium and Marine Science Museum in Virginia Beach. Someone mentioned but it really should be stressed that Yorktown, Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg are all within 45-60 min. They're all great. You can also go to the Cape Henry Memorial (a monument and lookout) where the English colonists landed before founding Jamestown. This is a very historic are with lots to do. Most cost $$ so you'll want to plan. You can walk through Colonial Williamsburg for free but not have entrance to the little stores and museums. They're (along with Jamestown and Yorktown) having their homeschool weeks right now if you're coming very soon. It's fantastic!! Have lots of fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewingMom2many Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 Thank you all so much for these suggestions!! Sounds like there is much more to do than we will ever have time for. My daughter will be living there for probably 10 years (husband is stationed in there and in IT so he won't be going anywhere) so we will have plenty of opportunities to do many of these things. Is Jamestown the one where they have all the re-enactments of colonial times jobs like a blacksmith or a wagon wheel maker and a little pretend town you can walk through? I know the boys (and I!) would especially enjoy these things and I think I saw something on TV one time about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffnus Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thank you all so much for these suggestions!! Sounds like there is much more to do than we will ever have time for. My daughter will be living there for probably 10 years (husband is stationed in there and in IT so he won't be going anywhere) so we will have plenty of opportunities to do many of these things. Is Jamestown the one where they have all the re-enactments of colonial times jobs like a blacksmith or a wagon wheel maker and a little pretend town you can walk through? I know the boys (and I!) would especially enjoy these things and I think I saw something on TV one time about this. Jamestown has recreated areas - like a Native American area and they have models of the first 3 ships to come over. It's smaller than Colonial Williamsburg. If your children are older, I'd recommend Colonial Williamsburg. They do have reenactments and people dressed up in time-period clothes, strolling down the roads. We just went last week for their homeschool days. Not every shop is open every day so you'd want to get that information before going AND it is quite expensive if you get full entrance. If your children are older and can interact with the workers, it would be great and worth it to go. Their website gives lots of info. http://www.history.org/history/index.cfm If you can afford it money-wise and time-wise, plan to stay a few days in Williamsburg. (They have a nice outlet mall :-) ) You can spend a couple days in Colonial Williamsburg and then go to Jamestown - only 10 minutes away - and then take the free ferry to Surry, VA for a scenic drive back to Norfolk. Very nice. PS - Avoid the interstate at rush hour times!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abreakfromlife Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Jamestown and Yorktown are a must for your first visit I think. Your little kids will love it, and a lot of it is outside so they can run around....the inside of Yorktown is just amazing. We went last year and we all loved it, even dh and I, so I bet your older ones will too. It's so cool. The original Jamestown is an archeological dig, so you can watch them work. We did the Mariner's Museum and dh and I really liked it, and my older two liked it, but it was a little boring for my littles. I ended up rushing them thru and letting dh linger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavis Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 The Living Museum and the Air and Space Museum are fun. My son enjoys the touch tanks at the Living Museum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iquilt Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 The Chrysler Museum of Art has a fantastic new glass blowing studio where you can watch artists at work plus a great collection of art in the main building. Open W-S and free. When you go in you can ask at the information desk for kid scavenger hunt maps that will help to engage the smaller members of your party and they get a prize at the end. Great afternoon of fun! Norfolk Zoo is small but they have some nice areas and is good for a nice morning or afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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