The Garden was mentioned in a book that I'm currently reading "Virginia 100 Best Places to Visit"…read more According to the book the Garden is 175 acres of gardens. We get a membership annually and it is most certainly worth it. I love the many different gardens. You can walk the gardens everyday and find something new each trip. They offer classes, have activities and they even have a butterfly garden. They do not currently have a restaurant but they have visiting food trucks. I inquired. about the restaurant and was advised that they are hoping to open the restaurant in the fall.

It was beautiful and the Cherry Blossom Scavenger hunt was a fun way to keep the tour interactive!read more

A Must-See Winterfest Experience! I had such a magical time…read moreat Winterfest on the Wisconsin battleship! I went last Wednesday with family, and exploring the ship completely decked out in lights was honestly unforgettable. I knew ahead of time that they offered mocktails and cocktails, but I was not prepared for the surprises waiting onboard--like fresh donuts and spiked hot chocolate! Speaking of which... the spiked peppermint hot chocolate with a shot of white chocolate peppermint bark RumChata has officially changed my life. I don't think I can go back to regular hot chocolate for the rest of the season. It's the perfect holiday drink, and clearly a huge hit with the 21+ crowd. Beyond the festive drinks, Winterfest had so much more to offer, including a charming winter mini circus with magic and other fun acts. It was genuinely enjoyable for both kids and adults. I loved the added light displays leading up to the ship and throughout Town Point Park--they make the whole area feel like a glowing winter wonderland. Even if you can't make it onboard for the full Winterfest experience, the nighttime walk from the Pagoda in lights to Town Point Park is absolutely worth it. Such a wonderful holiday outing for families, friends, and anyone looking to soak up the season!

Absolutely loved Winterfest! Was able to snag a ticket online for the second to last day of the…read moreevent and it was almost 80 degrees! Awesome day for it. This was actually my first time aboard this ship despite living here for over 15 years... We had a timed ticket and had to be there within 15 minutes of our ticket start time and had e-tickets which we had no problem pulling up and scanning. Event parking was $5 in the local garage across the street and was a great deal! There were plenty of staff inside the museum to direct us to the battleship and a limited but adequate amount on the ship. The gift shop was open and we easily made our way to the boat for the tour. Arrows along the deck directed traffic and it was a winter wonderland everywhere you looked. Tons of lights everywhere and the Norfolk skyline and waterfronts made it even more beautiful. Crowds weren't too bad due to the timing of the tickets and we had no issues with photos, crowding or lack of staff. The tiny Griswold cafe had perfect snacks for reasonable prices such as nachos, pretzels, bbq, hot dogs, chips, cookies and hot chocolate and hot apple cider with plenty of seating inside. The elf adventure beneath the deck was sooo cute. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed seeing the inside rooms decorated with small elves and animatronic figures. Lights strung up along the P-ways were adorable! The entire upper deck was covered with lights and it's so gorgeous at night. There were literally dozens of great places for a photo and staff were friendly and happy to assist. This was a great experience and one I think people of all ages can enjoy. Happy to have done this!

I found this website listing the best neighborhood holiday light shows throughout Hampton Roads…read more The article is from last year, but most people do it every year. *Note: the article also covers all major cities in the country. https://www.redfin.com/blog/2014/12/the-best-neighborhoods-to-see-holiday-lights-in-2014.html#.VngNVBUrK00 Holt Family Lights (HFL) was definitely the best of the bunch I visited last night. What a sight to behold! My youngest son and I enjoyed all of the lights and the music that goes along with them. There are so many things to see--you really need to stop and watch for a while. *Please park on the side streets and walk into the court to see the show. *There is music playing while you're outside, synced with the lights. If you watch the show from your car, tune your radio to 98.3. *Cali's Concessions--While you're there, grab some popcorn, hot chocolate, or candy. The proceeds go to a charity of Cali's choice. I think the concession cart might start at 6 pm. We were there around 5:30 and no one was there yet. *Follow them on Facebook to see the current times. (https://m.facebook.com/pages/Holt-Family-Lights/163705990330762) There are several holiday light shows throughout this area, and those are lovely to drive through (and expensive). But there is something special about visiting these neighborhood light shows. If you live in Hampton Roads, definitely check out HFL. Otherwise, go check out that website I posted and see what light shows are around you!

The Holiday Lights at Virginia Beach were a fun and festive activity, especially for the season…read more The drive-through experience was nice and long, with plenty of lights to enjoy right along the boardwalk--it definitely put us in the holiday spirit. Before entering, they offer hot chocolate, popcorn, and cookies for purchase. While it was convenient, I wasn't expecting the food prices to be so high, especially since the drive-through tickets were already in the $30-$50 range. That part was a little surprising. One cool touch was the dedicated radio station you can tune into while driving through, which synced music with the lights and made the experience more enjoyable overall. Despite the added cost, it was still a fun holiday outing and something different to do if you're looking to enjoy seasonal lights in the area.

It's kinda a VB tradition for many families, but ours prefers Norfolk Botanical Gardens…read more It's pricey, but kids like that you can drive on the boardwalk and see lights. It took our family over an hour one night and around 45 another arriving at dusk. Honestly I don't recommend if you gone before. It's always the same. However we had guest in town and it's something to do. 2.5 and I guess rounding up.

Worst customer service I have ever experienced. I had to call and ride him the entire time. We paid…read morenearly $1000 for a residential home. After installation, there were mismatched lights. It took weeks to get them changed. The fee also supposedly included removal. What I was told when I initially paid him was that by mid January, we would come home and everything would be taken down and left neatly in a box on the front porch. It required multiple texts and phone calls to get his service to come by. When they did, they did not complete the work. I just finished taking the lights down from the tree out front myself today. I still have light hangers running along the crown of the house. I called to complain and have yet to receive an answer. There were broken hangers, bulbs, and cigarette butts all over the yard. I took photos. This was a huge mistake and he will not get our business again. If I could rate lower than one star I would.

From the owner: Christmas Lights, Christmas Decorations, Holiday Lighting, Business Lighting, Business Holiday…read moreLighting

We had a great experience with our homeschool field trip here. The young man we had was so polite &…read morepatient with our crew that it makes me want to come back. With the field trip we got to see and learn about ALL the animals, we were able to feed majority of them as well as go inside the bird sanctuary. Then in the end they played in the tree forts. Our group got a goodie bag of pencils and flyers. It has been a while since I had come to Hunt Club farm, my prior experience was not so grand. I'm happy to see all the updates they have made including how well they're keeping the animals. Great experience.

We visited Hunt Club Farm today with my two sons (18 months and 2 years old), and overall they had…read morea great time. They loved the animal enclosure especially the chickens and were very excited about the goats. The playground was also wonderful and perfect for my 2 year old to run around and explore. My 2 year old is on the autism spectrum, so I really want to recognize that the environment at the farm felt very sensory-friendly. The gated areas were especially helpful because my son tends to elope, and it allowed me to feel much more comfortable letting him explore. For families with toddlers or children with additional needs, that kind of setup makes a big difference and is truly appreciated. However, I'm very disappointed with our experience during the pony ride. I paid $10 for my 2 year old to ride a pony, and I was genuinely excited because it was his first time ever being on a horse. I've heard so many positive things about how horse riding can help regulate children on the spectrum, so this was a moment I was really looking forward to as a parent. Unfortunately, the staff member who took us around for the pony ride was extremely rude and clearly seemed like she did not want to be there. Her attitude made the interaction very uncomfortable, and it honestly felt like we were an inconvenience. I pushed through the moment so my son could still enjoy his ride, but it completely took away from what should have been a really special first experience. When we looked back at the photos we took of the moment, in some of them she is actually rolling her eyes, which was very disappointing to see. No parent wants their child's first experience with something special to feel like they are bothering the staff. I'm sharing this feedback because the farm itself is a wonderful place for young kids, and I hope management is aware of how interactions like this affect families' experiences. The animals, playground, and environment were great, but customer interactions especially during experiences like pony rides should feel welcoming and positive for families and children.

We have been working with these guys for three years and are incredibly happy with them. They will…read moredo a free estimate and computer-generated plan for your holiday lights. The price is reasonable and they handle installation and takedown. They are immediately responsive to any issues as small as a single nonfunctional light. Extremely professional.

I started using Christmas Decor over two years ago after I saw what a good job they did on my…read moreneighbors house. Very professional, which I appreciate very much. The Christmas lights are always bright and if there is a problem, Christmas Decor is already on it because they do periodic inspections to ensure everything is in good working condition. I only review companies that really deserve it, Christmas Decor has exceeded my expectations! I look forward to getting my backyard landscaping lights done by them. Thanks again and see you guys Thanksgiving 2018! - B. Morring

Our front lawn needed light along the walk path. They came out to take a look and talk about what…read morethey offer. They took the old lighting we had, and gave a military discount. They had excellent customer service. It looks great! Thank you.

I found Outdoor Lighting Perspectives on Yelp, and although they didn't have any reviews, a link…read morewas provided to their website. The site was very well organized, and included photos of some of their work. I contacted Jim for a quote, and he was able to quickly provide me with a very thorough and professional assessment of my property, as well as a detailed breakdown of cost options. We were able to decide on the option that worked best for my property, and scheduled the install. In about a week, I had a beautiful lighting setup that put the old one to shame. He stands behind his work with a robust warranty, and guarantees his work. I wouldn't hesitate to call Jim and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives again for my next lighting project.

It's Ikea....you go knowing what to expect. It's bright, big and inspirational. I like it....it's a…read morefun store. Truly so many ideas! We went for only 1 thing and we found it but we still spent over an hour in the store. We did self check out with no problems, the store is clean and there were employees everywhere. At one point I was looking around and an employee asked me if I needed help. That's awesome. The only employee I remember is Anthony and he was very nice. He was in front of the restaurant near the bed giveaway. I could definitely get in trouble in this store.....I almost wish I had another house to decorate. Or maybe just another room. I will definitely be back.

I always go to IKEA when I need some room inspiration. I love looking in the showrooms. It's such a…read morefun place to visit and to get some steps in. I will say the prices are increasing and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Still my go to if I need something quick. Now the food, I feel has declined. The last few times I went my food has been cold or looked like it has been sitting out all day. Why are tenders and fries $12.99 now? They used to be $5.99. Even the meatball meal is insanely priced. I will probably skip the food even though that was my favorite part. Other than that if you need something quick and easy to assemble, ikea is the way to go.