Cannot believe that I've never been to the Hermitage Museum and Gardens until yesterday…read more The home is stunning. The wood working, the art collection and the beautiful grounds; all stunning. If you are looking for something to do on a sleepy afternoon this may be the place for you to visit. Almost forgot to mention that they allow dogs to walk the grounds as long as you clean up after your fur baby.

Checked out "What Remains". It was interesting on a much…read moresmaller scale than "Sleep No More," without the choose-your-own-adventure option and with only one ending. They made great use of the Hermitage's artwork, incorporating the pieces into the story. While listening to the narration, sound effects, captivating storytelling, and lighting guided you through the house and invited you to immerse yourself in the experience. The performance is an hour long and sends you off in groups of 12 at a time; at $68 per ticket I felt the price was on the steep side. The pace was good. There are age restrictions 14years+ with adult supervision, and the show fluctuates between sitting on the floor, standing, bending through pathways, and navigating stairs and tight spaces -- something to consider for accessibility and comfort.

The Neptune Park was the best place to host CoVa Exotics, which showcased an amazing array of…read moreexotic cars from Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Honda NSX, Lotus, Maybach to McLarens! The air was filled with excitement and energy as people gathered and browsed the unique collection of exotic cars on display at the Boardwalk! To top the event off, the talented and amazing DeLoreans put on an incredible performance of 80s and 90s music that just charged the crowd and audience with enthusiasm and excitement!! Highly recommend coming out to enjoy the day!!!

This public park had an open grass field, a performing stage, and a status on the boardwalk. The…read morestatue is a popular spot for tourists to take pictures. It has plaque describing the contribution of Sidney Kellam King Neptune VI in forming the city of Virginia Beach. It just sits on a concrete extension of the broad walk, a bit underwhelming for such historical landmark. The field across the statues is open to public. People just walk around while going in and out of the beach sand. Bunch of restaurants and shops are nearby to grab food and drinks. The theater is used for scheduled special events. But while visiting the park I noticed few of random people were just sitting on the stage. It felt little sketchy but there was plenty of foot traffic since there was beach shower faucet right across the Neptune statue and the park.

Unfortunately due to a nor'easter situated of the coast most Neptune Festival events were cancelled…read moreor moved indoors to the Convention Center! However we made the best of the situation and enjoyed ourselves and will definitely return next year!

The Neptune fest is one of my favorite events that marks the end of summer for me. I love starting…read moreat one end of the boardwalk & walking to the other end. There's endless, food trucks & food vendors, booths, touch-a-truck exhibits, free handouts, & lots of people watching.

Sophia and I have lived in the Peninsula since 2011, but rarely took trips to Fort Monroe to…read moreexplore its history. Shame on us since we've been to many museums for years. But, it's better late than never. And believe me, it's one you definitely want to check out. For admission, it's free. How it works is we're given a 15 min window for entering and plus, it gives you a chance to look around in the visitor center where the galley takes you to the history of Fort Monroe and how the Civil War changed everything. If you've been to museums in Virginia, just about everything is covered regarding the slave trade and wars between the North and South and against other countries. A lot to take in, but beneficial. After we were done scoping the visitor center, we entered the museum itself. A treasure trove of information to soak in regarding Fort Monroe itself. I just turned 45 years old and I can tell you I learned a ton from this visit alone. And there still is more to gain. It's wonderful to see that the staff put their heart and soul into keeping everything in place. You can do a self guided tour like we did or you can do a group tour. Also, the museum shops have goodies for you to buy. Believe me, you should not leave empty handed when you have the chance. A wonderful visit to a place where you'll leave with knowledge. And there's more on site at Fort Monroe. We''ll be back for some more tours when time persists :)

The Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe is exceptionally well organized and free to visit. Be sure to…read moreswing by the Visitor Center to pick up a timed-entry ticket before heading across the bridge. They also offer guided walking tours throughout the day, though times vary. The fort itself is awe-inspiring- the largest bastion fort by area in the U.S., completed in 1834- and it's incredible to think it stood as a Union stronghold, designated "Freedom's Fortress," where escaping enslaved people found sanctuary during the Civil War. The massive interior arches are a testament to enduring design, and walking atop the fort offers an unforgettable connection to history.

The Francis Land house is really pretty and unique in that it's a historical house, but at one…read morepoint it served as a dress shop ( Rose's dress shop) back in the day for brides. I had no idea. Inside, they give free tours of the first floor which holds some original furniture pieces and most reproductions. Upstairs you're free to tour on your own and it's presented more in a curated museum display type format. It ranges from info on prohibition in the area, dresses that you would find in Rose's dress shop, along with pictures of some of the brides wearing their gowns. I thought it was really cool that they had info on the Tuskegee airmen, and women in the military. We came here for the rise of the automobile event which was free through vb history museums. It was held in the basement of the Francis Land House which was really neat. We were able to build and design our own balloon cars and race them. We were probably the only group of big "kids". Which is fine with me. No shame with my game. Plus the activity director said everyone is welcome. I'm sure he's familiar with my face by now, as many of the events I've attended . It was a great time!

Had such a wonderful time creating ballon cars in honor of the automobile history at the lovely…read moreFrancis Land House! Its storied grounds hosts a history steeped in America's founding from homesteading, to include the founding of the automobile, the Great Depression, World War II, down through the centuries of the 50s, 60s, 70s and the present day! After creating our ballon cars and testing them on the racetrack, we took a tour of this marvelous house with a very knowledgeable docent in period costume! She told of the history of the home and its architecture, the owners over the years, as we wandered through and explored its halls and rooms! Highly recommend taking this tour and discover its beauty and rich history! It's like taking a walk into a time capsule of each century from the 1800s down through the present!

The tour of this small but elegant historical church was really interesting. Lots of details about…read morethe building, which dates back to 1637, and the people who conceived of it and had it built. Great details about its renovation and the original organ that is still in place. Toward the end of the tour, they play a recording of it in action, really amazing considering its age. St. Luke's is a national historic landmark, now surrounded by graves dating back centuries (but there's still room if you want in!) No longer an active church, it is a great setting for learning a bit more about the colonial era and how the local church centered the community (and how the building was designed to be bolder than every other colonial church of its time.) It's located in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, near Smithfield. Unless you are a history fanatic, it's not worth a long trip to get here just for this. But with everything that the surrounding area has to offer in the way of historical buildings, local hams, a few good restaurants, and the hint of salt in the air, this tour is a good way to top off a day trip to the area.

Brenden(sp?) was a wonderful educator. Full of natural knowledge that you could tell he enjoyed…read moresharing. He was kind and soft spoken and his enthusiasm was contagious. He made the experience what it was and it was so refreshing to hear from someone with his passion for the subject. Your was partially self lead and paced which we enjoyed as we had several slower walkers. Walk way was clear and easy to navigate. We liked having the Audio options at our disposal as we went along. Peaceful and enjoyable experience. Once we entered the church Brenden helped our group inside and allowed us time to look around. He was eager to answer all of our questions and customized his talk to what we were interested in. The history here is incredible and we enjoyed learning about this piece of American history. Kudos to St. Luke's for finding Brenden our group agrees he's a gem. Gift shop was cute and offered affordable options in order to be able to take a little something with to remember your day. Affordable tour.

This museum is tiny (and I do mean tiny!) but mighty and full of historical memorabilia about Ocean…read moreView in Norfolk VA. It is staffed with volunteers who are friendly, knowledgeable, and and helpful. Lots of photos on the walls, in display cases, and on tables. A neat red and blue rowboat is a visual delight--I'm sure it has an interesting history of its own. Will go back to find out. I highly recommend this small but enlightening museum located inside the Mary Pretlow Library, which is a treasure in it own right.

I decided to stop into the Mary Pretlow library for the first time today and visited the Oceanview…read moremuseum today. It is located in a small area inside the library. Even though it is small, the museum has alot of memorabilia. It even has a cart from the roller coaster that was at the amusement park.

The family, the farm, this whole place is a treasure and I can't wait to return!…read more I am always on the hunt for new and exciting things to do with my daughter and this place was brought to my attention by a coworker. They offer several special events throughout the year, adventure camps for kids of all ages, field trip opportunities and private parties. We attended a GLOWvember evening several weeks ago which was so much fun for our preschooler. We had never been to the farm, but Google maps and signs off the road led us to the right spot. There is ample parking on this private property and it was a short walk to the rear of the home where all activities take place. We were greeted right away by Shannon, and introduced to many of the animals on the property including a rotund pig, many goats and chickens. Shannon was a saint in guiding the children and offered them opportunities to interact with and care for the animals. Our daughter was smitten and followed Shannon like a shadow. She had activities ready for the kids to interact with the environment including a ladybug hunt and nature scavenger hunt. There is play equipment that was almost as inviting for me as it was for the kids. The night also included a bonfire with s'mores, outdoor independent play stations, family-friendly music & plenty of glowsticks. What I appreciate the most is that Shannon, a former sped teacher & special needs mom, has created a place where both neurotypical and neurodiverse children can work and play together in an engaging environment. What a blessing she is to this community!

This place is AMAZING!! It is so hard to find places for kids with special needs that aren't…read moreoverwhelmed with crowds and are able to enjoy themselves, but most importantly - be themselves. This place has is all: small numbers for attendance, LOTS of sensory, LOTS of fun, and a very decent price! It's tucked away on the Virginia / NC border. They have chickens, a pig, goats, and a cute cat! They have ziplines, climbing apparatuses, bubbles, water tables, truck pit, and more! We were there for 3 hours and my boys were in tears when we had to go home! Three hours went by so fast. This is the owner's home, but parking is definitely available. They also have a bathroom to use - it's the cleanest portable potty I've seen to date. Shannon - the owner, is so kind and congenial! She helped me with my son's when I had to take one to the bathroom. She treated my boys as if they were her very own. I highly recommend this place. You will not be disappointed! This is definitely the place for special needs kids. This was the first time, since we lived in Japan, that I was able to let my kids run and have fun, and I didn't have to worry.