Being in VA Beach, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the Virginia Aquarium. The complex has marine life exhibits, aquariums, touching tanks, historical exhibits, nature trails, boat tours and more. There are 2 buildings and a nature walk in between them where you pass by an adventure/obstacle course and an aviary. The birds are mostly varieties that are found in and around the Chesapeake Bay, and are a part of the wetland ecosystem.
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The Boardwalk was the best part of our 4 day trip to Virginia Beach. The 28 foot wide boardwalk stretches three miles and features a separate bike path for rollerblading, biking or surrey rentals. Rather than traditional wooden planks, Virginia Beach’s famous boardwalk is concrete. The 59 blocks are lined with quaint benches, Colonial-style street lamps, and nice walking paths.
The Boardwalk also hosts various events and festivals at different points throughout the year, though street performers can be found entertaining passersby most every day. And similar to other Eastern Shore beach destinations, there are many restaurants, souvenir shops, and hotels along the Boardwalk. King Neptune stands tall at 31st Street and overlooks a range of events that occur in the small park surrounding him.
It was such a wonderful day this Saturday, that Dave and I quickly decided to drive to one of the nearest ski resorts. Our choice was the Massanutten ski resort located in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley in McGaheysville. It was a new place to visit for us and our drive with the Blue Ridge mountain view was very pleasant.
A couple weeks ago, Dave and I attended Pentagon Row’s Grand Re-Opening Celebration which featured live performances, large-scale ice sculptures, a show on the ice rink and more. Pentagon Row has undergone an expansive renovation effort and now has an expanded ice rink during the winter, a turf lawn during the summer, revamped outdoor dining areas, lighted water fountains and a stone fire pit.
It was the first day of snow this year in Alexandria, Virginia. Not the nice puffy stuff however, but a miserable wet mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain that makes a driving “Oh sooo much fun”. Dave and I drove in it anyway, because we had tickets to “A Christmas Carol” at the Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA). The Little Theatre of Alexandria is a charming community theater located off the tourist path in “Old Town” Alexandria. The area’s oldest, continuously operating theater performs musicals, comedies and dramas year-round with a holiday show in early December.
Category: Cultural Events, DC Surroundings, Travel, Virginia
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Recently attended Keith Urban’s concert at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. Grammy Award winner and American Idol judge Keith Urban brought his “Light The Fuse Tour 2013” with Little Big Town and special guest Dustin Lynch. It was such an enjoyable evening. The concert was absolutely wonderful. Keith and his band put on a great show. He is such a talented guitar player and a good looking guy. Here is his Fuse poster below.
The evening before Thanksgiving we spent at historical Gadsby’s Tavern in Old Town Alexandria. Gadsby’s Tavern is a historic landmark dating back to the 18th century. The tavern was frequented by George Washington Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and James Monroe. The restaurant has been restored to maintain the appearance of more than 200 years ago.
Founded as a seaport in 1749, Alexandria has always greeted visitors from near and far. Taverns, like Gadsby’s, provided travelers with much needed rest, food and drink, the latest news, a place to make business deals and to hold political discussions, and a variety of entertainment.
Every time I change trains at the King Street Metro station, I wonder what is inside of that beautiful memorial and that I need to visit it. It took a while, but Dave and I finally picked a day and scheduled a tour.
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a Masonic building and memorial dedicated to the memory of George Washington, the first President of the United States and a Mason. This magnificent structure also serves as a research center, library, community center, performing arts center and concert hall, a banquet hall and meeting site for local and visiting Masonic lodges.
The tower is fashioned after the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. The 333-foot (101 m) tall memorial sits atop Shooter’s Hill, a lofty peak in mid-Atlantic terms, at 101 Callahan Drive in Alexandria, Virginia.
Category: Architecture, DC Surroundings, Virginia
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The Safari Village is a ten acre walk-thru area and a nice addition to the Safari drive-thru. Visitors can buy some food at the gift shop and feed many animals and their babies in the patting area. They also can buy feed sticks and feed these colorful birds, as they perch on your hand. The safari village has a nice variety of animals and I posted pictures of some of them here.
This weekend, the last weekend of the Shocktober event, Dave and I visited the renowned Paxton Campus to experience a paranormal recreation of what has been deemed to be truly haunted by spirits. The event offers four chilling attractions across the property’s 17 acres: The Paxton Manor, The Haunted Well of Souls, The Funhouse and The Last Ride, each with its own frightening twist.
Category: Adventure, Entertainment, Travel, Virginia
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