THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 16, 1996 TAG: 9601160022
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Mom, I'm Bored
SOURCE: Sherrie Boyer
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
WE'RE MOVING west next week, but before I rattle off one last list of favorites around town, let me say how much I've enjoyed doing this column, and how grateful the children and I were to have readers.
Those constant deadlines were a great incentive to break out of the ordinary and try something new. And to all of you who recognized us and stopped to talk at playgrounds and other places, thanks. Your rehash of how a craft had worked (or failed) for your family, criticisms and enthusiasms bouyed me along and gave insight on how the column could change to become more useful.
On that note, if you think this column or something like it is useful, let The Virginian-Pilot know. Write the editor, tap out an E-mail, or call the newsroom (how-tos are on Page 2).
Here are a few of our favorite things, in no special order:
The beehive at the Virginia Living Museum: A huge, buzzing bevy of bees working hard, and a button you push to activate the microphone inside the hive. Open daily. Exit 258A from I-64 in Newport News. Call 595-1900.
The octopus class and big boats at The Mariner's Museum: A terrific class Allio and best buddy Kendall took last summer and are still talking about, plus an endless array of boats to drive the boat lover in your family wild. Open daily. Exit 258-A from I-64 in Newport News. Call 596-2222.
The circus train in the Lancaster Train and Old Toy Museum at Mike's Trainland: An old engine with growling tigers on board that swings past dusty carousels and big trucks. Sam's favorite place to go. Shoulder Hill Road, Suffolk. Call 484-4224.
The newborn calves at Bergey's Dairy Barn: Just little things, only 85-pounds or so, with long, slimy tongues with which they'll eat your clothes if no bottle is handy. But go at feeding time. There's nothing like holding a half-gallon jug with a nipple to a calf that is trying to eat it whole. Next to blueberry-picking, my favorite outing. Open Monday-Saturday. Free. 2221 Mount
Pleasant Road in Chesapeake. Call 482-4711.
The blueberry bushes at Pungo Blueberries late in the summer: Towering bushes so blue it's hard to see the leaves. Teaching the children to tickle the berries loose is my favorite thing to do, other than eating the berries. Muddy Creek Road in Virginia Beach: 721-7434.
The tigers at the Virginia Zoological Park: But we love the pig, too. Only maybe she's a hippo - they seem about the same size.
The branches of live oak and pine at Seashore State Park: Where a great walk is a great walk. 2500 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. Call 481-4836.
The corn at Munden's Farm and the crabs at Seashore State Park: A movie-script field of blue sky and towering corn stalks heavy with ripe ears. Then grab a crabbing net and head to Seashore to scoop up some blues. Talk about dinner! This is Allio's favorite thing to do. Munden's is past Pungo at 1377 Princess Anne Road. Call 426-2747. Call Seashore at 481-2131.
The dappled gray ponies on the Hampton Carousel: All beset with flowing wooden manes and prancing hooves to give your child a dream ride on this vintage merry-go-round. The love of Maddie's life. Daily, April through December. Exit 267 from I-64 in Hampton. Call 727-1102.
The mountain lions at Bluebird Gap Farm: Pacing in the cage surrounding by a maddening menu of dinner entrees - the noisiest flocks of geese and ducks around. Open Wednesday to Sunday. Exit 263A from I-64 in Hampton. Call 727-6739.
The osprey nest and breeze by the Currituck Sound Ferry: Midway across the sound, you catch the gentle breeze and soft spray of the sound and on the last beacon you'll spy a big osprey nest with babies inside. I suppose they're grown now, but maybe the nest will be used again. A lovely 40-minute ride from North Carolina to Knotts Island. The ferry is year-round and free. Call 800-293-3779 for departure times. To reach Martin's, call 429-3564.
The swells at Little Island Park: One of our favorite beach sites, a great big stretch of sand with a pier at one end, plenty of parking, and no hotels to blot out the afternoon sun. In Sandbridge, on Sandpiper Road. Parking fee. Call 426-7200.
The bugs in glass at The Chrysler Museum of Art: So it's not Faberge, but this glass exhibit is fabulous, a great way to do the critter hunt in a warm place on a chilly day. Open Tuesday-Sunday. Free, with donation box. 245 Olney Road, Norfolk. Call 664-6200.
The rock wall and the dancing rainbow room at The Children's Museum of Virginia: Two of our favorite spots. One requires great control of movement and the other just great freedom of movement. Open daily. On High Street in Portsmouth. Call 393-8393.
The Pokey Smokey at Portsmouth's City Park: a gem of a train ride around a small lake and past some great playgrounds. Weekends (daily in summer), April to November. Call 393-5162.
The limeades at Doumar's: All right, so the children like the handmade, waffle cones better, but there's nothing like a limeade to get life in perspective on a fiery hot day. Open Monday through Saturday. Monticello Avenue in Norfolk.
There's more, but how to list everything we'll miss? by CNB