BATS … at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

Learn about bats from around the world up-close and personal with Rob Mies, TV personality, conservation biologist, bat expert, director of the Organization for Bat Conservation and author on March 12 and 13.

Encounter a Big Brown bat from North America and hear its high-pitched echolocation with a “bat detector,” meet fruit bats from Africa and Asia and finally, come face-to-face with the largest bat in the world, the Gigantic Flying Fox Bat from Malaysia with a wingspan of nearly 6-feet!

Shows at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Also enjoy bat-related games and crafts. Included in Museum admission.

524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23601

A St. Patrick’s Day Parade Paddy Pack is gathering in Norfolk, Virginia!  If you have one of the Irish dog breeds, OR your dog has an Irish theme, we are forming the Paddy Pack for the St. Paddy’s Day Parade in Norfolk (Oceanview area) on March 12. We will be marching as part of the Tidewater Irish American Society.  Please contact Heather Burns at h.burns@charter.net if you are interested in joining us.  The more the merrier!

Pictured is Cavan, a 2 year old male Irish Wolfhound rescued and adopted from the Virginia Beach SPCA in July.  He was found emaciated and running the streets of Virginia Beach and is named after a county in Ireland …Cavan.

New York is but a short drive for Hampton Roads residents.  And if there is any way you can get there for the Holiday season, it’s a magical delight.  The department store windows are always fantastic and this year they are out of this world.  Our good friend, Thomas Cathey, a designer in NY, has shared his wonderful photos of the windows from Bergdorf Goodman’s.

Get it in Gear

50 hours to create this Paper Sculpture!

Leo

Capricorn

We have  posted a few of the window photos for you to see here, but be sure to check out the rest of Tom’s fantastic holiday photos on his blog, Toms Eye View.

Once through the military check point visitors will enter a small gift shop and pay the admission fee to enter the light house.

The fee is $5 for 13 and up and $3 for kids under 12.  There are also group rates available.  Children under 42 inches are not permitted in the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is open from 10am until 4pm November 1 through March 15 and from March 16 until October 31 it is open 10am until 5pm except Nov 24, Dec 24, 25, 30, 31.

Location: 583 Atlantic Avenue

Fort Story, Virginia  23459

Visit Cape Henry Lighthouse Website

If you are looking for a local day trip with your family, plan on spending 30 minutes to an hour visiting Fort Story and then drive several miles to First Landing State Park (beach side) and spend the day at the beach.  This area of the beach is unlike most of Virginia today as it has preserved dunes, and scenic lookouts.

There is a fee to enter the park for the day (approx $5 per car).  The beach access has bathrooms and showers.

First Landing State Park was previously Seashore State Park. Click here to visit First Landing State Park Website.

With the beautiful fall weather now at hand, many families are looking for fun things to do on the weekends.  Here in Hampton Roads there is always something to do but be sure to check out the fun Chesapeake corn maze and the pumpkin patches like the one featured here in Toano.

We also wanted to let everyone know about the fantastic Corn Maze that is only about 3 hours drive from Hampton Roads area.  It’s called Cows n Corn, and it is located around Warrenton, virginia.  There is a working farm and they also have farm tours.  But take a look at their maze … you might have to plan to be there an entire day just to get out!!

Chesapeake – Through Oct 30 – Corn Maze at Bergey’s Breadbasket – This exciting 5-acre maze is a fun and educational activity for the whole family. fun includes hay rides and games, as well as their own family-run bakery featuring delicious fall treats.

2207 Mount Pleasant Road
Chesapeake,VA 23322

Toano – Pumpkinville - Your family can pick their own pumpkins from our patch, or choose from our large selection in the yard. There are lots of free activities: the hayride runs the perimeter of the field, try the corn maze, or toss bean bags and rings! We have a large selection of pumpkins, gourds, winter squash, flowers, wooden cut-outs, arts and crafts and fall decorations. Bundles of cornstalks and bales of straw also available for purchase.

7691 Richmond Road
Toano,VA 23168

The 22nd annual Hampton Roads’ Childrens festival is filled with more than 100 creative and interactive activities, storytelling, hands-on workshops and educational displays, cultural experiences, arts and crafts, costumed characters and more!   This event is specifically for children 10 and younger and their families.

Sponsored by At&T, if you show your AT&T Wireless phone you can receive one free ticket per AT&T wireless phone owner. (Good for one guest, one entry per day and cannot be combined with any other offer).

Saturday, October 2, 2010; 10 am – 3 pm
Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk, Virginia
Admission: $3 per person, infants are free

Sesame Street Live at the Ted Constant Convocation Center October 8 – 10, 2010 in Norfolk.

When Super Grover loses his superness, Sesame Street needs a hero! Never fear, Elmo and his team of Healthy Heroes are here. Teaching lessons of healthy habits through song and dance, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and your favorite Sesame Street friends will explore exercise, nutrition, sleep/energy and hygiene – all in a quest to put the “super” back in Super Grover. It’s Elmo’s Healthy Heroes to the rescue!

Show Schedule:

Friday, October 8 – 10:30 am* & 7:00 pm**
Saturday, October 9 – 10:30 am & 2:00 pm
Sunday, October 10 – 1:00 pm & 4:30 pm

*School Show. All seats $11 for school/daycare groups of 10 or more
**Opening Night. All seats $12 (excluding Gold Circle & Sunny Seats)

for Tickets or additional info:  Ted Constant Convocation Center

4320 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk VA, 23529
(757) 683-4444

The 7th Annual Duck Tape Regatta will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at Willoughby Harbor Marina, 1525 Bayville St., Norfolk. The cost is $65 per team. Visit www.ducktaperegatta.com or call 489-0890 for more info.

Hampton Roads contestants are given a kit which includes a piece of plywood, two 2x4s and duct tape to make their seaworthy craft.  Lot of fun and laughs guaranteed for this fun family event to benefit Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD).

Check out the upcoming Snake Program and other fun programs at Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve , located in Portsmouth.   Snake Program – August 28th from 1 to 3 pm.

Learn about these slithering reptiles during this presentation by JB’s Rattles.  Children will enjoy a take home craft. $5/person, FREE/member

Click here for info on other happenings at the creek.

Hampton Roads kids have a great opportunity for learning to surf, get some exercise  and sun & fun all at once.  Surf & Adventure offers surf lessons and 2-3 day surf camps at both Sandbridge and Virginia Beach.  Lessons are still available going into the month of August.

Kids 8 and up can sign up and all surfboards are provided.  My own son started lessons at about this age and he has surfed continuously for 30 years now … a great form of exercise for any age!

• Ages 8 & up, no experience necessary.
  
• Surfboards provided.
• Lessons available 7 days a week by appointment.
  
• (800) 695-4212