I recently had the opportunity to spend a wonderful week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We stayed in Salvo, a laid-back area of the Outer Banks, and it was just charming.  Since it is before the summer season really starts, we had the beaches to ourselves and it was like having a private island.

One of our favorite restaurants, which was located in Avon, was the Froggy Dog.  It’s a casual place with a separate bar area and also a nice deck.  Our food was delicious.  The first stop we had steamed shrimp and the most delicious french fries we have ever tasted.  It is located on the main drag so you can’t miss it.  If you get down to OBX, we recommend the Froggy Dog.

We also took a trip, by ferry, to Ocracoke Island for the day.  It was a beautiful ferry ride, which is free, and the ferries run about every half hour.  We weren’t sure where to eat lunch but then we came across the Flying Melon.  I had a delicious Curried Chicken salad and my husband had a tasty Spinach salad.  It is a place we would definitely go back to and highly recommend.  The island itself was quite charming and most people were walking throughout the restaurant and shop district.

The upstairs is now available for overflow seating, instead of the gift shop, and all the art in the restaurant is for sale.

So whether you are looking for a great meal for lunch or dinner in a restaurant with charm, warmth and good food or you want to go for tea, go back and try The Painted Lady.  I have talked to several friends who plan to take their daughters there for tea, just as their mothers did with them so many years ago.

Get the word out to let locals know the Painted Lady is back and better than ever!

The Painted Lady is located at:

112 East 17th Street Norfolk, VA 23517-2302

Phone: (757) 622-5239
Open Mon 11am-4pm; Tue-Sun 11am-9pm (call to check hours)

The Painted Lady Reviews, Other Photos and Maps

Photos:

Surfers Healing is a National Non-Profit that seeks to enrich the lives of children with autism and the lives of their families by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing.

Surfers Healing comes to Virginia Beach to offer our local families with a child with autism the opportunity to surf.  I went out to the Surfers Healing Day Camp last year and it was amazing.  Very caring, passionate, and experienced surfers go out with a child (2 to 3 surfers per child) and let them have several opportunities to ride the surf in either laying on the long board or standing up (older kids).

Come Support a great cause, local families who benefit from this day camp and a local establishment in Virginia Beach.

Come Support Surfers Healing

Tuesday November 17

at Gordon Biersch at 6-9pm.

Gordon Biersch is located in Town Center (across from Pembroke Mall) in Virginia Beach.

Come join the local VB Surfers Healing Team and local supporters.

]]> http://www.hamptonroadsparents.com/2009/11/06/toast-to-surfers-healing-raise-money-by-raising-your-glass/feed/ 0 http://www.hamptonroadsparents.com/2009/11/06/cupcakes-are-all-the-rage-at-just-cupcakes-in-hilltop/ http://www.hamptonroadsparents.com/2009/11/06/cupcakes-are-all-the-rage-at-just-cupcakes-in-hilltop/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:47:17 +0000 hrparent http://parents.hamptonroadsparents.com/?p=106

Cupcake shops have been opening across the nation over the past 3 years and we are fortuante enough to have a Cupcakery that is open in Hilltop (near Taste Unlimited) that makes fresh, melt-in-your-mouth mini cakes. Just Cupcakes have lots of great flavors every day in the regular cupcakes.  To buy a large quantity or to ensure they are available for a party order regular or minit cupcakes ahead of time.

The flavors change daily so check their website for the day’s flavors.

Why not treat yourself to a sweet treat or treat someone special.  I know the cupcakes I make don’t look like this or taste like these-so go venture into our very own Cupcakery right in Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach.

425-1010

616 Hilltop West • Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451

check out their website at: www.justcupcakes.net

Mt. Trashmore is the perfect park to get away from our daily schedule and the business of life and spend a few hours with our kids or grandkids.  The park is big enough you can find your own corner to enjoy the outdoors without sitting right next to someone else trying to do the same.  It is a perfect local family outing located in the heart of Virginia Beach and is a quick drive from most of Chesapeake and Norfolk.

Mt. Trashmore has a lake with a walking/running path, a large playground, several small play areas, bathrooms, a skate park and 2 man made mountains to climb up and explore.  The main mountain is 60 feet high and 800 feet long.  The entire park is a 165 acres.

There are picnic tables and covered picnic areas you can use to have a picnic or cookout.  The park is perfect for both young kids and teenagers because of the many activities families can do together.

Amenities:

• • • • • Four Large Picnic Shelters
        • Five Small Picnic Shelters
        • Three Volleyball Courts
        • Horseshoe Pits
        • Playgrounds
        • Skate Park
        • Walking Trail (Approx. 1.45 miles)
        • Vending Machines
        • Public Restrooms (open limited hours)
        • Concessions (open limited hours)

If there is enough wind Mt. Trashmore is the perfect spot to fly a kite and you will see many kites flying through the sky above Mt. Trashmore when the wind conditions are right.

For more information about Mount Trashmore Park check the City’s website here.

Or to check other city parks and natural outdoor spaces in Virginia Beach click here.