Coleman Collection: Portsmouth Cultural Museum

#ad Nostalgia hits hard this time of year, and no place makes me think of being a kid in Hampton Roads like thinking of the Winter Wonderland Coleman Collection at the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center. As a kid, I remember both my grandparents taking me on several field trips across the tunnel to see the collection. The display began in 1965 after the owners, Junie and Millie Lancaster, were inspired by the animatronics in Disney's Small World at the New York World's State Fair. It started as a way to bring people into the Coleman Nursery during the winter months. In the 1980s the nursery suffered a horrible fire damaging parts of the collection, but the community rallied and raised donations of money and decorations to help bring it back. It ultimately closed in 2003 and the collection was bought by the City of Portsmouth Museums, where it has been on display every winter at the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center since 2004. 

The display takes about six weeks to set up, featuring some of the original animatronics, Christmas decorations, beautifully adorned trees, sparkling lights, enchanting winter scenes, holiday music, and more. Keep an eye out for modern-day surprises hidden throughout (think Minions, How to Train Your Dragon, and other fun touches)! Each year brings new holiday scenes, and the staff creates a special scavenger hunt, which is always our favorite part.

One thing I love about Olde Towne Portsmouth is how easy it is to get there and to find ample free parking. The Winter Wonderland collection is on display now until December 28th, Thursdays 10-4, Fridays 12-8, Saturdays 12-8, and Sundays 10-4. Admission is $3.00 per person, children under 2 are free. Santa is on site Fridays from 5-8, Saturdays 3-8, Sundays 12-4 through December 21st. There are special programs every weekend including face painting, musical performances, art activities, and much more. The Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center is located at 400 High Street.

Just Birdies

New in Norfolk, Just Birdies is located in Lambert's Point and is perfect for a hot or rainy day. Book a bay for up to six people to play simulator sports and carnival games. Games include golf, zombie dodgeball, balloon pop, jewel match, bottle breaking, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, cricket, bocce, and rugby. Many of the sports have several different games included. What we loved about it is that it isn't just playing video games where you're sitting still. In these bays, you'll be aiming at a screen but using real balls and physically working to play. It gets kids up and moving to burn off energy. The bays are $40 an hour. 

They do book parties, and they have a weekly golf league. Check their events page for their live music schedule. They offer a summer play pass, good from now until August 31 with daily play for 2 hours on Monday-Friday from 11-5,  and Saturday and Sunday from 10-2. The pass works for a group of up to six and you'll also get 10 percent off of food and nonalcoholic drinks. I'm already planning our next trip! 

Bogey's 757

Located in the Chelsea district of Norfolk, Bogey's offers 18 courses to putt, plus a practice green outside. What really sets Bogey's apart is the level of interaction on their holes. You'll be playing games like foosball against the other people in your group, zipping on  zipline, bouncing your ball for pong, or spinning giant propellers while you putt. My favorite part was that the holes were all handmade by the owner, and they are locally themed. You can truly tell that a lot of love went into this place. 

Bogey's is open Wednesday through Friday from 3-9 and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-9.  Head to Bogey's, then stop next door at Smartmouth and grab dinner from a food drink plus drinks while the kids play one of their many games. It's a perfect afternoon/evening combo. 

General admission for the putt putt and outdoor putting green is $14 for adults and $12 for kids under ten. You can add an additional round for $8. On site they have a golf simulator for $30-$50 per hour. They also do birthday parties where you can rent a private room. 

TREX Playland

We finally made it out to TREX Playland, Norfolk's newest indoor play area.  The Playland is made up of a huge multi-level indoor jungle gym and activity center, five inflatables, an arcade, a concession stand, and an area just for toddlers. The center is locally owned and opperated and is located on Military Highway in Norfolk across from Military Circle Mall. 

Grippy socks are required, but you can bring your own or purchase a pair for $3.00. We loved that you could bring your own and not have to purchase ones specific for this venue. They are open Tuesday through Thursday from 2-7, Fridays from 2-8, Saturdays from 10-8, and Sundays from 11-7. Admission price is based on height. Guests under 36 inches are $13.20 for the toddler area, and guests 36 inches to 5 feet are $22.00 to play everywhere else. There is no charge for adults. Reentry is allowed. There are also monthly membership packages. 

The concession stand offers prepackaged snacks as well as pizza. The place felt clean, organized, and appropriately staffed. We look forward to returning. 

Norfolk Admirals

Last weekend we headed down to Scope to see the Norfolk Admirals play. We hadn't been since my oldest was very small, and the youngest had never been, so it was a perfect time to see them play. This season the team is doing really well, and I was excited to see that they had a great crowd. 

Some things I learned about discounts on tickets: 

• Teachers, first responders, military, and college students receive $5 off tickets. 
• Season tickets go on sale in February, and offer a 30% discount per ticket. Their unused ticket policy is similar to the Tides, where you can trade in any unused tickets for current games. 
  
• Groups of ten or more can save using their group ticket sales 
• Flex Vouchers offer savings when you purchase six or more vouchers which can be traded in for tickets. 

Also, a note that Sunday and Wednesday nights have a happy hour special which offers discounts on drinks and food. 

The boys enjoyed the game and are already asking to return! 

Glass Light Art Gallery

Stop by the Glass Art Gallery inside the Glasslight Hotel in downtown Norfolk next time you're in the area. The museum is completely free, and it's open daily from 8-8. With over 65 pieces and rotating exhibits, it's worth it to pop in for a visit a few times a year. We spent about 40 minutes inside the museum and the boys enjoyed it.

The museum is located inside of the Glasslight Hotel on Granby Street. It is walking distance to MacArthur Center, Slover Library, and Nauticus. There is lots of paid parking available on the street or in any of the downtown garages. 

The Slime Lab

Located inside Lynnhaven Mall near J.C. Penney, the Slime Lab provides a place for kids to create slime that keeps parents' kitchen tables free of mess. Inside the lab you'll get lab coats to keep your clothes clean and choose one of five types of slime to create. Once you make your slime, you'll have the choice of adding glitter, foam beads, charms, and even a scent. 

We were in the lab for about an hour and a half to create four different types of slime, but others came in and made theirs in about 45 minutes. Packages begin at $12.95 per person. Three and up is the preferred age for children to play with slime. 

The Slime Lab offers birthday parties, private events, and field trips. 

 

Superheroes Ice Cream

Sometimes a four year old's love of ice cream turns into a family business. When four year old Brantley decided that his family should open up a superhero themed shop, his family got on board. Now, right outside of Lynnhaven Mall, ice cream and super hero enthusiasts can visit the store and try flavors like The Hulk's Underwear (milk chocolate chip with double stuff milk Oreos), Donkey Kong's Breakfast (Vanilla Ice Cream with banana pudding and fudge), along with classic favorites. 

After you grab your ice cream, stay and play the seven free video games on site. Superheroes has a monthly membership that allows members to get a free scoop with each visit and free use of their party room, which can accommodate 12 people at a time. 

Free Art Museums In Hampton Roads

I actually love taking my kids to art museums. We always plan to visit the museums in small doses, doing only one or two galleries. Sometimes I make a little scavenger hunt list for us to do, and sometimes we just talk about how some of the pieces relate to things they are learning about in school. One thing that I always do is to set expectations before we enter the museum. We talk about noise levels, running, and never touching the art. 

One reason we love these museums is because they are a great free thing to do on a rainy or super hot day. Here are six free museums in Hampton Roads: 

01. Chrysler Museum of Art: We love the Chrysler not only because they have so many galleries, many of which  correlate to topics from school, but also because they have an ever changing exhibit just for kids called The Wonder Studio.  It's engaging for kids as they can make their own art and move their bodies. For younger kids, check out their free monthly program, Tickle My Ears, with a story time and art activity. 

02. MOCA: Keep MOCA on your radar not just for their always free art museum, but also because they do monthly family days with activities geared towards children. 

03. Barry Art Museum: Located on ODU's campus, the Barry Art Museum has a large collection of antique dolls which might interest kids. We like to visit here and then walk over to get cookies and Insomnia Cookies as a treat. 

04. Hampton University Museum: Composed of the first collection of African American fine art, this museum is a great place to form conversations around equality and standing up for what is right. There is also a room dedicated to Native American art. 

05. The Hermitage Museum: We love the outdoor space of The Hermitage, but the gardens surround the home, which is a free art museum with both permanent and rotating exhibits. We always visit in December for their Gingerbread Competition. 

06. Torggler Fine Arts Center: Celebrating their second year, the Torggler Fine Arts Center is a relatively new museum that is on our list to visit this summer. Be sure to follow their social media for updates, as they do have family fun days and other free events! 

The Town Square Play Cafe

Located in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake, the Town Square Play Cafe is a new indoor play area for ages 0-6. A family owned business, the indoor play space has gross motor play such as slides, swings, and lots to climb on. For fine motor, kids can play with gears on the walls, magnatiles, scarves, and more. Kids can also engage in imaginative play in the vet area, grocery store, farm, sand box, ice cream shop, doll houses, and more. Our favorite part was the interactive projection sandbox, which adjusts the scene as you dig. There is also a gated baby area. 

Day passes for ages 1 and older are $15, with a sibling add on of $8. Children under one are $8. Ten packs of play passes offer a discount at $120. After school play specials are $8. There is also a membership option. The cafe is open 9:00-4:00 Monday through Friday, and 8:00-10:30 Saturday and Sunday. Birthday parties take place on the weekend after general play. It is recommended that you book in advance, as there is a limit on capacity. 

Half day summer camp options are available for potty trained children ages 2.5 to 6, with options for 2 days a week in the morning, to 3 afternoons, and between. Themed weeks include Superheroes, Space, Fun on the Farm, and Water World. 

Firefly: Charlottesville

 On our latest trip to Snowshoe, as always when we take our boys, we had to stop for a break half way home.  My husband found this awesome restaurant in Charlottesville and it was the perfect stop for us. Firefly advertises as a family-friendly restaurant and game room. One great thing - you can see the games from your table, so you never have to take your eyes off the kids, but you can take a break while you sit and eat for a few. There is an awesome menu with typical bar food as well as tons of vegan options. I ordered the jackfruit wonton nachos, labeled as an appetizer, but a huge amount of food that I couldn't finish in one sitting. The boys got the vegan bites (nuggets) on the kids menu. My husband got a regular burger, and everyone enjoyed their food. 

They are open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Friday and brunch or dinner on Saturdays. There is trivia on Tuesday, Bingo on Wednesdays, and Karaoke on Thursdays. There are pinball machines, arcade games, and skeeball for purchase as well as a wide variety of board games that you can play for free at your table. The paid games take quarters or dollars, and there is an ATM on site. There is free parking in a small lot up front and an additional lot in the back. If you're looking for an easy stop on your way out of town through Charlottesville, check them out! 

Apelu Island Cafe

We stopped by Apelu Island Cafe on a whim after the St. Paddy's Day parade in Norfolk last weekend and after passing it a few times and waiting for it to open. We were greeted right away, and we ordered while the kids went over to check out their play area. Small and tucked in where it won't bother anyone, it is a small play area with just enough items to hold the attention of their younger guests. There are some card and table games also for all to enjoy. 

The cafe is owned by four Samoan sisters and offers Polynesian specialties. All of the employees had huge smiles and spoke to everyone around us. The customers were friendly and people held easy conversations. There are both communal seating options as well as independent tables. 

It's a great spot to stop in for a coffee with friends while you play a game, or to get a some work done while your kid plays for a little while. The shop is open seven days a week with hours ranging from 7-5, and is located on East Little Creek Road in the shopping center with Walmart Supercenter. Businesses that welcome in families are my absolute favorite kind to support!  

The Play Spot

I'm excited to say that there is a new play area in Hampton Roads. Open in November, The Play Spot is located in Chesapeake in the Grassfield area. The owners are the same family who own Higher Vision Studios in Virginia Beach, which has been around since 1999. After their son was diagnosed with and beat eye cancer, their family knew that creating memories together was priceless. 

The goal with The Play Spot is for families to play together, rather than parents sitting and watching kids play. Family play sessions are sold in two hour ticketed intervals. Everyone over the age of one must have their own ticket. 

Ninja Warrior Classes are also offered during the week. These classes include 45 minutes of Ninja Warrior Training followed by 30 minutes of Open Play Time for each parent and child. Classes use obstacle courses, martial arts, and gymnastics to improve agility, coordination, balance, strength, and flexibility. Classes are for ages 3-5 or 5-10. Birthday parties are available, and summer camp information will be out soon. 

EVO

We ventured over to Peninsula Town Center in Hampton last weekend and checked out EVO for the first time. EVO Entertainment has a movie theater, arcade, and bowling alley. We didn't check out any movies, but we did eat, play games, and bowl. 

The bowling is rented by the half hour or hour, rather than the typical rental by games style. The clock counts down on the screen which is great for young kids who have trouble transitioning and need a little bit of a reminder. 

We grabbed arcade cards to play games. You can purchase the cards based on time, which don't allow you to play the claw machine type games, or you can purchase a card based on points which allow you to play all games. We opted for the hour style card which was the perfect amount of time. On Wednesdays they offer half priced games. 

*We were given free passes to visit EVO but all opinions are my own. 

Mission: Laser 757

 Opening this weekend, Mission Laser is the new hangout for kids in Hampton Roads. While you wait to play, there are arcade games and the crew will entertain the kids. Then you'll head into the first zone where you'll be briefed on your mission and how to use the laser guns. You'll then load into your vests and get ready to play. They do offer lightweight vests for littles that don't have the sensors on them. They can still carry a gun to play with. The game lasts about 20 minutes. Inside you can aim for the other players or targets around the room. There are several surprises around the arena, including a Legends of the Hidden Temple type head, whose eyes glow when the target is shot. 

Birthday party options are available. They include two games of laser tag and time in the party room. They even offer school fundraising nights as well as field trips. 

The building was clean, the staff was friendly, and we had a blast. This weekend they have an introductory sale of only $6 per game.