One of our kids’ favorite places in Richmond, is the Science Museum of Virginia. We haven’t been back however since our youngest son was born so it’s been a couple of years. Since then, we were pleased to learn that the museum had completed some projects to improve the experience. A new parking deck was finished in 2021 and makes museum access much easier and safer. The old parking lot was turned into a green area with a new art display. The kids were a big fan of this.
The museum offers a plethora of hands on and interactive experiences for everyone. From a race track where you time yourself against t-rex, Usain bolt and a cheetah, to playing air hockey against a robot. There’s plenty to keep yourself engaged. For children 5 and under there is a kids zone, with fun activities and climbing area.
See live animals like this Bearded Dragon in the animal laboratory.A model SR 71 blackbird hands from the ceiling at the Science Museum of Virginia. Richmond, Virginia.A kids play area for children under 5, provides ample activities to keep the young minds wondering.
I love museums because they always inspire me to think differently. It make me question “how?” when it comes to the functioning of the world around us. As I watch my kids interact with each exhibit, I know their fears are turning and I can see the wonder in their eyes. They always leave the museum a little bit wiser and with new eyes to experiment in this fascinating world around us.
As our two oldest children, (ages 5 and 3) have gotten older, their fascination with the outside world has only blossomed. They are in awe at the size of trees, they dig and search for rocks and gemstones, they wonder about the dinosaurs and the search for animals of all types. They love all of it. They learned about the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC through their children’s books and have been itching to go. What would be cooler than visiting the world’s largest museum, education and research complex?
the anticipation….this place is as cool as it gets
So on a Friday night before Memorial Day weekend, we set off for our Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C. We arrived in the heart of the city just blocks away from the National Mall. After a good night’s sleep, we awoke to 2 giddy children eager to walk over to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The kids marveled at pretty much everything. From the stunning rock and gem collections to the towering full scale dinosaur skeletons, it was everything they had hoped for and more.
gemsAllosaurus, an all time favorite.Camarasarus
We ventured through an area I haven’t visited, the Smithsonian gardens. In a busy city, this section was a nice escape from the crowds as we enjoyed the vast array of plants, flowers and trees. Our meandering took us through the gardens and into the National Museum of American Art, where we were once again just amazed by the beautiful collections, and the history behind each piece.
taking a breather at the national mall lawn
We spent our next couple days, exploring the national mall, the national monument, the Lincoln memorial. The wonderful part of it all was the fact that we just walked and took the very easy to access Metro subway.
The metro was a great way to get aroundThe National Mall area has an impressive collection of old trees. Lots of old oak and American elm. Lincoln Memorial in the distance. The walkway was lined with very old elm trees.
It had been decades since I’ve been to the Smithsonian Museums, National Mall and all of the memorials, and I feel like I was just as amazed as I was as a child. I think visiting this area can be described as both powerful and uplifting. This is a beautiful country – the combination of memorials, monuments, bustling federal buildings and museums really paint a landscape of history, present and future. Our monuments and memorials celebrate the thousands of lives lost to give us our freedom. A strong reminder that freedom is very fragile. The museums demonstrate what we are able to discover and learn under the blanket of that freedom. This knowledge will hopefully help us to provide a better future, and the very active federal buildings show the day to day work which keeps the country running. Washington D.C. is a remarkable place for all ages.
WAY NORTH 