Great day trips from DC: Spotting wildlife along Skyline Drive

On Friday morning we decided we would spend the weekend as an "adventure" and just kind of see where the days would lead us. We left mid-morning on Friday and headed to Orange, Virginia to visit Montpelier, but then on a whim decided to continue along I-66 west (and decided we'd go to Montpelier on Saturday instead). What we ended up doing was stopping at Aldi in Front Royal to pick up some things for lunch and then drove to the entrance of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

Couldn't have picked a better day! We started off at mile marker one, stopping at many overlooks and other spaces along the way. Before we even got to the entrance, we spotted a turtle around the bend. It was trying to cross the road, so we waited to warn other motorists until it made its way safely. 

This was one fast-moving turtle! It only took a couple of minutes to cross to safety

As soon as we entered the actual park we spotted many different birds, all of them, big and small, were too quick for me to catch a photo. I did spot one large bird that I managed to snag a pic, but I couldn't say what type it is (if anyone knows, please do let me know in the comments, thank you!)

Not the clearest photo as this bird was moving along quickly at a distance, but it was fascinating to watch

What amazed us was the number of butterflies fluttering about; we literally saw dozens in any given spot, even during the times we didn't stop the car. They, along with bees, beetles and other small flying critters, were sharing the abundant wildflower space throughout the ride along the mountain road. We stopped often to take photos of them.

Butterfly duo spotted 

Speaking of wildflowers, it seems July is a pretty stellar month for views. I've only made this trip during the fall, so now I'm intrigued to see what spring would have in store.

We saw purples, pinks, whites, orange, yellow and many other shades during our ride along the mountain road.

I even spotted a black bear! Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic. This is the spot where I saw him.

Where I saw the bear was off in the distance to the right. We were in a parking lot at the time. I opened my door so I could get the pic without the tree in the way, but the bear must of heard the click. He quickly took off.

When we reached Big Meadows (mile marker 51), we were happily surprised. We had been trying to spot a monarch butterfly all day with no luck, but we were rewarded at this stop. She was pretty elusive, but after about 15 minutes she stopped and sat on the pathway for a good five minutes. Our patience paid off. As a bonus, some other butterflies joined her.

I think the next time I write about things to do with the kids on hot summer days, I think I'm going to include some outdoor things too. While it was 87ish degrees at home, according to what my phone said, we enjoyed temperatures in the 73 to 75 degree range all day. We spent hours in the park and drove as far as Swift Run Gap (this around mile marker 62) and exited at Route 33 to take the highway home.

All in all, this was a fabulous day trip.  Fall foliage here is spectacular, but the summer is pretty stunning too.

[ Related Reading: 10 Fun Facts About Skyline Drive ]

Summer of Sunflowers coming soon to Burnside Farms

July has been a busy month for me for various reasons, including a week out of town. When I arrived home yesterday I realized the end of July was near, and that means it's usually time for the "Summer of Sunflowers" at Burnside Farms in Haymarket. 

This photo was taken at the old field before Burnside moved its summer display to a new and larger field

This morning I looked up their schedule to see when the sunflower festival would open and it looks like we still have some time. A message on the farm's website says:

**The 2016 sunflower season is running a few weeks behind schedule due to the rainy spring we had. We expect to open late July/early August this year.**

According to the farm's Facebook page, they will open once 20 percent of the fields are in bloom. Prices for the 2016 season have been set. Admission will be $6 per person (children under 2 are free). This includes access to the fields, picnic areas, a giant Jump Pad, corn hole games, photo ops, bubble stations and a kids' play area. There will also be a hayride offered this year. 

Taken at the new field last year

Also, as customary, the farm will offer an annual pass. This year's cost will be $10 and is good for multiple visits. Burnside anticipates mid-August being the best time to visit if only coming once.

One of the highlights of the festival is the ability to pick your own flowers. Prices for this year have been set at sunflowers $1.50 a stem, gladiolus $1 a stem and cosmos at $.50 a stem. 

If you are looking for family photos, like to take photos of nature, this festival is a great opportunity for both. 

There are lots of different bees, butterflies and other lovely critters flittering and buzzing around the sunflowers

Burnside has a few different fields, the summer flowers are located at 2617 Logmill Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169.

Sully Historic Site hosts Civil War Encampment Weekend

Sully Historic Site offers many events throughout the year that brings the past to the present for visitors to learn more about specific eras in history. Every August Sully hosts its Civil War Encampment Weekend. The public is invited to come watch and interact with living history participants as they go through their day during these war-torn years of the 19^th century.

Visitors who attend will see firsthand how people lived, worked and/or served in one of the armies during this era. Living history participants will "skirmish" and you'll see infantry, artillery and cavalry as it existed in the 1860s. 

You can also view and/or ask questions to learn more about this pivotal time in American history. See what encampments looked like and also experience live music and fashion of that era. 

The Civil War Weekend is one of a series of historic weekends and events the county-owned facility runs. These are all family-friendly events. 

As customary with any of Sully Historic Site's events, a house tour of the 1794 house is also included in the price of admission. For the Civil War Weekend event, prices are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and children. Sully Historic Site's address is 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, Va.

Photos were taken in 2008 -we had a great day out.

Update: This event has been canceled for 2017.

Photos on Friday: Views from the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center's observation tower

The Smithsonian is a well-known institution that has grown to 19 museums. One of its newer additions is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center which is a part of the National Air & Space Museum. Located about 25 miles west of Washington, D.C. in Chantilly, Virginia, this museum offers some things its counterpart downtown does not.

One of the cool attributes about the Udvar-Hazy Center is its observation tower. Located just south of Dulles International Airport, visitors to the museum can take the elevator up the tower and watch the planes coming in and out of Dulles. Additionally, there is a lower level where visitors can learn all about how airports work and listen to a feed from Newark Liberty International Airport.

The observation tower at the Udvar-Hazy Center. This was taken in July 2012 when Space Shuttle Discovery arrived - a lot of people at the museum for the ceremony. These were the early arrivals before the museum opened.

Looking to the east - in the forefront is a partial view of the museum's parking lot

Looking to the northwest, you can see Dulles Airport, about 4 miles away

It's fun to watch the planes take off and land from the observation tower

 
Newark Feed found on YouTube - this is what visitors can see.

Harry Potter days at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary

I've been a big fan of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary for years and have taken numerous tours since we moved into the area. One thing I didn't know was that the museum hosts a Harry Potter event every year. 

The Apothecary even has the "Dragon's Blood", as featured in Harry Potter. There are other interesting ingredients for potions as well located at the museum.

The event typically takes place at the end of July and coincides with the character Harry Potter's birthday and that of author J.K. Rowland, July 31. There is an event for ages 21+ and is an hour-long tour, reservations are required. There is also a family-friend event for all ages. Tickets go on sale July 1 and from what the museum says, they go fast! 

If you want to see more photos or learn more about the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, I invite you to read my detailed post on its history and visitor experience. It's one of my favorite places!

Meticulously maintained, this museum is, in a word, amazing

Free summer movies in the Washington DC region

One of the cool things about summer in this region is there are many outdoor events taking place. Throughout the District and the surrounding suburbs in Virginia and Maryland, you can easily find free or inexpensive entertainment. Movies are a popular theme and there are many free screenings to be found throughout the area. 

Image credit: Pixabay

Movies in Washington D.C.  

There are a lot of free events often going on downtown and summertime brings out the movies. Many kid-friendly and other classic films are shown throughout the city. 

"Screen on the Green" - Sponsored by HBO and Comcast, this annual summer Monday night tradition, which ran for 17 years, looks to have unfortunately come to its conclusion. If this changes and a new host steps in, I will update and add details.

"Films at the Stone" – Outdoor Movies at the Martin Luther King Memorial. Launched in 2014, the Thursday night event shows films that "display the best of human strength, love and courage," according to Harry Johnson, Sr. President and CEO, The Memorial Foundation, Inc. (see the above link to find out shows, dates and times).

"NoMa Summer Screen Presented by REI" - Every year the NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood (located between Union Station, the Capitol, Shaw, and the H Street) offers its series of summer movies. NoMa Junction @ Storey Park (1005 First Street, NE). The series has previously kicked off in June and continues into August. Check out the official website for the full lineup. A few movies are PG, but there are also PG-13 and R-rated shows also, so be sure to check if you plan to bring the kids.

Movies in Virginia

There are many free movie events throughout Northern Virginia from Arlington out to Loudoun County. 

Alexandria hosts its "Comcast Outdoor Film Festival" down at the waterfront for a weekend in July. Usually, the lineup includes some big name movies.

"Centreville Starlight Drive-in Cinema". This is a tradition every year during the month of August (located at 5875 Trinity Parkway in Centreville). The movies are always popular kid-friendly features, many of which are relatively new. 

"South Riding Movie Night" runs from June - August, kicking off in June. Tuesday night movies are held at the South Riding Center and Wednesdays at Town Green, located at 43055 Center St., South Riding. For more information, check their website to see the other flicks scheduled.

As an additional mention, Northern Virginia Community College's Manassas campus has previously offered films throughout the summer on its "Family Fridays". Admission is $3, but free for NOVA students, faculty and staff. See the full schedule at Dulles Moms (they typically have the latest info). In past years, the showings start in May and run through October.

National Harbor

At the National Harbor (across the bridge in Maryland) also hosts free movies during the week and on the weekends. Check out their schedule to see what's being shown. They have "date night" listings and family-friendly shows throughout the season.

Also, the Regal Entertainment Group usually offers its "Summer Movie Express" with special showings at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at $1 per ticket. (This appears to be a nationwide event.) There are two films shown on both days - the films change weekly and the specials usually begin sometime in June.

DC Outdoor Films has also nicely put together list of free movies in the District and Northern Virginia; they also share a number of other free movie showings throughout Maryland too. Worth a look!

Looking for Father's Day fun? Sully Historic Site hosts an annual antique car show

The Sully Historic Site holds a number of family-friendly events throughout the year. One tradition for more than four decades is its annual Father’s Day event, the Antique Car Show. The 2016 Sully Antique Car Show is held on Father's Day and is co-hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Model A Ford Club of America. 

Now running for more than 24 years, the event has hundreds of cars on display, including both American and foreign-made antique and classic cars. Additionally, there is more family fun to enjoy including musical entertainment, a flea market (more than 100 vendors according to promotional material) and food. 

The Sully House

A tour of the 1794 house is also included in admission to the event. Admission fees for the antique car show are as follows: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for children. As always, parking is free. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

In general I've found Sully’s themed days to be very family-friendly and typically a nice day out (one year I will get to this car show!). We've attended the World War II Weekend a couple of times, the Civil War Encampment Weekend, and I always enjoy the different holiday-themed weekends held during the winter holidays.  

Sully Historic Site is located just off Route 28, a few miles south of Dulles Airport and across the highway from the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian). Sully Historic Site's address is 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, Va.