It's Tops!

Day 4: Sharp Top Mountain. 1.5 steep and strenuous miles to a 360-degree view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It took us about 4 hours, which would have been pathetic by Colorado standards. But, Sawyer hiked about two-thirds of the way himself over rock outcroppings and steep stairs. It was impressive. Justin bounded up the thing like he was a mountain goat. Scott carried Arden the whole way up and Sawyer the whole way back down. I spent about 15 minutes at the top scoping out all the other places I want to climb. I was just so proud of everybody. Next time, more water, more food, sunscreen and bug spray. I may have slightly underestimated the East Coast mountains.

It's Amazing!

Day 3: Amazement Square, Lynchburg. Why can't every town have something like this? It's the nation's tallest indoor climbing tower set into an old warehouse on the riverfront in Lynchburg. Every level has something for kids of all ages to explore. It's by far the coolest kids museum I've ever been to. Sawyer loved the roller coaster demonstration where he sent golf balls flying over a 30-foot section of the room. Justin was fascinated by the water table with its demonstration of how locks work along the James River. Arden was into the building room with giant blocks and a playhouse. There were also rooms where you could paint on glass walls, jam with a band, experience what it like being inside a heart, put on a puppet show, experiment with light, or learn about virginia history and archeology. There was even a zip line inside and the best skatepark ever outside. I was personally taken with Lynchburg and dragged the rest of the family around while I photographed the old churches built into the hillside.

It's a mountain!

Day 2: Peaks of Otter. It's a mountain! That's the first thing Sawyer said when he woke up this morning. We had arrived at the Peaks of Otter late last night when all we could see was the yellow-eyed reflection of the deer outside our window. I stayed at the same place with my family one Thanksgiving when I will in grade school. I don't think a thing has changed. There's still a slot in the bathroom tile where you are supposed to dispose of your razor blades. Justin was dismayed to find that there also isn't a tv in the room. And no cell service. No internet. I'm in heaven. This morning when we opened the curtain the beautiful ragged peak of Sharp Top Mountain was perfectly framed in the window along with a mountain lake and picturesque little bridge. We are planning to summit the mountain Sunday with the kids. It blows me away that my kids have never summited a mountain.

It's Grrrreat!

Day 1: Great Wolf Lodge. Can I move in? I'm pretty sure we could have spent the whole week here if we'd had about $5,000 to spend on our vacation. I would definitely have enjoyed the Aveda spa and Justin, I am pretty certain, would have pulled an all-nighter in the Wii/Xbox 360/Guitar Hero room and Sawyer probably would have worked his way through about $50 in tokens riding the toddler fire truck ride in the arcade. And we all would have visited the Starbucks ice cream shop. Everything about this place is family friendly right down to the suites which have separate sleeping areas for mom and dad - some even have forts for the kids to sleep in. But one day of keeping two toddlers from the brink of drowning was all I could take this time. This is a place we are sure to return when we have deeper pockets.

Va. is for Lovers

We are setting off on the Va. is 4 Lovers 2009 Grand Tour Road Trip. Wanna see where we are going?


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