Things to Do - Snowshoe Etc. & Random Links

Just some more pics of our weekend at Snowshoe, plus random links to round out the week.

Happy Friday everyone!!

RANDOM LINKS:

* I can't stop listening to this song. And P's obsessed with figuring out all of the cup routines in this video (we always fast forward the long intro).

* 5 forgotten classics worth revisiting. I really want to read the retelling of One Thousand and One Nights.

* The Canadian oil sands.

* A roadtrip photo diary. Makes me want to go camping. As does this (localish) place.

* It's official, I want to be Gwyneth's BBF - all these quotes just made me like her more.

* How to talk to your daughter about her body.

* I really want one of these.

* How to live with introverts. This is so me.



T's favorite activity lately is writing in his journal. We define "writing" loosely.

Places to Go (Vacation) - Discover the "Invisible Universe" at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) (Green Bank, WV)

(The last pictures was taken with one of the kid's prisms, which I borrowed for awhile).

This is one of the coolest tours we've ever done, perhaps because I had no preconceived expectations (as someone who loves to plan and research everything, I rarely have the pleasure of random adventuring). Several of the world's largest telescopes are located in Green Bank, WV (right next to Snowshoe Ski Resort). Who knew? Actually, this location makes a lot of sense - the mountains, combined with low population density, have allowed NASA to create a National Radio Quiet Zone in the area (yup, this is why Snowshoe ski resort has awful cellphone reception), which keeps the telescopes protected from interfering radio waves.

In particular, Green Bank's largest telescope (the property contains several) is the most technically advanced single-dish radio telescope in the world. Its 110-meter by 100-meter dish boasts more than two acres of area for collecting faint radio waves from the Universe. Weighing 17 million pounds, the GBT is also one of the world's largest moving structures on land. The GBT is a leader in the scientific study of pulsars, dense neutron stars that serve as laboratories in which astronomers study the physics of extreme states of matter and enormous magnetic fields. The GBT can also detect the fingerprints of atoms and molecules far into the distant Universe, yielding new knowledge about star formation, the structure and motions of gas in galaxies, and Nature's fundamental constants.

If this sounds boring, I can assure you that the tour is not. First of all, we visited an old-school 1970s-auditorium, where we watched a short film summarizing NRAO's research and mission. After the movie, a tour guide conducted LIVE experiments involving liquid nitrogen (to demonstrate how cooling devices can help with interference). And who doesn't love liquid nitrogen? The tour guide also conducted some other experiments involving digital cameras and radio interference. All the children received free prisms. Like Xmas.

Eventually everyone boarded a bus, where we toured huge fields full of extremely large telescopes. HUGE football field sized telescopes. And, for no logical reason, this made me feel incredibly important. The same feeling that I get while watching movies involving the FBI or CIA, like "wow, this is where the action is." Does everyone feel like this or did I just let my inner-dork shine a little too bright? Our guide was really knowledgeable and answered a ton of questions, but I just couldn't get over how BIG everything was.

Eventually, we arrived back at the visitors' center, where a decent-sized interactive science center contains displays and activities explaining NRAO's research and astronomy in general. The kids had a great time exploring (we spent a good 30 or 40 minutes checking everything out).
surprisingly fascinating. Unfortunately, the sequester is threatening to shut the operation down, but they seem to be working through it (at least temporarily) by renting out telescopes to Russia (is this really a good idea?).

If you're ever in the area, I HIGHLY suggest a tour (on the downside, as digital cameras cause interference with the telescopes, photography is VERY limited and not allowed at all in most areas). Tickets cost $6 for adults and $3.50 for children 7-12 (younger children are free). The NRAO also hosts various events such as sky-viewing nights and family days. Click here for more information.



Science is fun. Really.

Places to Go (Vacation) - Geocaching at the Lake (Snowshoe, WV)

We spent 4th of July weekend in Snowshoe, WV with Dan's parents at the resort's annual bluegrass festival, which has become something of a family tradition over the past few years (click here for all my Snowshoe posts). As always, we took the ski lift down to Shaver Lake (odd that my children have become proficient in riding a ski lift, yet have never skied). But this year the girls, my mother-in-law, and I decided to try something different and check out Snowshoe's geocaches. I've wanted to take the kids geocaching for awhile now, but I have an awful sense of direction and, thus, am nervous we'll fail to find the caches. But Not-So-SAHM's recent posts have inspired me to get out and try (check out her AWESOME review of the DC mural cache here). I figured Snowshoe would be a good place to start, as the resort places all the caches and Snowshoe promises that most of the caches are easy to find. Plus, I've wanted to hike around the lake for a few years now, but I needed some sort of motivational tool to inspire the kids.

On the upside, the girls LOVED finding the first five or so caches (there are 10 total, hidden along a 1.2 mile path), but eventually they became somewhat bored with it, especially since the caches only contain generic red plastic coins. And I found Snowshoe's GPS somewhat tricky to use, so it took us awhile to get the hang of things. But the hike itself was gorgeous - leading us from dark, almost black, forests - like somewhere out of a fairy tale - to beautiful green meadows housing millions of wild flowers.

So maybe we'll start trying to find some local caches. At least that's the goal.

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!!

Places to Go (Vacation) - At the Lake (Snowshoe, WV)

Just some snapshots from our weekend at Snowshoe, WV. For more on summer at Snowshoe and their annual local music fest, click here.

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!

RANDOM LINKS:

*A fascinating graphic on Amazon's success (definitely worth a view).

*A beginner's guide to Alice Munro.

*10 Fascinating Documentaries about the 1 Percent. I really want to see the Queen of Versailles.

*Samm Blake. Wow. Amazing photos. Amazing.

*F. Scott on writing. Here's an excerpt, but the whole thing is really worth reading - "I've read the story carefully and, Frances, I'm afraid the price for doing professional work is a good deal higher than you are prepared to pay at present. You've got to sell your heart, your strongest reactions, not the little minor things that only touch you lightly, the little experiences that you might tell at dinner. This is especially true when you begin to write, when you have not yet developed the tricks of interesting people on paper, when you have none of the technique which it takes time to learn. When, in short, you have only your emotions to sell."

*Daily Candy's favorite online children's boutiques.



Play All Day and a jar full of pop-beads = hours of entertainment back at the condo.

Places to Go (Vacation) - Frontier Culture Museum (Staunton, VA)

This year, on our way back from Snowshoe, West Virginia, we decided to stop at the Frontier Culture Museum - located about three hours from DC off Highway 81. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but we needed to stretch our legs for awhile. Luckily, this place is incredible.

The Frontier Culture Museum is what Epcot's World Showcase could be if Disney ditched all the gift stores and actually tried to teach us something about the world (as previously noted, I'm not Epcot's biggest fan). At the Frontier Culture Museum the "world" also includes a time machine, which transported us back to Europe (and Africa) in the late 1600s - we visited England, Germany, and Ireland while meandering past beautiful streams and ponds. Costumed guides talked to us about daily life - from farm animals to looms. The kids loved asking questions and almost every house had something for them to "play" with (P loved the brooms for some reason). You're encouraged to look around and touch everything - the kids seemed fascinated by the "toilet bowls" under every bed.

After we finished touring the globe, we visited different periods in American history. The earliest house (a log cabin) demonstrated life in the 1740s, from there we checked out an 1820s farm. Though we didn't have time to visit it, an 1850s farm resides across the street. And an American Indian exhibit is under construction.

I honestly cannot say enough good things about this place. We visited on a 100 degree day and still spent almost 3 hours traversing the non-air-conditioned grounds, which really says a lot.

The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm seven days a week. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children aged 6-12. For more information, click here.



First stop - Africa. The small doors were built for safety reasons (harder to invade). And those thatched roofs survived the big storm that took down most of VA's power lines. Pretty impressive.



Next stop - England. P checked out every chest and the kitchen was hot hot hot. We didn't last long inside. Luckily the grounds are lovely, tons of green space and small streams.



Ireland was probably our favorite stop. The loom really impressed the kids - they asked question after question. And P decided to clean the house (too bad she never does this at home).



We all loved the "funny" German shoes. And the hats.



We ended our tour in America, pretty exhausted from walking over a mile in high heat. The American section of the museum houses three different estates (1740s, 1820s, and 1850s). We spent almost all of our time at the pretty large 1820s estate, where tons of yard games entertained my children. We also checked out the early american schoolhouse (pictured above).

After America, we took the shuttle back to the visitor's center and modern-day life. And everyone (except me) slept for most of the 3 hour drive home. A wonderful afternoon. If you're ever in the area, I HIGHLY SUGGEST a visit to the Frontier Culture Museum.

Places to Go (Vacation) - Snowshoe, WV - Part II - Shaver Lake

After waking up to fog over the mountains (seriously beautiful) we spent our last day in Snowshoe, WV at Shaver lake. The kids love taking the ski lift to the beach (which my kids only know as the "fun ride" because they've never skied). Hammocks and playgrounds surround the beach area, you can also rent paddleboats and fishing poles. A really lovely way to spend a morning, if you're ever in the area, I highly suggest a visit.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!! SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

WEEKEND LINKS:

*Laura Bell - Interesting photos, I find the circle format intriguing

*A gorgeous set of summer photos.



I didn't bring T a change of clothes because he (almost) never goes in the water. OF COURSE, this trip he decided to venture into the lake, so for the ride back he had to wear his sister's pink cover up, while the girls pointed and yelled - "T looks like a girl! Little baby girl T!" Good times. Good times.

Places to Go (Vacation) - Snowshoe, WV for the 4th of July

As I mentioned on Monday, we spent Independence Day in Snowshoe, WV at the resort's annual bluegrass festival. The girls think it's silly that America has a birthday. They find it even sillier that, just like them, America has "favorite colors." ("Why does America like blue and white, mom? Why not pink and purple? WHY?"). We tried to talk to them about presidents and constitutions and the history of our nation but as soon as Mt. Vernon came up they said "so if we get a really big house with lots of antiques then we get to pick America's colors?" Umm, history is confusing.



During the festival free live music played throughout the day, accompanied by free bounce houses and eurobungee (not free). Last weekend marked my first viewing of eurobungee (sort of like "bungee light") which looked so fun I really wanted to try it (but I felt awkward standing in line with a bunch of 3-10 year olds). The girls, however, loved it and kept asking to do it again and again.



The Del McCoury Band headlined the weekend and, unlike the rest of the performers, the resort required tickets to see them. Luckily, my in-laws' condo faced the stage, so we sat by the windows and listened to the music - watching a diaper-clad T bounce and dance to old-school bluegrass. We also had binoculars and small telescope for viewing (T kept holding the telescope to his nose and clapping, evidently confused as to its purpose), Del sounded great but looked OLD. After the band, the resort hosted a WONDERFUL fireworks display. And now all T keeps saying is "see firework? see mo' firework? them 'o boom boom!" Over and over again.

Things to Make - Princess Crowns

During our visit to Snowshoe, WV the resort was hosting a bluegrass festival - lots of live free music, vendors, bouncee castles, and eurobungee. One of the vendors was selling "princess crowns" for $1 (yes, you read that right, for ONE DOLLAR). So when the girls said "please, please, please" I said yes without hesitation (this happens once in a blue moon). The girls loved their crowns so much they're still wearing them a week later. Upon inspection, the crowns look super easy (and cheap) to make - I think they would make great party favors.

The scoop:

1. Buy metallic garland from a crafts store or online - for example, Amazon sells 9' Metallic Snowflake Garland.

2. Fit the garland in a loop to match a child's head.

3. Attach long ribbons to the back of the garland crown. Use a pencil or scissors to make the ribbons curly.

Simple, huh?

Things to Do - A Drive in the Country

We spent 4th of July weekend in Snowshoe, WV with Dan's parents, who own a few condos there. I love these summer mini-vacations, but the trip preparation always stress me out. From the moment they wake up the kids keep asking "how soon til we leave?" Then the seemingly endless car ride with cries of "are we there yet?" repeated every five minutes (or so it seems). This trip, I promised myself, would be different. We would appreciate the journey, stopping whenever something caught our eye, thrilled to be "on the road." And this is how we ended up walking across a small pedestrian bridge in the middle of nowhere with P yelling "mom, this is scary! Why are you making us do this?" And F yelling "I want to watch movies in the car. Why won't you just let us watch movies in the car?" And T crying "no 'idge! no 'idge!"

So we piled back into the minivan and didn't stop until we reached the condo. Apparently appreciating the journey is more difficult than expected.

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!! I read this quote in the New Yorker and found it the perfect description of adulthood - "Whatever sense of professional competence we feel in adult life is less the sum of accomplishment than the absence of impossibility: it's really our relief at no longer having to do things we were never any good at doing in the first place - relief at never again having to dissect a frog or memorize the periodic table. Or having to make a drawing that looks like the thing you're drawing." - Adam Gopnik in the June 27, 2011 New Yorker.

MONDAY LINKS:

*The National Gallery's Stories in Art program has started for the summer - every week features a different artwork, story, and craft project - FREE!! Classes take place on Sunday at 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 and Monday/Tuesday at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, and 1:30. No sign up required. This is a great program, I highly suggest checking it out. And to read our review of the fall session, click here.

"What Should I Read Next?" - type in a favorite book or author and this website will give you suggestions. It's sort of addictive.

*This is my dream backyard. Maybe one day . . .

*Love ETC. - a new documentary on love - looks interesting.

*Other People's Houses - wonderful photos.





Okay, so we did stop one more time - at a scenic outlook. But the kids wouldn't get out of the car.