This review is for Thank You Gallery…read more Tucked inside another museum, Thank You Gallery is a hidden gem in Virginia worth seeking out. The space is intimate but thoughtful, and the curation feels fresh and intentional. Andrew (who worked there) was excellent -- welcoming, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the work on display. Definitely a nice surprise and well worth a stop if you're in the area.

Don't know why this place was moved here but here we are. This place was a huge let down. The size…read moreis small and the self guide tour is over pretty quickly. There are two main rooms and a kids room before the exit where arts and crafts can be done. Viewing the entirety of the museum takes 20 minutes tops. The art itself is creative and eye catching for sure. The best part is it's free, otherwise this place would have no value at all.

I was very impressed with the art here at the museum. It's free too, which is great since the…read moreexhibits were quite varied and interesting! Two floors of art and spent most of my time on the second floor. Didn't have time to have a detailed look on the first, but the glass exhibit and Eastern arts were cool. The museum itself is very pretty too. Would love to come back again if I have time.

The Chrysler is such an amazing and beautiful museum in the local area, that's free. I often visit…read moreto check out some new exhibits and also get some steps in! The staff is always so friendly; they great you at the door. A few things I've learned is that events are hosted here, sometimes for a fee, that allow you to be at the museum during the late evening a nights. I've attended an event that had a DJ and was fully decorated; I had a blast! I know also that they do host weddings! Overall I believe it to be a wonderful, well taken care of museum! There is also a glass shop across that street that I still have not checked out, but I heard it's great!

I came expecting "a nice little museum" and accidentally entered the main character phase of my…read morelife. The house looks like Gatsby retired here to start gardening and finally find inner peace. Every room feels fancy enough that you instinctively whisper, even when you're alone judging antique furniture like you suddenly have generational wealth. The gardens? Absolutely disrespectful to regular parks. Trees posing like they know they're beautiful, peacocks walking around with the confidence of influencers, and views of the water that make you question every life decision that didn't involve buying a mansion in 1915. Perfect place for a peaceful stroll, deep thoughts, or pretending you're in a period drama waiting for someone to confess forbidden love near the azaleas.

Checked out "What Remains". It was interesting on a much…read moresmaller scale than "Sleep No More," without the choose-your-own-adventure option and with only one ending. They made great use of the Hermitage's artwork, incorporating the pieces into the story. While listening to the narration, sound effects, captivating storytelling, and lighting guided you through the house and invited you to immerse yourself in the experience. The performance is an hour long and sends you off in groups of 12 at a time; at $68 per ticket I felt the price was on the steep side. The pace was good. There are age restrictions 14years+ with adult supervision, and the show fluctuates between sitting on the floor, standing, bending through pathways, and navigating stairs and tight spaces -- something to consider for accessibility and comfort.

This is a fun place to visit, especially around the Christmas season…read more I must say I hardly ever step foot in here unless an event is taking place. As a result, my recent visit here was during the Christmas holiday season 2016. During this time, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday the center offers several fun filled activities for the children - well for the whole family. So bring the newborns to great grandmas for a day or two of fun and lasting memories. Events as such: pictures with Santa, arts & crafts, cookie decorating, face painting and ornament making just to name a few are offered in December. And far as I can remember these sort of events have been in existence since the center opened some time ago. You can usually find out about these events online through PortsVaEvents or just by being in the Old Towne area of the city. Circulars and fliers are posted. Again, I haven't shopped nor have I browsed in the center, but from just passing I have noticed different crystals and novelty items are sold here. it's a small house turned into a small shop, very cute. It's also decorated on the inside and outside with Christmas holiday decor. If you choose to not partake in any of the activities, the scenery outside makes for a great background during Christmas time. I'd like to think this place is worth a visit, especially if you are in the area. Oh did I mention...these activities during the days mentioned above in December are FREE!!!! My type of fun!! Parking is available on the street, but if you're one of the unlucky ones, parking garages are within walking distances. And the garages are FREE of charge. The Old Towne area of the city offers several: shops, restaurants and much more. Everything is within walking distance. It's definitely a family oriented town especially during the holiday season. It's a great day to have a great day!!

Not super impressed - not going to lie…read more At Christmas, when we visited, there is an event inside this center which, from the website, seems like it's a Christmas Market or winter wonderland experience. So my friends visiting from out of town and I drove from ALL the way in Pungo to this - only to find that it's $3 entry per person (no biggie) but is mostly for children, there were no vendors selling anything anywhere, very little food or drink, and the displays are more like the dated animatronic Christmas teddy bears from malls of years past. Maybe ok for small small children, but not something for adults by any means, and not paid entry. Major disappointment. I'm glad this is here for locals and I'm sure it has it's time and place. But the description on the website was completely misleading. We looked around the gift shop and roamed the town before heading to downtown Norfolk for more adult friendly Christmas things to do.

What a cool place! Great family outing or date night activity. We went in the fall for…read morePumpkinpalooza and were able to make our own glass blown pumpkins. The facility looks brand new even though it's been around for a while, and the staff was very helpful and friendly. We will be coming back next year for sure!

Took the Introduction to Glass class with Lorelei and Michelle. It was so much fun. They are…read morewonderful teachers and very patient. They explained everything ao easily and made me feel comfortable doing every part of the Glass making. And I got to make 3 pieces of Glass. Highly recommend this class.

This was a splendid looking building from the outside that exceeded my expectations for a…read morecollege-affiliated art gallery, of which I have visited many. On the inside, it had a set of local exhibitions and an upper floor of rotating thematic exhibits. While the museum was free to enter, they had a paid exhibition that frankly took up a large portion of the museum so I felt a little misled. I dodged in mainly because the weather was rough outside, but fortunately the rain passed. I didn't spend a ton of time here, but I did appreciate the college's commitment to art.

There was a special Michelangelo exhibit at this museum, which was pretty incredible!! It was a…read morecollection of his drawings while planning the famed Sistine Chapel ceiling. I could hardly believe it was here in our town! We were given a time frame to attend but were able to spend as much time as we needed. There were guided tours as well, but those sold out. This was my first time at the museum and it was lovely!! I hope to see more of these exhibits at this museum we are lucky to have here in Williamsburg (@ William & Mary).

The museum itself is lovely, many unique pieces; from the quilts to the folk art to the toys, it…read morewas a wonderful collection. We highly enjoyed the string performance, which made the experience extra special. The security guards also were helpful and kind. However, the woman running the Goode area doing crafts offered no apology after sending us downstairs when our family arrived at 1:25 for the 1:30 event. She told us to go to the story performance. My 80 year old mother had to trudge to the lower level only for everyone to be leaving the performance to head back to where we were to do the craft. We missed all the instructions due to this and were not caught up or as stated offered an apology by the woman who sent us away. The security guard who had helped us find our way down there did apologize and that was appreciated however the experience with the woman was incredibly off putting. It soured the whole experience as her attitude was so ugly as well. The museum itself is fine but some employees shouldn't be interacting with the public.

This is one of the best museums I had been to. Being from DC area, I am very spoilt with all the…read morefree museums that Smithsonian foundation offers. So, it is rare for me to go and pay hjgh entry prices for a museum when I am travelling. The entry to this museum came as part of a single day ticket to Colonial Williamsburg. So, we included it in our itinerary. I was so glad I went there. There were so many really nice artifacts that brought back history in a beautiful way. I learnt so much. It was a really nice experience. My only regret was not having spent more time here. If you have very limited time and still want to cover this place, make sure to atleast check : the household accessories room, the clock room and the ceramics room. They are all on the upper floor.

The Virginia Zoo is a great way to spend a few hours with the family. If you are local to Hampton…read moreRoads I highly suggest purchasing one of their memberships. The zoo offers discounted tickets to special events for members and even has an event where you can bring your dog! I really enjoy that this zoo offers plenty of different species of animals and wide open areas for kids to explore. A train is normally running and the exhibits have wide trails with plenty of viewing platforms and windows. The staff is always friendly and they have a robust gift shop. I haven't personally ever tried their food but they offer a few cafes and dipping dots throughout the park.

I was extremely eager to finally come to the zoo. It's been years since I've visited one. I came…read morehere on a Friday with my son, who was also excited to see animals for the first time. There were many children, which looked like they were on a school trip. Before coming, I searched the zoo's website and found out they had admission discounts for whomever had Medicaid. It stated that admission price was $7. Of course, they had to ID you to see if your name matched the card. To my surprise, admission was just $4.95, which was a steal. I brought in food and water for my son and I, as most people did. First stop was the Fountain Plaza, where I had to figure out which way I wanted to maneuver. I went left to Asia and Africa trails, as my son wanted to view tigers, lions, giraffes, and monkeys. Each exhibit had 1 or 2 animals. Very bare. The monkeys had 3 the most. Not too many animals were active, which is understandable because this is their normal wild habitat. I was expecting to see my favorite animal, the elephant. Apparently, they are no longer there, as well as gorillas. I enjoyed the giraffes, rhinos, and zebras in Africa. They had the most energy. The cheetah and lion were off the exhibit that day. Following those trails, my son wanted to ride on the train. It is $3/rider. They have a strict policy of having all hands and feet at all times during the ride. This all took 2hrs. I didn't bother checking the other side of the park because it was starting to drizzle. This zoo was just ok to do something with your kids so that they can get acquainted with various animals from other parts of the world or just a date. I've been to better zoos, it was just so bare. Be prepared for lots of walking, so bring water.

i went to nauticus and did the self guided tour of the uss wisconsin battleship museum. we got to…read morego inside the battleship and walk through a bunch of different areas, which was probably the best part because it made everything feel more real instead of just looking at pictures or exhibits. the ship itself is huge, and seeing everything up close was really interesting. i liked being able to walk around at my own pace instead of being rushed through it. the deck views were really nice too, and the giant guns were honestly crazy to see in person because they're so much bigger than i thought they'd be. overall it was actually really fun and i'd definitely recommend it if you're in norfolk because it's something different and really interesting to experience. note -- it isn't handicap accessible, there are a lot of stairs you need to go up and down on.

A Must-See Winterfest Experience! I had such a magical time…read moreat Winterfest on the Wisconsin battleship! I went last Wednesday with family, and exploring the ship completely decked out in lights was honestly unforgettable. I knew ahead of time that they offered mocktails and cocktails, but I was not prepared for the surprises waiting onboard--like fresh donuts and spiked hot chocolate! Speaking of which... the spiked peppermint hot chocolate with a shot of white chocolate peppermint bark RumChata has officially changed my life. I don't think I can go back to regular hot chocolate for the rest of the season. It's the perfect holiday drink, and clearly a huge hit with the 21+ crowd. Beyond the festive drinks, Winterfest had so much more to offer, including a charming winter mini circus with magic and other fun acts. It was genuinely enjoyable for both kids and adults. I loved the added light displays leading up to the ship and throughout Town Point Park--they make the whole area feel like a glowing winter wonderland. Even if you can't make it onboard for the full Winterfest experience, the nighttime walk from the Pagoda in lights to Town Point Park is absolutely worth it. Such a wonderful holiday outing for families, friends, and anyone looking to soak up the season!

Stop by the Aquarium just to have something to do + We love marine life…read more It was a very nice and relaxing experience. The Staff was very helpful, friendly and welcoming; We had a great time!

The exhibits were good and informative info. The river otter exhibits was closed and no one…read morementioned it throughout the entire time we were there. So we walked all the way to the South building only to find out it was closed. There is no trolley or transport from the north to south building except by the trail that closes 20 minutes before the facility closes which is 5pm (seems early for a tourist attraction). The trail is about a half mile walk. More communication by staff about the exhibits, timing and what's closed and open would have been helpful.