While we love the Children's Museum of Virginia, sometimes it's nice to change things up and that's what we did back in November, with a day trip to visit the Children's Museum of Richmond. We started the day with a "sunrise" visit to see Santa and decided that we'd better check out the rest of the offerings while we had the chance.

The Richmond Children's museum is a lot like our local one in Portsmouth, but with some fun differences. We loved the television studio, where we could do the weather report and practice reading the news on camera. The schoolroom was a hit with Anouk. And the carousel! With some of the most whimsical carved animals I've ever seen. We could have ridden it all day.






And then there was the art room. Oh, the art room! It was kind a paradise, I could have spent all day there even without my kids. You had boxes and bins of art supplies and big tables at which to sit and create free-form art, or else to follow one of the instruction sheets to make a craft (a picture frame, magnet, small flag).

Outside there were more offerings, with an al fresco artist's hut and sandbox, but it was raining (boo) and we didn't get to see everything there. I guess that means we'll have to go back soon!

The verdict: worth a day trip, pair with Oreo pancakes for lunch at Galaxy Hut and Maymont Park after lunch and you've got a perfect way to spend a school vacation day. Spring break ideas anyone?

Last weekend, we met up with some DC friends in Richmond to spend the afternoon and found ourselves at one point in World of Mirth toy store in Carytown. If you've never been to/heard of World of Mirth before (I hadn't), prepare to be amazed: this place is like something out of a kids movie. The big store is crammed full of all kinds of treasures for kids and adults alike.

The day we went was Nov. 1, so we were greeted with a Day of the Dead display which kind of set the tone for what we would find deeper in the store. There's an emphasis on the funky, the retro, the crafty and creative over the kind of run of the mill plastic stuff you find in chain stores (although to be fair in the vastness of the store, there's enough of that, too). Especially memorable were the book section (with some amazing coloring books), the carefully curated science toys section (with baskets of toys to test), and the collections of plastic animals and figurines lining shelves at the front of the store (from cows to dinosaurs to Greek mythological figures). World of Mirth has a pretty awesome selection of stuff for adults, too, including this Darth Vader tote bag that I am having serious buyer's remorse over.




We wanted to buy one of everything but ended up going home with some new books (review coming), candy, a stuffed dog, and some geodes to smash open (they were duds but we enjoyed the smashing). All in all, a good haul.

PS: Free hayrides at Bluebird Gap Farm in Hampton this Saturday! Head on over to Fun and Free Hampton Roads for details.