Virginia: The Land Celebration near Gore

The Land Celebration near Gore, Virginia was once a nudist colony, and as you drive up the winding drive (past signs warning you not to enter unless invited), there seems to be some of that energy left in the air.

Rustic and unique, The Land Celebration was blanketed in snow when we arrived, but that didn't stop it feeling warm and inviting. I was reminded of the quote from their website: 

"Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field...I'll meet you there." ~Rumi

Fitting.

Accommodations on the land vary, from private cabins and large houses to dorm-style spaces and spots to camp. Each brought its own uniqueness.

I loved the wailing wall (pictured here), as I am always interested in bringing together cultures I am not necessarily familiar with and tasting their traditions. It was really a great experience to sit with my thoughts and then add to the wall, and to stand by as the other ladies did the same. There was a real feel of beautiful energy in the air as the women approached the wall, took paper and pen, and covered their heads with the shawls. Lovely.

Something I really loved about this land was the way they went way beyond being inclusive - they are embracing. Following the walking trails, you might stumble across a sweat lodge in the ceremonial area near the pond, one of the three labyrinths, or a beautiful spot to meditate. It was just what I needed, just when I needed it. I very much enjoyed the quiet time soaking it all in, and know there are many places I didn't even get the opportunity to see.

Check out their website for details on gatherings at The Land Celebration.

Thank you to the beautiful and talented Victoria Karalun of Canary Lane Photography for the beautiful photography. She does fantastic work!

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Pennsylvania: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

Bria and I had a wonderful day today at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. There was so much to do, see, and explore!

Google told me it was three bus transfers to the museum and I didn't want her to arrive already worn out, so we went to the hotel front desk to ask about options. Sure enough, they had a hotel shuttle. (It never hurts to ask!) We took the 10 am shuttle and had to wait for a couple of other people to be dropped off, but that meant we got to see more of the city, which was a blast!

On the way to the museum, we learned that it was Fred Rogers' birthday, so it was Mr. Roger's Neighborhood Day at the museum. Admission was free, and some special treats were planned in his honor. We had just finished watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, so Bria and I had a chat on the shuttle about the new feature our adventure had taken on.

We arrived and decided to start out in the Art Studio, which had several fun stations set up to check out. Bria donned an apron and did stamping with vegetables (she chose the onion and the green pepper), then moved over to do some painting on the easels. The set up was fabulous, and the volunteers were sweet and attentive.

Next we moved over to the clay table, and had a great time cutting and rolling and sculpting with the other children gathered around the table.

The other tables in the studio were fun, too, with Bria getting a chance to practice her cutting with scissors, then trying out silk screen painting before heading off for a snack in the Big Red Room Cafe. The face burger was SO fun, Bria had to pose with hers! There was a good selection of healthy meals and snacks, including baked french fries instead of fried, and the option of fruit as a side. There was also hummus, cottage cheese, and other good-for-kids offerings.

After lunch (and another potty break - bathrooms are available on every floor of the museum), we moved upstairs to try out the climbing area! It was really fun - a big maze of places to climb loomed overhead, all the way up to the next floor. But what Bria loved about it was that, being small, she could participate, too! The bottom layer when straight through, so she climbed over and under and through while staying close to the ground, came out the other end, and ran around to do it again. This provided great entertainment.

Then it was on to lots of hands-on activities in the nursery, which was the perfect place to wind down for a while and have some quiet time. There was lots to do, including a gigantic Light Bright, light/sand tables (possibly her favorite thing in the entire building, she spent an hour there), a see saw, and so much more.

Next we moved downstairs to get a drink in the cafe and then went to check out the theater, where something REALLY special was about to happen! The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra had sent a string quartet to honor Mr. Rogers' day, and Bria was absolutely enthralled. She plopped herself down in the front row on the floor and took it all in very happily. Halfway through she moved to the open space in the back of the theater where she could dance, too. There is definitely a trip to the symphony in that girl's future!

This was a very full day! And we didn't even make it to the Garage or Attic, or the Backyard (which was closed for the season). Definitely worth the time, we would highly recommend for children of a wide variety of ages -- we saw kids through about 10 having a fantastic time with developmentally appropriate activities.

To learn more, check out the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh website. Hours are 10-5 daily, and admission  fees can be found on the site.

Pittsburgh Vacations

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