After we settled into resort #2, we tried to pick a day’s activity that we could all enjoy… because yours truly was not visiting another theme park, no matter how much I loved that child.

Hence the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News. Part zoo, part aquarium and lots of interactive children’s exhibits.

Because who doesn’t love a velociraptor Santa Claus?

An extensive boardwalk wraps around the wildlife enclosure where little people can run to their heart’s content.

And the old folks can enjoy the beauty of a red fox…..

And a bobcat.

Who even though a wild cat, still enjoyed a cardboard box.

                                          Insert required cute group photo here.

There was a plastic dinosaur section…..

Where little hands could get filthy excavating some plastic bones.

Injured vultures…..

And bald eagles were next… this one with a clearly broken wing. And if you’ve ever wondered how large an eagle’s nest is?

Yeah. They’re pretty damned large.

More boardwalks, more running.

And some shore birds…

Whose antics I could easily have stood and watched all day.

Did she see anything?

No, but she had fun trying.