Review of Cox Farms Fall Festival (Centreville, VA)

5 out of 5 Ants Rating!

Cox Farms Fall Festival is a family activity that should become an annual tradition (or in my case, we went twice this year!).  Located in Centreville, VA (Get Directions Here) and open as the Fall Festival from September - November, this is a place you cannot miss.  The highlight was the hayride, which was the best I've ever been on (it was at least a half hour long, tractor pulled, through the woods, fields and literally through the pond; live actors, music, cartoon characters, a haunted barn, real cowboys and girls on horses...the list goes on!).  The slides are definitely the second best aspect of a visit here.  There is a little something for everyone - taller slides that give a bit of a thrill on the way down for adults or teens, and smaller, more manageable slides you can take a toddler on with an adult.  

The family that slides together stays together... 

Our third favorite part of a trip to Cox Farms was playing with all of the adorable goats (especially the babies who are so itty bitty my toddler could pick them up!).  It's an up close and personal encounter with a goat.  Miss M was thrilled!

Yay, goats!

There are lots of other activities to explore, including: a toddler play area (with "corn crib" instead of sandbox), many animals to see, pumpkin games, a corn maze and more.  Free cider and apples for all and the really decent infant/toddler changing station and nursing area (as nice as it can get in an outdoor farm environment!) are a great touch.  I recommend buying tickets in advance online, print them out and bypass the lines through the e-ticket booth.  It would also be wise to show up right at opening before the crowds get heavy and parking is tight.  I see that Cox Farms has some winter/Christmas activities as well; we'll have to check those out!  Have you been?

Where should Antsy Mom and Toddler go next?  Let us know!

Review of the National (Baltimore) Aquarium (Baltimore, MD)

3 out of 5 Ants Rating!

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, or Baltimore Aquarium, as I hear most people around here call it, is a great collection of fish that is worth a visit at least once.  That said, there are some aspects of this venue that are quite a challenge with the younger crowd.  The admission fees are steep ($30/adult).  Even with under 2's free, this is not a cheap outing.  Strollers are not allowed in the exhibits (they have a stroller check).  That is a guaranteed backache with a toddler that will not be able to walk the entire place.  

On a fairly empty day, the aquarium is a lot of fun.  What kid doesn't enjoy flashy colored fish (especially those that look exactly like Nemo and friends), sharks (chomp, chomp Miss M says) and other cool creatures?  

The jellyfish exhibit is particularly cool

On a busy day, you will be sweating, pushing people out of the way and trying to figure out how to get your child close enough to enjoy the tanks.  It can get really crowded with visitors and school groups.  In busy sections of the aquarium I was not comfortable putting Miss M down to walk.  Enter backache.

The Australian exhibit tucked away somewhere upstairs was actually the best for visiting with a child.  It was a more modernized open space with exhibit glass at toddler eye level.  This area was also staffed and had a little demonstration of a crocodile's jaw going on, which we enjoyed.

Those are some big teeth, mom, I bet he was fussy teething!

I want to like the Baltimore Aquarium for toddlers/young kids more than I actually do in practice.  I hope they continue to upgrade the facilities and make it larger with a better flow and more 0-4 friendly.  So much potential.

Where should Antsy Mom and Toddler go next?  Let us know!