A Family Outing: The Nauticus and USS Wisconsin

I was homeschooled for the majority of my school years. It was a wonderful time, mainly because my parents took us to the library several times a week and on field trips regularly. We visited and experienced fairs, parades, national parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, art galleries, ballets, symphony performances, and more. I want those experiences for my children. Although Baby J is still just that -a baby- I can still cater to his natural curiosity, and we can learn new things together as a family.

When we moved to Virginia almost a year ago, I was thrilled to learn there’s a great deal for families to do in the Hampton Roads area. One of my favorite sites to visit is the museum called the Nauticus.

Located in downtown Norfolk, the Nauticus features such permanent exhibits about seaports, the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) underwater parks and weather service, tsunami preparation, the modern Navy, and more. Many of their exhibits are interactive and fun for kids, like the horseshoe crab cove and the shark experience. They also have changing exhibits, so there’s always a great deal to see and learn!

The retired Battleship Wisconsin is berthed next to the Nauticus; admission to the ship’s deck, wardroom, and officer’s country is included with a Nauticus ticket. Currently, adult admission is $13.95 a ticket, which I find very reasonable. Children 4 to 12 are $9.50, while children under 3 are free. There are discounts for AAA, seniors, and military.

Photos from the Nauticus and the USS Wisconsin:

Nauticus Battleship Collage

Do you take field trips or outings as a family? Where’s your favorite place to go?

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10 Comments

  1. The children’s museum in Norfolk is a great way to spend a day, but it’s more for toddlers and older… I still haven’t been to the second half of the aquarium in Va Beach, but I hope to soon! The zoo here is nice, and I plan to take full advantage of the space they have there for little ones to run around once the weather is warmer… Oh, and the botanical garden is one we haven’t visited yet, but I’m excited to take the kids and see the children’s garden area. If it’s anything like the one near where we used to live, it’ll probably be worth a membership!

    1. Oh too bad, I was actually thinking about taking Baby J to the children’s museum soon, but if you think it’s still too old for him, I’ll have to wait. I guess I should just keep visiting the playground!

  2. What a wonderful thing your parents did for you allowing you to experience such wonders. I have been to a few museums and love them. Glad you had a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing!

  3. I love the picture of him looking around in the stroller! He looks so into the experience 🙂 This is such a beautifully written post – I hope you share more about what you remember from your homeschooling days – I wasn’t homeschooled and so I love to hear about when it worked well for others!!! When I announced that I was considering homeschooling my daughter on Facebook one of my favorite students commented that she had been homeschooled (I had no idea! I just knew she was smart, nice, and rocked in surgery labs….lol) She also said she would be happy to talk to me about the student perspective – made me so happy!!!

  4. That looks like so much fun! I’m planning a summer road trip (for the summer of 2016, when my son will be a bit older) and I’m adding this to our stops!

  5. That is a nice benefit of homeschooling. Parent can invest more time with their kids in these types of educational pursuits and they are very beneficial for kids.

  6. We love family outings to the zoo and aquarium! That’s something that really appeals to me about homeschooling….everything can be turned into a lesson and you don’t have to worry about going when school isn’t in session!

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