So, what can you do with kids in the Quantico/Fredericksburg area? Seems like there is plenty to keep us busy!! Unfortunately I do not make it up to base very often so I will have to research things to do on base, but I know there are bound to be endless possibilities, from fishing and movies to Youth Sports.

Here in Southern Stafford County I have come across Kids and Clay. It is a small studio owned by Joyce Leatherwood. I have been there on two different occasions so far. The first with a preschool class of 3 year olds and second when my daughter attended a birthday party of a classmate. The preschoolers actually got to turn a chunk of clay into a great snowman plate!! For the birthday party the kids painted little figurines and then had cake and opened presents. On each occasion parents and children had a good time. My son will be going to a holiday clay camp over winter break and he will be able to learn how to spin clay on the pottery wheel.

Kids n Clay is open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 9pm and Sunday 12pm to 6pm. All types of classes are offered to adults and children. It is located off Route 17 heading towards Warrenton .


11 Smokehouse drive, Ste 111
Fredericksburg, VA 22405

PH (540) 370-4114

www.kidsnclay.com/stafford

Check out the website to see all that is offered. I think it will be a great place to spend winter afternoons that are too cold for the kids to go out and play.

This is not actually something for the kids but is fun for Moms. Try to find out about the Christmas Tour of Homes on base. I think that they still do it and it is fun, especially since they have built all the new housing. I don't remember but it is put on by some kind of women's club. Either a Quantico or DC women's club Sorry I don't have more info to relay.

Other fun places to visit are Occoquan (North of Quantico). A quaint little "town" which holds fall craft fairs but is neat all year. Alexandria is a fun place, just at the edge of DC. Full of restaurants, bars, shops, etc. I believe there is a Halloween (fall) tour of historic homes.

One of our favorite things we've EVER done is to go on a hot air balloon ride in the fall over Charlottesville (south).

Fall in Virginia is really amazing. It is truly a sight to see all the colors of the trees.

What is good for mom, is good for the kids!!! I will have to check this one out and find the details to share. I remember going to the tour of homes at Marine Corps Base HI. The homes were decorated so beautifully. I came home with a thousand holiday decorating ideas!! And it was neat to get to go into all different "ranks" of housing too. The tour of homes could be a fun ladies night out with dinner to follow. I will post later with what I find out. Thanks for sharing!!

My son went the Kids and Clay Camp today and had a good time. He made a bowl and it even looks like a bowl!! My daughter and I spent about an hour and a half painting a princess piggy bank. I am sure we will go back again.

If you are there in October I recommend going to what used to be the Lettered Appartments on base during Halloween. Each Building has a theme and they really go all out. For example one year one of the buildings had the theme of the movie "Grease". Everyone was wearing Grease attire, they had the building decorated, the walkways etc. and they had the movie projecting on the side of the building. They spend months planning, building, decorating, etc. I have never seen anything like it.

Thanks Krista,

I will check it out next year. If you think of anything else to share please do. People who have "been here done that" are such a wealth of knowledge!!

Happy New Year!!

SChaney

Cavalier Skate in Stafford County provided us with a weekend afternoon of fun and flashbacks to my childhood. It is located off of highway 1. It is a skating rink where you can actually skate with roller skates that have 4 wheels!! I never figured out the roller blades . They have several different skating sessions to include a "disney skate" where they play disney music. You can rent your skates and have snack bar food. They will also host your next birthday party. Check out their website at www.cavalierfamilyskating.com