The northern part of the Charlotte area boasts the beautiful Lake Norman. It's not a natural lake, but is beautiful, all the same. However, there are few ways to actually enjoy the lake if you don't happen to have a house on the lake. Taking a cruise from Queen's Landing is one way. I believe there are dinner cruises for adults, but I've only been on the daytime Cookie Cruises that run in the summer geared towards little kids. It is a nice way to actually get a look at the lake, if you don't happen to own a boat yourself. An employee of Queen's Landing reads a story for little children during the cruise. And, yes, there are actual cookies! :) The cruise lasts about half an hour or so - perfect for little attention spans. The tickets are not expensive. A nice morning out.

This park is a good for a nice day out with younger kids (elementary and below). There is two playgrounds, a merry-go-round, a little train to ride (this is really little and the ride is very short - kids older than about 8 will probably be bored), a small zoo-ish animal exhibit, a "petting" zoo attraction, a place where you can rent paddle boats and go out on the "lake", and my kids' favourite - the gem mining. You pay a fee, get a bucket of dirt that is pre-loaded with some semi-precious gemstones and other interesting rocks, and go use the sluices to find your gems. There is also a small splash fountain for hot days.

There are also plenty of picnic grounds to rent. To enter the park is free, but to do almost anything besides play on the playground or visit the splash fountain, you'll have to pay. The last time I was there, there was limited concessions available, and the park itself is way out in the country with nothing nearby, so you may want to be sure and bring some provisions.

The Detroit Zoo is surprisingly located smack in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Detroit's close-in Woodward corridor suburbs. Just north of 696 right off Woodward, it is quite convenient to Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Berkley, Birmingham, and travelers from the interstate.

The grounds are extensive for such an urban-suburban location. There is plenty of space to spread out for a picnic under the trees. But that also is my only complaint about the zoo - it feels like you must walk a mile before you see a single animal. And, of course, because of Michigan's harsh climate in the winter, many of the animals are not out on view year-round. Animal lovers will be happy to know, however, that almost all of the Detroit Zoo's animals are rescues.

The Butterfly House is the first attraction you come to. It is really amazing and wonderful. It is open year round, I believe. Another newer exhibit that is open year round is the Amphibian House. That is especially fun for younger children who lack the eyesight and attention span to pay attention to the major outdoor exhibits of the more wild and dangerous animals. Another fun stop is the little enclosure where you can view the otters.

Another newer addition to the zoo is the Polar Bear exhibit. When I lived in Detroit, this exhibit was quite new, and sometimes there was a line to get into it, which was annoying. Hopefully that is no longer the case. To me, the best thing about this exhibit was the walk-though tunnel that went through the water surrounding the exhibit. You can see seals and other sea mammals swimming around and over you.

This zoo will take you by surprise. I'll never forget the first time I went. It is a bit out in the country, or at least I presume it once was, but sprawl has brought it close to suburbanites. I drove only a few minutes away from my west Chesterfield county home and almost blew past this pokey little sign on Hwy 360 (Hull Street Road) that says the zoo is to the left. After going about 100 yards up a narrow, isolated looking country road, I came upon a gravel parking lot and an unassuming entrance with a demure ticket booth. No asphalt. No marquee. No fanfare. No grand entrance area. I began to fear the "zoo" was some enterprising farmer's collection of a few goats and chickens and maybe a pot-bellied pig for exotic effect.

My fears were for naught. This zoo, while indeed very "low tech", is simply amazing. There are many varieties of money and lemurs, some apes, kanagroos, big cats, a bat house, and even penguins. There are some camel and farm animals to feed and pet. There are peacocks and peahens wandering around, and there are a few exotic birds. There is a ski-lift kind of ride that takes you around the zoo. The best feature is the giraffe enclosure. The pedestrian path is on a hill above it, and there is a place where the giraffes are only a few feet above eye-level with you. You can feed the giraffes! Did you know they have dark blue-purple tongues? They do. While they are eating the food from your hand, they will abide a brief pet.

The best thing about the zoo is everything is right there. No long walks between exhibits. The animals are close-up and you can really see them. Even so, the enclosures seem very natural and organic. When we lived in Richmond, it was somewhere we often visited.

When we lived near Williamsburg, our kids were too little to go on the tour, so we have never been on it. We have been to Colonial Williamsburg several times, however, just to walk around, enjoy the surroundings, do some window shopping and enjoy some Death by Chocolate at The Trellis. It is a lovely place to visit even if you don't do the tour. I always look forward to popping over for a visit when we are in the area.Take a drive along the Colonial Parkway while you are there. It is amazing. You can actually see the very spot where Corwallis' army (via General O'Hara) surrendered!