Celebrate the Presidents
by Casey | Posted on February 14th, 2012
Children need some fun with their history, wouldn’t you say? Virginia has plenty of both, making it an ideal place for families looking for a fun getaway this Presidents Day weekend.
George Washington's Mount Vernon
George Washington’s boyhood home is Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, and kids are invited to join in a simulated archaeological dig to uncover historical treasures.
Or, perhaps you’ve heard of a young George Washington throwing a stone across the mighty Rappahannock River? Ferry Farm is where that *might have* occurred. The stone throw challenge will award a $50 Visa card for the child 18 years of age or under who can throw a stone across the Rappahannock! It’s all happening February 20.
Trivia you can share with the kids:
- Virginia claims eight United States presidents – the most of any state – making us known as The Mother of Presidents. Those presidents and their homes are:
- George Washington – Mount Vernon
- Thomas Jefferson – Monticello
- James Madison – Montpelier
- James Monroe – Ash Lawn-Highland
- William Henry Harrison – Berkeley Plantation
- John Tyler – Sherwood Forest Plantation
- Zachary Taylor – Montebello
- Woodrow Wilson – Presidential Library and Museum
- Two United States presidents are laid to rest at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
- James Monroe
- John Tyler
- The Natural Bridge of Virginia is significant to two United States presidents.
- George Washington surveyed it.
- Thomas Jefferson owned it.
In other presidential news …
Charlottesville’s New Presidents Passport - Charlottesville
Filled with insider travel tips and special offers, the new Presidents Passport leads visitors on journey through the Charlottesville region, which is not only known for its unique beauty and vibrant culture, but also its history. Discover Monticello, Montpelier and Ash Lawn-Highland and walk in the footsteps of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe on Presidents Day weekend. Sign up for the Presidents Passport online and access over 50 exclusive offers including promotional offers at hotels and B&B’s, restaurants, historic sites and museums, the Monticello Wine Trail and more.
Landscape of Slavery: Mulberry Row at Monticello - Charlottesville
Monticello’s newest outdoor exhibition opens this Presidents Day weekend. The exhibition will bring to life the stories of the scores of people – enslaved and free – who lived and worked on Jefferson’s 5,000 acre plantation.
Date: Opening February 17, 2012
Presidents Weekend at Colonial Williamsburg - Williamsburg
Meet three Founding Fathers – Washington, Jefferson, and Madison – whose Williamsburg experiences led to the creation of a nation. Gather for music, meals, and special performances, and mingle with these great leaders and their influential contemporaries, such as Patrick Henry and the Marquis de Lafayette.
Date: February 18-20, 2012
George Washington’s 280th Birthday Celebration - Mount Vernon
Celebrate George Washington’s birthday with free admission to Mount Vernon. Activities throughout the day include military performances, patriotic music, special wreath-laying and a birthday surprise for Washington.
Date: February 20, 2012
Find more Presidents Day events at Virginia.org.