Apelu Island Cafe

We stopped by Apelu Island Cafe on a whim after the St. Paddy's Day parade in Norfolk last weekend and after passing it a few times and waiting for it to open. We were greeted right away, and we ordered while the kids went over to check out their play area. Small and tucked in where it won't bother anyone, it is a small play area with just enough items to hold the attention of their younger guests. There are some card and table games also for all to enjoy. 
The cafe is owned by four Samoan sisters and offers Polynesian specialties. All of the employees had huge smiles and spoke to everyone around us. The customers were friendly and people held easy conversations. There are both communal seating options as well as independent tables. 
It's a great spot to stop in for a coffee with friends while you play a game, or to get a some work done while your kid plays for a little while. The shop is open seven days a week with hours ranging from 7-5, and is located on East Little Creek Road in the shopping center with Walmart Supercenter. Businesses that welcome in families are my absolute favorite kind to support!  



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Jurassic World Live Tour

We spent the rainy Saturday at the Hampton Coliseum for Jurassic World Live Tour. The tour features a brave, smart, and fierce female scientist who uncovers an evil plan and works to save her dinosaur. I loved that this typical male dominated industry had a female lead who saved her male partner. In the STEM world, women still only make up 35% of the industry. I loved this for the girls in the audience. Super powerful. 

The show had some explosives, but nothing too loud or extreme. There was a variety of dinosaurs, and my kids were silent and watching the entire time. 

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Summer Camp 2024 Round Up


Believe it or not, summer is around the corner and camps are already filling up. Here's a roundup of some local camps by city: 

Chesapeake: 
Hampton:
Newport News: 
Norfolk:


Poquoson: 
Portsmouth: 

Smithfield: 

Suffolk:
Surry: 
Virginia Beach: 
Williamsburg: 
Yorktown:

Multiple Locations:

STEM in Hampton Roads

We all know that kids are sponges, and that they start learning right away. Kids begin learning STEM, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, components early in life. Engaging in STEM activities raises their literacy and mathematics scores later in life. We are lucky in Hampton Roads to be surrounded by hands-on STEM experiences. Checkout some of our favorites:

Norfolk: 

  • Nauticus: Checkout their toddler STEM time, or take older kids to face problems relating to Norfolk and the world beyond. 

  • Virginia Zoo: Look for the Zootales program and checkout animals from around the globe. 

  • Norfolk Botanical Garden: offers a wide variety of programming for all ages. 

  • Odu Planetarium: Checkout their FREE weekday shows 


Virginia Beach: 

  • Virginia Aquarium: for younger kids, take in the wonder of aquatic ecosystems while older kids solve current problems like sea level rising. 

  • Rudee Tours: See whales migrating off right off of our coast.

  • Game On: Let kids play through technology.

  • Black Cat Escape Room: Problem solve with creative solutions to exit the room of your choice.

  • Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream: Watch ice cream form before your eyes using nitrogen. 

  • Lynnhaven River Now: Follow them for their pop up events for kids. 

  • Tcc: Checkout their FREE planetarium shows. 

  • First Landing State Park: Jump on one of their tours or their classes. 



Portsmouth:

Chesapeake:

  • The Play Spot: Visit this next play area to check out their stem play stations for younger kids. 

Hampton: 



Newport News: 

  • Virginia Living Museum: Science lovers will love this museum with everything from Virginia's animals to dinosaurs. 

  • Mariner’s Museum: Checkout this museum for only $1 and see how mariners of the past and present use stem.



UNO Pizzeria & Grill

 I am so excited to share about our experience last night at Uno Pizzeria and Grill! We knew that on Tuesdays kids eat free, but I didn't know until recently that on the first Tuesday of the month they had a craft for kids as well as a "decorate your own style" kid's dessert. 
We arrived a few minutes after 5:00 and were seated immediately. The kids were brought a Valentine's Day picture frame craft to complete, which they worked on while the adults looked over the menu. On Tuesdays appetizers are half off, so we ordered the giant fried ravioli to share.  When we ordered our meal, the waitress asked the kids if they wanted to make their own pizzas, which I thought meant to pick their toppings. I was surprised when she told me that they would bring out the dough, sauce, and cheese and that the kids would assemble the pizzas themselves. They were then taken back to the kitchen so they could see the pizzas being put into the oven. 
While we ate, "would you rather" questions scrolled on the nearby t.v., which took over our conversation at the table. Some were silly, others were gross, and some I refused to pick an answer on. The kids asked for their "assemble your own ice cream sundaes" at only a $2.89 upcharge on the kid's menu. Since their meals were already free, we obliged, forgetting that they would also be bringing out cookies for the kids to decorate. The kids had a blast and my oldest said it was the best restaurant he has ever been to. 
The Norfolk Uno location has been revamping their programs to bring in more families.  They held an early New Years Eve party for families and they have an upcoming Princess Brunch.  Kids eat free every Tuesday, and they have a happy hour from 4-7. Wednesdays, they have a burger special for $9.99. There are vegetarian and vegan options. We had a great time, and we look forward to returning soon.





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