As the weather warms and many families prepare for spring break vacations, events throughout the area promise adventure for those spending the week close to home.
Reliable standbys like Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens will operate throughout the week of spring break, while other organizations plan to present more ways for families to enjoy those much-needed days off.
Allison Jarvis strives to appreciate such opportunities, and as a chairwoman for Williamsburg Area Bicyclists, she’s a seasoned cyclist.
“You’ve got the wind in your face and the road in front of you. It’s freedom,” Jarvis said.
Riding acts as a sort of therapy for her, offering an escape from the issues that plague daily life and the chance to immerse herself in nature along the way. But as she works to recover from a hip injury, her feet must remain firmly on the ground.
“This has made me come to appreciate not only the physical benefits of riding, but the mental well-being cycling promotes as well,” she said.
The bicycling club is celebrating the arrival of spring with a spring break week full of rides. They start at various times and locations around the area, a move to accommodate people with different schedules. The week culminates in the organization’s Bikes out of Hibernation event, which encourages people to dust off their neglected bikes and put those wheels to work.
“They just don’t know where to start,” Jarvis said. “It’s a really great event for all ages, really, and different fitness levels. It’s not geared toward typical hardcore cyclists.”
BikeBeat, Bikes Unlimited and Conte’s Bike Shop will be on-site at the event’s Chickahominy Riverfront Park starting location to provide safety inspections and minor repairs at no charge. Club members will offer tips on bike etiquette and lead rides ranging from 2-15 miles along the Virginia Capital Trail.
Other events include a sunset ride Thursday evening, which departs from Billsburg Brewery at 6 p.m. Riders can explore the nearby area, and Jarvis hopes they’ll enjoy the sight of the setting sun as they return to the brewery. Participants are welcome to hang out after the ride, which highlights another aspect of the activity that Jarvis appreciates. When she left Norfolk for Williamsburg, she said she quickly felt welcome and made friends through bicycling. Despite her injury, the social side is something Jarvis still enjoys.
“We’ve got opportunities for people to enjoy each other’s company. You actually get to be a part of your community,” Jarvis said. “It’s just a nice sense of camaraderie.”
Wonders of the Sea
For those interested in a more aquatic adventure, the Virginia Living Museum might warrant a visit. The museum is celebrating its new moray eel exhibit with Wonders of the Sea Week Monday through Saturday.
Chris Crippen, VLM’s aquarium curator, sees the latest exhibit as an opportunity to shed a positive light on eels, which he said much like sharks carry a stigma of being aggressive when they’re generally docile.
“It’s an opportunity for people to get to see them up close. It’s an opportunity to see what they do,” he said. “They’re just cool. They’re beautiful animals.”
Crippen designed the 1,000-gallon exhibit to help bring out the eels’ natural behaviors. The tank holds numerous rocks filled with holes and cracks in which the eels can hide as they would in their native habitats. Low LED lighting helps simulate sunlight as it invades the water and gives way to the darkness of the depths. The tank houses other species, like the scrawled cowfish and grey angelfish, not found elsewhere in the museum.
The week features other attractions such as scuba programs, sea-themed shows in the museum’s planetarium and a screening of the 2017 documentary, “Chasing Coral.” It culminates April 7 with the Under the Sea Party, a costumed shindig that encourages kids to dress up as mermaids and pirates. Activities span storytelling, games and a dance floor with DJ.
The offerings also incorporate conversation kiosks in line with the museum’s overarching mission.
“It’s an opportunity to expand the collection and let people see things they wouldn’t normally see,” Crippen said. “It’s entertaining and educational at the same time.”
Library lowdown
As the Williamsburg Regional Library similarly tries to balance fun with the informative, it’s also expanding its programming for spring break as kids enjoy time off from school.
“We’re excited to have some additional programming during spring break to give families and kids in their families the opportunity to come and take advantage of the library,” said Barry Trott, WRL’s special programs director.
Events include Bright Star Theatre’s humorous take on “Cinderella” for kids in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and a workshop discussing car maintenance and safety, the first in a series of life hack workshops aimed at teenagers. Tanglewood Puppets shows returns to both library locations; magician and juggler Jonathan Austin also stops by the James City County branch for a show.
The week concludes with a free Community Thank You Celebration. The event aims to show gratitude toward the community for its support throughout February and into March as WRL competed in a nationwide contest to find the most-loved public library; WRL earned second place.
“We were just so amazed and pleased and delighted at the response. We wanted to do something for them,” Trott said.
The family-friendly affair features a balloon artist, puppet show, crafts and face painting. Entertainment includes folk-rock duo Bill and Pam Gurley as well as the College of William and Mary’s a cappella Cleftomaniacs.
“It’s just a chance to come together and celebrate,” Trott said.
Want to go?
Bikes Out of Hibernation runs 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 7 at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, 1350 John Tyler Highway. Free. Visit wabonline.org for other scheduled rides.
Wonders of the Sea Week and the moray eel exhibit come with admission to the Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News. Adults $20, kids $15. The Under the Sea Party runs 6-8 p.m. April 7. $7 for members, $12 for non-members through Monday, $10 for members and $15 for non-members afterward.
The Community Thank You Celebration runs noon-4 p.m. April 7 at Williamsburg Regional Library. Free. For a complete list of WRL events, visit wrl.org.
Other events
For additional spring break events, visit the Virginia Gazette calendar at bit.ly/2pTCibM or turn to page 4C.
