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HAVE FUN, MOUNT VERNON TO MARS

"On The Road"--the out of town pick of the week

Date published: 7/24/2008

By Peggy Carlson

A visit to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens can be informative and enjoyable for the entire family. If you and your children are planning a weekend visit this summer, be sure to check out "Once Upon a Time at Mount Vernon," an outdoor storytelling session held every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. though Sept. 27 at the "George Washington: Pioneer Farmer" site.

The 20-minute session includes Aesop's fables, stories about Washington's life and anecdotes about Mount Vernon livestock. It is recommended for children ages 3-8, and parental supervision is required.

The farm site covers more than four acres, and it is a five-minute walk south of the mansion, adjacent to the wharf on the Potomac River. It features a dramatic interpretation in the 16-sided barn, 18th-century farming demonstrations, costumed interpreters, rare-breed barn animals and more.

"Once Upon a Time at Mount Vernon" is included in regular estate admission: $13 for adults, $6 for children 6-11 and children under 5 are admitted free. Mount Vernon is located at 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. For details, call 703/780-2000 or visit mountvernon.org.

If the blistering hot and humid days of summer are getting you down, you can head to Richmond for a few hours of relief in a cool, dark place and learn something about the planet Mars at the same time.

The Walt Disney Pictures giant-screen film "Roving Mars" is showing at the Science Museum of Virginia's Ethyl IMAX Dome through Oct. 26.

Earthlings have long been fascinated by the Red Planet, and this film chronicles the Mars mission with rovers Spirit and Opportunity and the efforts of 4,000 scientists, technicians and laborers in a project costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

Tickets for "Roving Mars" are $8.50. A movie/museum admission combo ticket costs $16.50-$17.50. The Science Museum of Virginia is located at 2500 W. Broad St. For details, call 800/659-1727 or visit smv.org.

--Peggy Carlson

IT'S STORYTELLING TIME AT MOUNT VERNON WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE, travel to mars CHECK OUT THE TRAVEL SECTION every Sunday to see a complete list of out-of-town destinations and activities, including events in Richmond, Washington, Charlottesville and more.

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Date published: 7/24/2008