Calendar

New Experiences Posted Every Week! Say YES to NEW Adventures!

JOIN US IN BEING SPONTANEOUS ON MOST SATURDAYS!

So many people asked us, “if we don’t have a group in mind, can we still ride The Nature Bus and go on one of your nature experiences?” Our model is primarily for GROUPS up to 16 people. But we heard you! So we put together “Saturday Escapes!”

When we don’t have a private group tour scheduled, then it is your lucky opportunity to hop-on-board! So grab your seat before they are all taken.

Our public tours depart from REI in Town Center, Virginia Beach.

Our Upcoming Tours are listed below:


TOUR NAME: SPRING TINKERGARTEN with The Nature Bus!

Monday mornings, 11 am, at First Landing State Park for explorers 1 year old to 6 years old.        Siblings under 1 year old may attend for free.
Spring Session (6 days) = 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22, 6/5, 6/12 (rain date: 6/19)

11:00 – 12:00 ONE HOUR TINKERGARTEN NATURE LESSON (After the one-hour class, perhaps stay and play with your new friends after class if you choose.) 

> Summer Session (6 days) = 7/17, 7/31, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28, 9/11 (rain date: 9/18)

> Fall Session (6 days) = 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13 (rain date: 11/20)

> No Winter Session – see you in April 2024 for the next Spring session!

DESCRIPTION:

Join The Nature Bus for wonderful nature adventures to First Landing State Park! This family-friendly 6-week session is perfect for children and families who love the outdoors. COME PLAY OUTSIDE TOGETHER!

Outdoors is the classroom.
We have no walls.
Creatures are our teachers; Mud and sticks are our tools.
EVERY LESSON CONNECTS US TO NATURE!
“Invitations to play” ~ Each lesson is engineered to engage kids in play that they simply can’t refuse!
Kids learn best when they lead the way.
Child led; We help grownups support their child.

For families with young kids, spending purposeful time outside is more important than ever. To thrive in this dynamic world, children need outdoor play experiences that deliver the hands-on lessons, valuable social interactions, and restorative activity that can’t be gained from the tap of a screen. As parents, it’s our job to ensure they engage in these experiences early and often. But how?

While finding ways to create enriching outdoor moments is essential, it isn’t always easy. Getting outside might be a simple first step, but for a lot of us, knowing what to do next—and how to make it count— just doesn’t come naturally.

We’ve been there. That’s why you need Tinkergarten!

Tinkergarten helps families get outside to make the most of their kids’ early learning years. Designed by education experts and loved by all families, our play-based outdoor curriculum guides parents in raising healthy, confident, and capable kids.

Tinkergarten. Your guide to purposeful outdoor play.

$150 per child for the 6-week session

Important Note: you must pay $7 entrance to park, each time, unless you have an annual pass

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


TOUR NAME: School’s Out Family Adventure: Dino Day and Farm Exploration 

DATE: Saturday, June 10, 2023
Rain date: Sunday, June 11, 2023 (save both dates)

DURATION (ROUND TRIP): 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (traffic dependent; flexible return time) 

Please arrive 15-30 min before departure to board the bus. (REI 350 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)

PRICE: $35 per person (dinosaur egg for each child included!)

DESCRIPTION: School’s out and we want to celebrate with you and your family! Join us on The Nature Bus for a morning of Jurassic exploration and a farm visit. We will begin our day boarding The Nature Bus at REI, headed to Pungo. Along the way, we will play dinosaur-themed games and talk all things fossil and Jurassic! At The Dinosaur Park, families are free to explore independently or join Tori the Tour Guide for a walk-through where we will learn about each dinosaur (we may even learn how to make dinosaur sounds!). Before leaving The Dinosaur Park, every child will receive a dinosaur egg to take home. At 11:30am, we will leave The Dinosaur Park and head to Cullipher Farm. Located on the fertile Pungo Ridge in southern VA Beach, Cullipher Farm is family owned and operated by generations of Culliphers. Families can explore the farm, meet the farm’s two cows, and play on a playground unlike any other! Ice cream, honey sticks, fresh fruit and more are available at the farm for purchase. At 1:30pm, we will board The Nature Bus and head back to REI talking about our new dinosaur friends and farm adventures. Kick off your family Summer by spending time together on a grand adventure, and leave the planning to us! Bathrooms are available at the Aviation Museum and Cullipher Farm.

View Details


 

 

CAMP NAME: Nature Quest Summer Camp 2023 Week #1

*AGES 8-12; ONLY 16 CAMPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED/SESSION for this extra special opportunity. Register for just one week, or more weeks. Each week is UNIQUE, so go ahead and register for all four (4) sessions!!!

WEEK ONE DATES: June 26-30 

Week 1 = June 26-30     Week 2 = July 10-14     Week 3 = July 24-28     Week 4 = August 7-11

TIME: 9 am – 3 pm

PRICE: $350/camper 

DESCRIPTION: THIS CAMP IS LED BY TWO CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY TEACHERS! Nature Quest has been designed with your nature-loving child in mind! Hop-on-board The Nature Bus! Each day will be filled with outdoor nature activities and adventures. Activities will include: visits to different outdoor parks an nature preserves; flora an fauna observation + identification; exploring different ecosystems, creating sand sculptures; swimming; nature journaling; watercolor painting; environmental stewardship; nature meditations; eco arts; fun and games; naturalist challenges;  and much, much more! When children quiet down in nature, they can tap into their natural curiosity. At camp we will slow down and use all of the senses to experience the energies of the natural world. By practicing mindfulness, campers will learn to cultivate a sense of peace, awe and wonder. 

NOTES: We depart each day from REI, Town Center, Virginia Beach. No discounts are available for siblings; each seat is $350 for the week. Once purchased, we do not offer refunds; all sale are final. Last year this camp filled up immediately, so we advise that you purchase your child’s spot now!

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


TOUR NAME: “Experience Oysters” Aquaculture + VIMS

DATE: Saturday, July 8, 2023
Rain date: Sunday, July 9, 2023 (save both dates)

DURATION (8 hour ROUND TRIP): 10:30 am – 6:30 pm (traffic dependent; flexible return time) 

Please arrive at 10:00 am to board the bus. (REI 350 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach) to board the bus. The check-in process takes a bit of time. 

PRICE: $65 per person (8-hour tour) 

DESCRIPTION: This tour has participants “experiencing oysters” in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For a sample description, please read this blog (however we will go to the VIMS at Gloucester Pt and to Big Island Aquaculture this time – same article; different oyster farm: https://thenaturebus.com/experience-oysters/

Itinerary

10:00 arrive/check-in at REI/Town Center

10:30-10:45 departure from REI

Watch welcome to The Nature Bus video (10 min)

On-board MC welcomes everyone; introductions; fun & smilies

11:45 – 12:45 drive to VIMS  Gloucester Pt. Laboratory

12:45 – 1:00 restroom/snack

1:00 – 2:30 VIMS Aquaculture/Seawater Laboratory behind-the-scenes tour

2:30 – 3:00 drive to Big Island Aquaculture Farm

3:00 – 5:00 Tasting at Big Island: watch oyster farmer Bruce harvest + shuck oysters out in the water and share a taste with you. Raw or fried. Or try both!

5:00 – 6:15ish Drive back to REI

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


 

 

CAMP NAME: Nature Quest Summer Camp 2023 Week #2

*AGES 8-12; ONLY 16 CAMPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED/SESSION for this extra special opportunity. Register for just one week, or more weeks. Each week is UNIQUE, so go ahead and register for all four (4) sessions!!!

WEEK TWO DATES: July 10-14

Week 1 = June 26-30     Week 2 = July 10-14     Week 3 = July 24-28     Week 4 = August 7-11

TIME: 9 am – 3 pm

PRICE: $350/camper 

DESCRIPTION: THIS CAMP IS LED BY TWO CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY TEACHERS! Nature Quest has been designed with your nature-loving child in mind! Hop-on-board The Nature Bus! Each day will be filled with outdoor nature activities and adventures. Activities will include: visits to different outdoor parks an nature preserves; flora an fauna observation + identification; exploring different ecosystems, creating sand sculptures; swimming; nature journaling; watercolor painting; environmental stewardship; nature meditations; eco arts; fun and games; naturalist challenges;  and much, much more! When children quiet down in nature, they can tap into their natural curiosity. At camp we will slow down and use all of the senses to experience the energies of the natural world. By practicing mindfulness, campers will learn to cultivate a sense of peace, awe and wonder. 

NOTES: We depart each day from REI, Town Center, Virginia Beach. No discounts are available for siblings; each seat is $350 for the week. Once purchased, we do not offer refunds; all sale are final. Last year this camp filled up immediately, so we advise that you purchase your child’s spot now!

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


TOUR NAME: SUMMER TINKERGARTEN with The Nature Bus!

Monday mornings, 11 am, at First Landing State Park for explorers 1 year old to 6 years old.        Siblings under 1 year old may attend for free.
Summer Session (6 days) = 7/17, 7/31, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28, 9/11 (rain date: 9/18)

11:00 – 12:00 ONE HOUR TINKERGARTEN NATURE LESSON (After the one-hour class, perhaps stay and play with your new friends after class if you choose.) 

> Fall Session (6 days) = 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13 (rain date: 11/20)

> No Winter Session – see you in April 2024 for the next Spring session!

DESCRIPTION:

Join The Nature Bus for wonderful nature adventures to First Landing State Park! This family-friendly 6-week session is perfect for children and families who love the outdoors. COME PLAY OUTSIDE TOGETHER!

Outdoors is the classroom.
We have no walls.
Creatures are our teachers; Mud and sticks are our tools.
EVERY LESSON CONNECTS US TO NATURE!
“Invitations to play” ~ Each lesson is engineered to engage kids in play that they simply can’t refuse!
Kids learn best when they lead the way.
Child led; We help grownups support their child.

For families with young kids, spending purposeful time outside is more important than ever. To thrive in this dynamic world, children need outdoor play experiences that deliver the hands-on lessons, valuable social interactions, and restorative activity that can’t be gained from the tap of a screen. As parents, it’s our job to ensure they engage in these experiences early and often. But how?

While finding ways to create enriching outdoor moments is essential, it isn’t always easy. Getting outside might be a simple first step, but for a lot of us, knowing what to do next—and how to make it count— just doesn’t come naturally.

We’ve been there. That’s why you need Tinkergarten!

Tinkergarten helps families get outside to make the most of their kids’ early learning years. Designed by education experts and loved by all families, our play-based outdoor curriculum guides parents in raising healthy, confident, and capable kids.

Tinkergarten. Your guide to purposeful outdoor play.

$150 per child for the 6-week session; siblings under 1 year old may attend for free; 10% discount for registered siblings (text/call owner/Suzanne 757-288-9595 for the promo code)

Important Note: you must pay $7 entrance to park, each time, unless you have an annual pass ($85/yr)

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23451, United States


 

 

CAMP NAME: Nature Quest Summer Camp 2023 Week #3

*AGES 8-12; ONLY 16 CAMPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED/SESSION for this extra special opportunity. Register for just one week, or more weeks. Each week is UNIQUE, so go ahead and register for all four (4) sessions!!!

WEEK THREE DATES: July 24-28

Week 1 = June 26-30     Week 2 = July 10-14     Week 3 = July 24-28     Week 4 = August 7-11

TIME: 9 am – 3 pm

PRICE: $350/camper 

DESCRIPTION: THIS CAMP IS LED BY TWO CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY TEACHERS! Nature Quest has been designed with your nature-loving child in mind! Hop-on-board The Nature Bus! Each day will be filled with outdoor nature activities and adventures. Activities will include: visits to different outdoor parks an nature preserves; flora an fauna observation + identification; exploring different ecosystems, creating sand sculptures; swimming; nature journaling; watercolor painting; environmental stewardship; nature meditations; eco arts; fun and games; naturalist challenges;  and much, much more! When children quiet down in nature, they can tap into their natural curiosity. At camp we will slow down and use all of the senses to experience the energies of the natural world. By practicing mindfulness, campers will learn to cultivate a sense of peace, awe and wonder. 

NOTES: We depart each day from REI, Town Center, Virginia Beach. No discounts are available for siblings; each seat is $350 for the week. Once purchased, we do not offer refunds; all sale are final. Last year this camp filled up immediately, so we advise that you purchase your child’s spot now!

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


 

 

CAMP NAME: Nature Quest Summer Camp 2023 Week #4

*AGES 8-12; ONLY 16 CAMPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED/SESSION for this extra special opportunity. Register for just one week, or more weeks. Each week is UNIQUE, so go ahead and register for all four (4) sessions!!!

WEEK FOUR DATES: August 7-11

Week 1 = June 26-30     Week 2 = July 10-14     Week 3 = July 24-28     Week 4 = August 7-11

TIME: 9 am – 3 pm

PRICE: $350/camper 

DESCRIPTION: THIS CAMP IS LED BY TWO CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY TEACHERS! Nature Quest has been designed with your nature-loving child in mind! Hop-on-board The Nature Bus! Each day will be filled with outdoor nature activities and adventures. Activities will include: visits to different outdoor parks an nature preserves; flora an fauna observation + identification; exploring different ecosystems, creating sand sculptures; swimming; nature journaling; watercolor painting; environmental stewardship; nature meditations; eco arts; fun and games; naturalist challenges;  and much, much more! When children quiet down in nature, they can tap into their natural curiosity. At camp we will slow down and use all of the senses to experience the energies of the natural world. By practicing mindfulness, campers will learn to cultivate a sense of peace, awe and wonder. 

NOTES: We depart each day from REI, Town Center, Virginia Beach. No discounts are available for siblings; each seat is $350 for the week. Once purchased, we do not offer refunds; all sale are final. Last year this camp filled up immediately, so we advise that you purchase your child’s spot now!

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


TOUR NAME: Powhatan Creek Cypress Swamp Kayak + Brewery 

DATE: Saturday, August 12, 2023
Rain date: Sunday, August 13 (be sure to save both dates) 

DURATION (ROUND TRIP): 8:30 am – 3:30 pm (tunnel traffic dependent; plan on a flexible return time) 

Please arrive at 8:00-8:15 am to board the bus. (REI 350 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach) to board the bus. 

PRICE: $65 per person (includes your kayak rental!) 

DESCRIPTION: A fantastic opportunity to travel on board The Nature Bus with the one-and-only James Abbott (award winning birding guide). He will entertain and educate you while we ride for an hour to our destination – James River/Powhatan Creek. You have a CHOICE of a kayak, a tandem kayak, or a canoe (be sure to let us know via email info@TheNatureBus.com asap to reserve your selection). Our guide will take us through the tight cypress swamp (absolutely magical), pointing out the plants that are blooming and identifying the birds. We will work our way down into the open waters toward the marina. It is about a 2+ hour “easy” paddle, stopping often for naturalist commentary. We will flow “with the tide” which is super helpful. Billsburg Brewery and The Hungry Pub Food Truck will be our oasis at the end of our paddle! (bring $ for your food and drink, not included). 

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


TOUR NAME: Plein Air Sunflower Painting

DATE: Saturday, August 26, 2023
Rain date: Sunday, August 27, 2023 (save both dates)

DURATION (ROUND TRIP): 10:30 am – 2:30 pm (traffic dependent; flexible return time) 

Please arrive at 10-10:15 am to board the bus. (REI 350 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach) to board the bus. 

PRICE: $45 per person (paint supplies and charcuterie snacks included) 

DESCRIPTION: Capture the beautiful transition from summer to fall by painting stunning sunflowers in a plein air watercolor class! We will travel aboard The Nature Bus to a guided watercolor class in the sunflower fields.  You will get the chance to wander through the sunflower fields, selecting the perfect sunflower to cut and serve as your reference.  Once you have chosen your subject, you will be provided with all the supplies you need to capture the sunflower’s beauty in watercolor.  Your guide will lead you through the step-by-step process of painting your sunflower.  Afterwards, we will enjoy lunch together amidst the sunflowers (please bring your own lunch).  Whether you’re a beginner or experienced watercolorist, you will love painting among the sunflowers!

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


 

 

TOUR NAME: Pajama Llama – Overnight Llama Trekking!

DATE: Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10, 2023 

DURATION (ROUND TRIP): overnight trip departing at 8:30 am on Saturday, Sept. 9th; returning Sunday, Sept. 10 7:00 ish (tunnel traffic dependent) 

Please arrive at REI to board the bus at 8 am with your ticket and signed waiver form. REI 350 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA

PRICE: $150/person (includes camping fees and llama trekking) 

DESCRIPTION: Let’s go CAMPING overnight outside of Charlottesville, VA. The Nature Bus will be “your wheels” for the whole weekend! We will set up the tents and bring all the rest of the camping gear. Bring your own sleeping mat, sleeping bag (or blankets) and a pillow. Enjoy serenity, rolling pastures and a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. View the stars while sitting around a camp fire (weather permitting). Visit/pet the llamas in the show barn. Flush toilet and cold/hot running water available in the barn. We will venture out to discover the surrounding area. The Charlottesville/Crozet/Afton area is beautiful. Let’s go explore it. As a group, we can decide to take a ride to the Skyline Drive, or visit a winery, or take in another activity. It is always an option to stay back and relax in a hammock at camp. This is a family-friendly event; children welcome. You are welcome to bring your dog (IF your pet is friendly with all people and animals; must show up-to-date vet/shot records). Pups cannot attend the llama walk (below).

Do you want to go Llama Trekking? Walk with the llamas! This optional activity is a 2-mile nature walk along the pastures and into the woods with your own llama. You get to pick out “your llama” from the many they have in the pasture. The farmer said there will probably be baby llamas at that time! 

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


TOUR NAME: Autumn Glory ~ Because YOU Deserve This Getaway! 

Experience Autumn in Central Virginia with its majestic Blue Ridge Mountains and bucolic landscape to the fullest! Join us for a sunrise and leaf peeping trip on Skyline Drive, private winery & vineyard tour with wine tasting, and mind & body restorative experience at an idyllic farm situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
With its magnificent display of autumn foliage, fall is a high tourist season in Central Virginia. To better enjoy our autumn experience, we have chosen WEEKDAYS (rather than the weekend) to embark on this relaxing trip – Tuesday evening and returning Thursday evening. This will be a trip to remember. Grab a significant other, a parent, a favorite cousin, or a dear friend and sign up. We will do the rest.

DATE: Tuesday, October 24 at 6:30 pm – Thursday, October 26 (7-8 pm-ish; traffic dependent)

DURATION (ROUND TRIP): Oct. 24 6:30 pm – Oct. 26 7-8ish pm  Please arrive 15 min. before departure at REI to board the bus. Return time is traffic dependent. Due to the tunnel traffic, we are often delayed. Please plan on a flexible return time. 

PRICE: $390/person   INCLUDES: Two night overnight trip – camping under wide open sky or in the turn-of-the-century barn, OR for an additional cost, limited space is also available in a newly renovated farm house and guest cottage (please see below for more information), 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, wine tasting & cocktail, snacks and drinks, private sunrise and leaf peeping tour, private tour of a local vineyard & winery with another wine tasting, cooking class, and 3 workshops. Read description and itinerary below to realize how much value you will get for this ticket price. You will truly be surprised! (Excluded; bring $ for: dinner on Tuesday eve; 

(purchase your ticket at TheNatureBus.com > Calendar) 

DESCRIPTION/ITINERARY:

VENUE: Cedarmere in the Blue Ridge https://www.cedarmerefarm.com
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Cedarmere in the Blue Ridge Retreat is surrounded by the rolling hills and beautiful mountains of the Virginia Piedmont. The original farmhouse was built in 1850 and served as the U.S. Post Office for the unincorporated town of Cedarmere from 1903 to 1935. Cedarmere’s 100+ acres of rolling fields, recreational pond, and wooded trails provide the perfect escape to relax, recharge, and refresh from the hustle of modern life.
RETREAT PHILOSOPHY
Cedarmere Retreat is built on a philosophy of being kind to oneself. Simply curl up with a book in an Adirondack chair or hammock, go for a swim in Cedarmere’s spring-fed pond, kayak, float on our stand up paddle boards, or relax by our waterfall and listen to the trickling stream. This is your retreat, do as much or as little as you want.
Delightful meals and experiences will be prepared for you to enjoy throughout your visit.
Pamper yourself. Let’s check-in with ourselves. Go ahead and sign up! Give yourself permission to get off of the work/societal treadmill for these few days and recalibrate your equilibrium. Allow total immersion in an itinerary filled with activities designed to help you to relax, body and mind.

Tuesday October 24, 2023

6:30pm– Depart from REI/Town Center. Drive to Free Union, VA – just outside of Charlottesville. We will stop for dinner in Williamsburg before proceeding to our destination. (Bring $ for your dinner)
12:00 am – Arrive at Cedarmere. Pitch tents (we provide 2 10-person community tents; feel free to bring your own) or check into Cedarmere B&B and go to bed (see details below).

Wednesday October 25, 2023

8:30 am – Wake up to a beautiful morning in the country at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains while your country breakfast awaits.
10:00 am – 11:30 am – Meditative Photography workshop: learn to be in the present moment with the help of your phone camera. (Rain alternative: Dried Flowers workshop. Create fun and useful items, such as bookmarks, with beautiful flowers grown and air dried right on the farm.)
11:45 am – 12:45 pm – Lunch: an assortment of delicious sandwiches freshly prepared by a local country market nearby.
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm – Silent Contemplation – Give yourself the gift of silence. Grab a book and sink into an
Adirondack chair, envelop yourself in a cozy hammock and let the mountain breeze lull you to sleep, paddle board on Cedarmere’s spring-fed pond, practice meditative photography, and much more. This might be a difficult exercise for some, and welcomed by others. Please be kind to yourself and try to discover a quiet activity that you can enjoy by yourself.
1:45 pm – 3:45 pm  – Sensory Nature Walk. It’s not exercise, hiking, or jogging; it’s a fitness-mindfulness practice of simply being in nature and connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Being at the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains and having access to 50+ acres of wooded trails, Cedarmere provides the ideal environment for this peaceful experience. Here, you can soak in the sights of soft sunlight filtering through the leaves, listen to the trickling stream, taste the pure rain drops, smell the fresh scent of cedar, and touch the textured green moss. Let your senses bring you to the present moment and give you a moment of much needed peace and tranquility to rest your mind.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – We will get ready to go to Charlottesville for dinner; wine tasting & hors d’oeuvres will be served as we take turn to get ready.
6:00 pm sharp – Bus departs Cedarmere for Charlottesville
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Dinner at 3 different restaurants at different price points in groups of 5 or 6; your choice; out of pocket. List of options will be emailed to you for your selection; first come first served. You are welcome to later switch with fellow voyagers if you so wish.
9:15 pm sharp – Bus departs Charlottesville to return to Cedarmere. Please be prompt because it will be late.
Evening – Weather permitting, gather around the campfire to enjoy the crisp mountain air, a wide open sky full of stars, and s’mores (our take on a childhood favorite).

Thursday October 26, 2023

5:50 am – Sunrise and leaf-peeping on Skyline Drive. Experience the magical power of the sun as it rises over the Blue Ridge Mountains. An experience that cannot be missed!!! We will enjoy our continental breakfast while greeting the sun as it rises. We will then go leaf-peeping for an hour or so before returning to Cedarmere.
5:50 am Sharp – Bus departs Cedarmere for Skyline Drive. We will enjoy our coffee and continental breakfast as we drive to our destination.
9:00 am – 11:00 am – Flower Arranging Workshop. Learn the art and mechanics of flower arranging. You will also experience the importance of being in the moment and accepting things as they are, major principles in the practice of mindfulness meditation. Due to limited space on the overhead racks in the bus, we will not take the arrangements back to Norfolk. But, feel good that your arrangements will be enjoyed by patients at UVa Hospital. If you really would love to bring home your arrangement, please feel free to do so – you would need to hold it on your LAP for the ride home. We apologize in advance that it cannot be stored elsewhere on the bus.
11:15 am – 12:15 pm – Break down camp and pack up.
12:15 pm – 2:15 pm – Cooking Lesson & Lunch – A taste of Vietnam: learn how to roll your own Vietnamese garden rolls and make dipping sauce. You will learn how to roll the perfect garden roll with your choice of julienned colorful fresh vegetables, shredded chicken, savory tofu, rice paper, rice noodles, and an abundance of fresh herbs. You will also learn how to make the delicious peanut dipping sauce (please inform Suzanne if you prefer not to eat peanut at sign up; an alternative sauce will be provided). The fun part of this colorful healthy lunch is to learn how to exercise self restraint while participating in a friendly bonding competition.
2:30 pm – Bus departs for Hark Vineyards for a private tour and wine tasting. October is an active fermentation time at wineries. This will be a very informative and fun tour. Be ready to fall in love, or fall deeper in love, with Virginia wine!
2:45 pm Hark Vineyards private tour & wine tasting. Visit a local vineyard that has won numerous medals for its wine and learn all about the art of making wine. October is a fun time to tour a vineyard & winery because it’s an active fermentation time. You will also enjoy wine tasting as part of this tour. This is also your chance to buy Hark wine.
4:00 pm – We will make our journey back to Virginia Beach. We will stop mid-way for a 15 min stretch our legs, use the restroom, and then carry on. Depending upon the traffic, we should be back at REI/Town Center around 7:00ish. Feeling grateful for having this opportunity to relax and unwind in such a unique way.

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States


Give the gift of experience!

This is the perfect gift for nature enthusiasts. Select from a gift certificate value of $25, $50 or $100. These can be applied to any one of our Saturday Escape tours; we offer these year round (starting at $25 per person). We have something of interest for everyone! Upon the purchase of one of our gift certificates, we will immediately mail it to you, or to an address you specify. So get yours today!

Some tour examples include: guided nature hikes, bird watching, stargazing, nature painting and journaling, kayaking, white water rafting, visits to the Great Dismal Swamp, Back Bay, the Eastern Shore and so much more!

*December date listed below are only a place-holder for purchasing gift certificates -> does not dictate when certificates can be used.


TOUR NAME: First Day Hike with The Nature Bus!

DATE: Monday, January 1st 2024

DURATION (ROUND TRIP): 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (traffic dependent; flexible return time) 

Please arrive 15-30 min before departure to board the bus. (REI 350 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach)

PRICE: $25 per person (admission to the museum included!) 

DESCRIPTION: Begin the New Year by setting the intention to go outside! The Nature Bus will bring you on a guided First Day Walk inspired by the principles of forest bathing.  Forest bathing (the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku) combines the restorative properties of meditation and nature for a refreshing start to the New Year.  As you walk along the trails, your guide will encourage you to look deeply and connect with the natural world around you.  The hike will help you to set positive intentions for the year to come.  Whether you’re setting a resolution for health or you just enjoy the fresh winter air, we hope you’ll join us for this refreshing, peaceful First Day Hike!  

View Details

Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States

Keep informed about upcoming nature experiences that you won’t want to miss!