This Week's Event Recommendations

It may seem far, but a nice day trip I would like to recommend is a Walking Tour of Fort Boykin in Isle of Wight. Fort Boykin, listed on the National Register of Historic Places among other distinctions, has been in American History since 1623. It protected Jamestown colonists from Native American and raiding Spaniards. 

Fort Boykin is on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail and is home to the commonwealth's second oldest black walnut tree, which is more than 200 years old.

The tour is free and lasts about 45 minutes. Comfortable walking shoes are recomended. The fort is located at 7410 Fort Boykin Trial in Smithfield. Main Street Smithfield is also a place to see with quaint shops and beautiful homes.

For more information on the tour, call 357-0115 or www.historicisleofwight.com

This weekend is also the time to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Redeem the Dream Step Competition is at the Waterside Marrit in Downtown Norfolk. It is a chance to see some great step dancing all in memory of Dr. King.

To get children to appreciate art and recycling, Blue Skies Gallery will feature Myeco Visions from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It features art created by recycling and up-cycling post-consumer materials and re-purposingobjects that would have ended up in landfill.s The gallery is located in Downtown Hampton at 26 King Street. While in Downtown Hampton, take an old-fashioned merry go round ride. For just $1 per person you can ride on this restored beauty. My daughters, ages 9 and 7, want to ride it everytime we are in the area.