Dave and I had some unplanned time off, so we decided to visit The Virginia Safari park. The park is near Natural Bridge, VA and it is only a 3-hour drive from our home. While driving around looking for local attractions, we noticed the sign “Foamhenge” on the side of the road. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long to look it up via smartphone. How would we survive without all this technology? 🙂 Smartphone displayed the following information.
Stonehenge has inspired awe and mystery from visitors for over 5000 years. These megalithic ruins have withstood the tests of time and captivated our imagination. Artist and native Virginian, Mark Cline of Enchanted Castle Studios, has unveiled a full size replica of Stonehenge on the property of the Natural Bridge of Virginia made entirely of foam. “Foamhenge at Natural Bridge” is painted to resemble the real Stonehenge. Located on the west side of Rt. 11 near the Natural Bridge Zoo, 1 mile north of Natural Bridge.
We decided to stop and take a look at Foamhenge, especially since we visited Stonehenge in 2010. Here are 2 pictures for comparison: Foamhenge is depicted in the top picture and Stonehenge is in the 2nd picture.
Foamhenge.
Stonehenge.
Just a few more pictures of Foamhenge. Here is the Foamhenge sign.
The entrance with an interesting note from the creator. Just enlarge the picture by clicking on it or read the sign in the upcoming picture.
Outside the Foamhenge circle.
Inside the Foamhenge circle.
We noticed that there is a statue next to Foamhenge. Stonehenge definitely doesn’t have it. We found out from the signs below that the sculpture is called The Face of Merlin and was cast from the real person – Jamie Jordan.
Now, just a little about our Stonehenge trip. We didn’t have much time to spend in London, but we dedicated one day to visiting the mysterious Stonehenge. Our day trip included a visit to the town of Bath with admission to the Roman Baths, stop at the historical Lacock village, and finish the tour with a private viewing of Stonehenge at sunset.
Bath is a beautiful Georgian city, and also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its most celebrated resident is Jane Austin. Bath was her birthplace and inspiration for several novels. We visited the Roman Baths there, and explored the city a little by walking.
Lacock is one of England’s most picturesque villages and dates back to the Saxon era. The village has provided the setting for many movies and television dramas, including Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice and Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone. We walked around the village and had lunch in the George, a vintage English pub built in the 14th century.
Most visitors to Stonehenge are not allowed direct access to the stones. On this private day trip from London we were invited to enter the stone circle itself, and stand beside the mysterious rocks towering above us. We enjoyed the peace away from the crowds, as we experienced Stonehenge at its atmospheric best at sunset. However, it was kind of cloudy, so the sunset wasn’t as beautiful as we expected.
We had a very memorable experience at Stonehenge. Below is a 5-minute video of our Stonehenge visit.
