Heading to Virginia this summer season or within the temper for a staycation? Listed here are 15 issues to do in Virginia with youngsters by myself bucket checklist!
I used to be drawn to Charlottesville earlier than I ever had youngsters as a result of it’s on most of the “greatest locations to lift a household” lists, and now that I’ve two boys, I actually do love elevating them right here. From the coast to the mountains, there’s a lot to like about our lovely state. And it’s certainly very family-friendly. From exploring our discovery museums and amusement parks, stepping again in time at historic websites, or romping by trails of pure wonders, this state is filled with enjoyable for the entire household.
I’ve been fortunate sufficient to name Virginia dwelling for the previous 15 years, but there may be nonetheless a lot of the state I need to discover! Thomas and I’ve a objective to do extra smaller, native journeys (possibly with one night time away) with the boys. Whether or not you’re planning a summer season journey to Virginia or a Virginian your self simply searching for methods to maintain your little ones entertained nearer to dwelling, I’ve rounded up a few of the greatest kid-friendly actions which are on our bucket checklist!
15 Issues to Do in Virginia with Children
There are tons of kid-friendly actions throughout the state that permit your little ones be taught, discover, and burn off all that power in the easiest way. From hands-on museums to out of doors adventures, there’s one thing for each age and each sort of curious child.
Listed here are a couple of weblog posts with a few of the highlights we’ve already performed:
Is Virginia Protected for Children?
I needed to look this up – do you know Virginia ranks because the eleventh most secure state within the US in 2025? And, when you’re taking a look at Northern Virginia particularly, the crime charges are literally a few of the lowest within the nation. The state additionally takes little one security significantly, with superb assets like Protected Children Virginia providing the whole lot from automobile seat checkups to security workshops and even sports activities clinics for households.
Inside Charlottesville particularly, we’ve applications that assist secure youngsters just like the Protected Routes to College Program, Group Bikes, ReadyKids, nice public faculties and extra.
What to Do in Virginia with Children
Listed here are some concepts and new-to-me locations to take the children this summer season!
Issues to Do in Virginia Seashore with Children
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Heart
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Heart is hands-down probably the greatest spots to go to with youngsters. It’s the proper mixture of enjoyable and academic!
With over 12,000 animals and greater than 700 species, there’s a lot for little ones to discover. The displays stroll you thru every kind of marine habitats from the Chesapeake Bay to the Purple Sea. Plus, contact swimming pools, interactive shows, and every day animal feedings make studying really feel like an journey.
Grommet Island Park
Grommet Island Park is a good spot for households. It’s enjoyable, artistic, and totally inclusive, all proper on the oceanfront.
It’s really the primary totally accessible seashore playground within the US, which makes it much more superb. With vast ramps, mushy surfaces, and sensory-friendly options, this park was really designed so that children of all talents can play aspect by aspect.
There are raised sand tables for castle-building, interactive sensory boards, and playful sculptures assume dolphins and surfboards that encourage creativeness and open-ended enjoyable the place each little one can benefit from the magic of play, with out limitations. It’s free to go.
Ocean Breeze Waterpark
Ocean Breeze Waterpark is a type of locations that examine all of the containers for a enjoyable household day. With over 30 rides and points of interest, there’s one thing for everybody from toddlers to thrill-seeking teenagers (and sure, even for us grown-ups, too!)
You’ve received a million-gallon wave pool, a calming lazy river, and tons of water slides that vary from light to heart-racing. For the little ones, the newly up to date Buccaneer Bay is such a win; it’s filled with age-appropriate slides, splash pads, and enjoyable water options that hold them busy and secure.
Mother and father, you’ll love the little conveniences that make an enormous distinction: free parking, complimentary inside tubes, and even free sunscreen stations all through the park. I do know my boys would like to go!
Hunt Membership Farm
Hunt Membership Farm is such a candy spot for a household time out, particularly in case your youngsters love animals and being outdoors mainly each child ever!
The petting farm is all the time successful. You’ll discover pleasant goats, sheep, chickens, and extra, all prepared for some light pets and up-close interplay. It’s hands-on, academic, and an effective way for little ones to find out about farm life.
The TreeWalk Journey is one other favourite with elevated walkways, treehouses, and loads of area to discover and picture. And don’t miss their seasonal occasions just like the Easter Egg Hunt within the spring or the Harvest Truthful within the fall. They all the time convey an additional little bit of magic to the expertise.
Colonial Williamsburg
Simply an hour away from Virginia Seashore, Colonial Williamsburg is a type of magical locations the place historical past involves life. It’s such a enjoyable and surprisingly hands-on academic expertise for households. It’s the world’s largest dwelling historical past museum and really seems like stepping again in time to the 18th century.
Unfold out over 300 lovely restored acres, you’ll discover cobblestone streets, charming outdated buildings, and costumed interpreters who make you are feeling such as you’re proper there in colonial America. And for the children? It’s not nearly watching it’s about doing! They will strive their hand at candle-making, blacksmithing, and even wander by the boxwood maze behind the Governor’s Palace.
We cherished it at Christmastime!
Issues to Do in West Virginia with Children
Clay Heart for the Arts & Sciences
The Clay Heart for the Arts & Sciences is such a hidden gem for households. It’s the proper mixture of studying, creativity, and hands-on enjoyable that retains youngsters (and adults!) completely engaged.
On the coronary heart of the middle is the Avampato Discovery Museum, which spans three flooring and over 12,000 sq. ft of interactive displays. Your youngsters can splash round in WaterWorks, make music within the Maier Basis Music Studio, or find out about wellness within the tremendous enjoyable “Wholesome Me!” exhibit.
And don’t miss the “My City” exhibit, the place youngsters can role-play completely different jobs, or the Caperton Planetarium & Theater, the place you’ll be able to see out-of-this-world area reveals.
Camden Park
Camden Park is the sort of place that provides you all the nostalgic amusement park vibes. West Virginia’s solely amusement park is filled with over 30 rides and points of interest starting from traditional thrills to little-kid favorites. The Large Dipper, a historic picket curler coaster, is a should for courageous riders, whereas youthful kiddos can hop on the Lil’ Dipper for their very own mini model of enjoyable.
Kiddie Land is ideal for youths below 48 inches, with charming rides like Hand Vehicles, Kiddie Boats, and Pony Carts which are simply the best velocity for tiny adventurers. And for the entire household? There’s a miniature prepare trip and swan paddle boats.
Blackwater Falls State Park
Blackwater Falls State Park is a pure surprise that makes you cease and say, “Wow!” It’s the proper place to get your youngsters away from screens and take part in some out of doors actions.
The park’s star attraction is the gorgeous 57-foot waterfall, well-known for its wealthy amber-colored water (because of the tannins from fallen hemlock and crimson spruce needles nature is fairly superb proper?!). You’ll be able to simply view the falls from the boardwalk and remark platforms, which make it tremendous accessible for households with little ones in tow.
There are additionally climbing trails, together with the Mild Path, a wheel-chair accessible path that results in a gorgeous overlook good for all ages and mobility ranges. And, when you’re up for exploring, try Elakala Falls for the breathtaking Lindy Level Overlook for some significantly photo-worthy views.
Oglebay Park & Good Zoo
Oglebay Park & Good Zoo is such a enjoyable and well-rounded spot for households the place the children can run wild and be taught one thing new.
The Good Zoo is definitely the one AZA-accredited zoo in the whole state, and it’s dwelling to over 80 species together with favorites like crimson pandas, lemurs, and kangaroos. Children can rise up shut with the animals, take part on feeding classes, and even find out about wildlife conservation in a manner that’s tremendous hands-on and interesting. There’s even a veterinary hospital on web site the place you’ll be able to watch animal care in motion, which is so cool when you’ve received an aspiring vet within the household!
Exterior of the zoo, Oglebay Park affords tons of area to discover with strolling trails, lovely gardens, and enjoyable seasonal occasions all year long. It’s the proper combine of out of doors journey and animal encounters that retains everybody mother and father included pleased and entertained.
Issues to Do in Northern Virginia with Children
Smithsonian’s Nationwide Air and House Museum
The Smithsonian Nationwide Air and House Museum doesn’t simply wow the children, but additionally adults, the second you stroll in. For those who’ve received just a little one who’s into planes, area, or something that flies, this can be a must-visit.
There are iconic plane displayed, just like the House Shuttle Discovery, SR-71 Blackbird, and Air France Concorde, in addition to interactive displays that make studying about aviation and area exploration tremendous enjoyable and hands-on. Plus, an IMAX theater reveals cool academic movies, and an remark tower the place you’ll be able to watch actual planes taking off and touchdown at Dulles Airport close by.
George Washington’s Property in Mount Vernon
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Property is such a enjoyable and enriching place to go to with youngsters it brings historical past to life in probably the most hands-on, participating manner.
Younger guests can seize an Journey Map, which turns the property into just a little treasure hunt with enjoyable clues and colourful illustrations to information them alongside the best way. Contained in the Arms-on Historical past Heart, youngsters ages 3–10 can actually step again in time by dressing up in 18th-century outfits, enjoying with interval toys, and attempting out themed actions that make studying really feel like play.
For those who’re visiting within the hotter months, don’t miss the working farm, the place you’ll be able to meet animals and watch demonstrations of how farming was performed in George Washington’s day.
Leesburg Animal Park
Leesburg Animal Park is such a candy, fun-filled spot for households the place your youngsters might be speaking in regards to the animals lengthy after you’ve left.
Unfold out over 21 acres, the park is dwelling to a enjoyable mixture of home and unique animals assume zebras, camels, lemurs, wallabies, and extra! Children can rise up shut and private within the Contact Space, the place they’ll pet and feed pleasant cattle like goats, sheep, and llamas.
But it surely’s not simply in regards to the animals! The park additionally has indoor and out of doors play areas, together with a multi-level jungle fitness center, large slides, and a Discovery Room with arts and crafts for once you want just a little downtime (or shade!).
And don’t miss their seasonal occasions just like the Pumpkin Village Fall Fest and Christmas Village, full with hayrides, moon bounces, and festive decor that’s simply as enjoyable for grown-ups as it’s for youths!
Kids’s Science Heart Lab
The Kids’s Science Heart Lab in Fairfax is ideal for curious youngsters who like to discover and get hands-on.
Tucked contained in the Truthful Oaks Mall, the Lab is filled with interactive zones that cowl all issues STEM (science, know-how, engineering, and math) in a manner that’s tremendous approachable and thrilling. On the Experiment Bar, youngsters can really run their very own science experiments, with just a little steerage, whereas the Tinker Store lets them dive into constructing and engineering challenges.
With age-appropriate actions and displays that rotate usually, the Lab is a type of locations that not solely retains youngsters engaged, however really evokes them.
LEGO Discovery Heart
Excessive on our household’s checklist: LEGO Discovery Heart. Good for youths who love spending the day constructing, exploring, and getting artistic. This colourful indoor play area is designed with 12 immersive zones that spark creativeness at each flip. With the DUPLO Park for toddlers, a whimsical Creativeness Specific prepare trip, a 4D Cinema, and even Mini World, there’s something for each child.
Children may construct their very own LEGO vehicles, create personalised minifigures, or launch spaceships within the House Mission zone. Each exercise is hands-on, participating, and completely geared towards studying by play.
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns is a magical pure surprise in Virginia that really seems like an journey for each youngsters and grown-ups alike. It is a enjoyable household outing that blends nature, studying, and just a little little bit of wow-factor!
As the biggest caverns within the japanese US, the underground views are gorgeous. You’ll wander by large rooms crammed with towering stalactites and stalagmites, move by the glassy Dream Lake, and listen to precise music echoing from the Nice Stalacpipe Organ an actual organ that makes use of the cavern formations to play notes.
The enjoyable doesn’t cease once you head again above floor! There’s a one-acre Backyard Maze with fountains and a lookout tower (nice for burning off power), a Rope Journey Park with programs for various ability ranges, and Toy City Junction, which options classic mannequin trains and traditional toys that even adults will love.
Get able to discover Virginia by kid-friendly actions!
Virginia is full of wonderful locations to discover with youngsters, whether or not you’re into state parks, seashores, charming small cities, or all the above. I’m all the time searching for enjoyable methods to get the children out of the home and into new, academic experiences.
For those who’re planning a visit or possibly even fascinated about making Virginia your new dwelling be sure you try a few of my different weblog posts beneath the place I share our favourite spots, suggestions, and family-friendly finds throughout the state.
