15 Issues to Do in Virginia with Youngsters • Kath Eats
Heading to Virginia this summer time or within the temper for a staycation? Listed here are 15 issues to do in Virginia with children alone bucket record!
I used to be drawn to Charlottesville earlier than I ever had children 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 stunning 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 full of enjoyable for the entire household.
I’ve been fortunate sufficient to name Virginia house for the previous 15 years, but there may be nonetheless a lot of the state I need to discover! Thomas and I’ve a purpose to do extra smaller, native journeys (perhaps with one evening away) with the boys. Whether or not you’re planning a summer time journey to Virginia or a Virginian your self simply on the lookout for methods to maintain your little ones entertained nearer to house, I’ve rounded up among the greatest kid-friendly actions which are on our bucket record!
15 Issues to Do in Virginia with Youngsters
There are tons of kid-friendly actions throughout the state that permit your little ones study, discover, and burn off all that vitality in one of the best ways. From hands-on museums to outside adventures, there’s one thing for each age and each form of curious child.
Listed here are just a few weblog posts with among the highlights we’ve already executed:
Is Virginia Secure for Youngsters?
I needed to look this up – do you know Virginia ranks because the eleventh most secure state within the US in 2025? And, if you happen to’re Northern Virginia particularly, the crime charges are literally among the lowest within the nation. The state additionally takes youngster security significantly, with superb sources like Secure Youngsters Virginia providing every thing from automobile seat checkups to security workshops and even sports activities clinics for households.
Inside Charlottesville particularly, we have now packages that help secure children just like the Secure Routes to Faculty Program, Neighborhood Bikes, ReadyKids, nice public faculties and extra.
What to Do in Virginia with Youngsters
Listed here are some concepts and new-to-me locations to take the children this summer time!
Issues to Do in Virginia Seashore with Youngsters
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Heart
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Heart is hands-down top-of-the-line spots to go to with children. It’s the right 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 reveals stroll you thru every kind of marine habitats from the Chesapeake Bay to the Crimson 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 superb spot for households. It’s enjoyable, artistic, and absolutely inclusive, all proper on the oceanfront.
It’s truly the primary absolutely accessible seaside playground within the US, which makes it much more superb. With extensive ramps, mushy surfaces, and sensory-friendly options, this park was really designed so that children of all talents can play facet by facet.
There are raised sand tables for castle-building, interactive sensory boards, and playful sculptures suppose dolphins and surfboards that encourage creativeness and open-ended enjoyable the place each youngster can benefit from the magic of play, with out obstacles. It’s free to go.
Ocean Breeze Waterpark
Ocean Breeze Waterpark is a kind of locations that examine all of the containers for a enjoyable household day. With over 30 rides and sights, there’s one thing for everybody from toddlers to thrill-seeking teenagers (and sure, even for us grown-ups, too!)
You’ve acquired a million-gallon wave pool, a soothing 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 full of age-appropriate slides, splash pads, and enjoyable water options that maintain them busy and secure.
Dad and mom, 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 children love animals and being outdoors mainly each child ever!
The petting farm is at all times a success. 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 a good way for little ones to study farm life.
The TreeWalk Journey is one other favourite with elevated walkways, treehouses, and loads of house 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 at all times convey an additional little bit of magic to the expertise.
Colonial Williamsburg
Simply an hour away from Virginia Seashore, Colonial Williamsburg is a kind 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 residing historical past museum and really looks like stepping again in time to the 18th century.
Unfold out over 300 stunning 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 attempt their hand at candle-making, blacksmithing, and even wander by the boxwood maze behind the Governor’s Palace.
We liked it at Christmastime!
Issues to Do in West Virginia with Youngsters
Clay Heart for the Arts & Sciences
The Clay Heart for the Arts & Sciences is such a hidden gem for households. It’s the right mixture of studying, creativity, and hands-on enjoyable that retains children (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 reveals. Your children can splash round in WaterWorks, make music within the Maier Basis Music Studio, or study wellness within the tremendous enjoyable “Wholesome Me!” exhibit.
And don’t miss the “My City” exhibit, the place children can role-play totally different jobs, or the Caperton Planetarium & Theater, the place you may see out-of-this-world house reveals.
Camden Park
Camden Park is the form of place that provides you all the nostalgic amusement park vibes. West Virginia’s solely amusement park is full of over 30 rides and sights starting from traditional thrills to little-kid favorites. The Massive 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 teenagers beneath 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 practice 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 right place to get your children away from screens and take part in some outside actions.
The park’s star attraction is the beautiful 57-foot waterfall, well-known for its wealthy amber-colored water (because of the tannins from fallen hemlock and purple spruce needles nature is fairly superb proper?!). You may simply view the falls from the boardwalk and statement platforms, which make it tremendous accessible for households with little ones in tow.
There are additionally mountain climbing trails, together with the Light Path, a wheel-chair accessible path that results in a wonderful overlook good for all ages and mobility ranges. And, if you happen to’re up for exploring, take a look at 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 study one thing new.
The Good Zoo is definitely the one AZA-accredited zoo in the complete state, and it’s house to over 80 species together with favorites like purple pandas, lemurs, and kangaroos. Youngsters can rise up shut with the animals, take part on feeding classes, and even study wildlife conservation in a method that’s tremendous hands-on and fascinating. There’s even a veterinary hospital on web site the place you may watch animal care in motion, which is so cool if you happen to’ve acquired an aspiring vet within the household!
Exterior of the zoo, Oglebay Park provides tons of house to discover with strolling trails, stunning gardens, and enjoyable seasonal occasions all year long. It’s the right combine of out of doors journey and animal encounters that retains everybody mother and father included blissful and entertained.
Issues to Do in Northern Virginia with Youngsters
Smithsonian’s Nationwide Air and House Museum
The Smithsonian Nationwide Air and House Museum doesn’t simply wow the children, but in addition adults, the second you stroll in. In case you’ve acquired a bit one who’s into planes, house, 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 reveals that make studying about aviation and house exploration tremendous enjoyable and hands-on. Plus, an IMAX theater reveals cool academic movies, and an statement tower the place you may 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 children it brings historical past to life in essentially the most hands-on, partaking method.
Younger guests can seize an Journey Map, which turns the property into a bit treasure hunt with enjoyable clues and colourful illustrations to information them alongside the best way. Contained in the Fingers-on Historical past Heart, children 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.
In case you’re visiting within the hotter months, don’t miss the working farm, the place you may meet animals and watch demonstrations of how farming was executed in George Washington’s day.
Leesburg Animal Park
Leesburg Animal Park is such a candy, fun-filled spot for households the place your children will likely be speaking concerning the animals lengthy after you’ve left.
Unfold out over 21 acres, the park is house to a enjoyable mixture of home and unique animals suppose zebras, camels, lemurs, wallabies, and extra! Youngsters can rise up shut and private within the Contact Space, the place they’ll pet and feed pleasant livestock like goats, sheep, and llamas.
However it’s not simply concerning the animals! The park additionally has indoor and outside play areas, together with a multi-level jungle fitness center, big slides, and a Discovery Room with arts and crafts for whenever you want a bit 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 teenagers!
Kids’s Science Heart Lab
The Kids’s Science Heart Lab in Fairfax is ideal for curious children who like to discover and get hands-on.
Tucked contained in the Truthful Oaks Mall, the Lab is full of interactive zones that cowl all issues STEM (science, expertise, engineering, and math) in a method that’s tremendous approachable and thrilling. On the Experiment Bar, children can truly run their very own science experiments, with a bit steering, whereas the Tinker Store lets them dive into constructing and engineering challenges.
With age-appropriate actions and reveals that rotate repeatedly, the Lab is a kind of locations that not solely retains children engaged, however truly evokes them.
LEGO Discovery Heart
Excessive on our household’s record: LEGO Discovery Heart. Good for teenagers who love spending the day constructing, exploring, and getting artistic. This colourful indoor play house is designed with 12 immersive zones that spark creativeness at each flip. With the DUPLO Park for toddlers, a whimsical Creativeness Specific practice trip, a 4D Cinema, and even Mini World, there’s something for each child.
Youngsters also can construct their very own LEGO automobiles, create personalised minifigures, or launch spaceships within the House Mission zone. Each exercise is hands-on, partaking, and completely geared towards studying by play.
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns is a magical pure surprise in Virginia that really looks like an journey for each children and grown-ups alike. This can be a enjoyable household outing that blends nature, studying, and a bit little bit of wow-factor!
As the biggest caverns within the japanese US, the underground views are beautiful. You’ll wander by large rooms stuffed with towering stalactites and stalagmites, go 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 whenever you head again above floor! There’s a one-acre Backyard Maze with fountains and a lookout tower (nice for burning off vitality), a Rope Journey Park with programs for various talent 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 fantastic locations to discover with children, whether or not you’re into state parks, seashores, charming small cities, or the entire above. I’m at all times on the lookout for enjoyable methods to get the children out of the home and into new, academic experiences.
In case you’re planning a visit or perhaps even interested by making Virginia your new house make sure you take a look at a few of my different weblog posts beneath the place I share our favourite spots, suggestions, and family-friendly finds throughout the state.
