Heading to Virginia this summer season or within the temper for a staycation? Listed below are 15 issues to do in Virginia with youngsters alone 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 “finest locations to boost 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 season journey to Virginia or a Virginian your self simply searching for methods to maintain your little ones entertained nearer to house, I’ve rounded up among the finest kid-friendly actions which might be 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 study, discover, and burn off all that power in one of the best ways. From hands-on museums to outside adventures, there’s one thing for each age and each type of curious child.
Listed below are a number of weblog posts with among the highlights we’ve already completed:
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, in the event you’re taking a look at Northern Virginia particularly, the crime charges are literally among the lowest within the nation. The state additionally takes little one security significantly, with superb assets like Protected Children Virginia providing every thing 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, Neighborhood Bikes, ReadyKids, nice public colleges and extra.
What to Do in Virginia with Children
Listed below are some concepts and new-to-me locations to take the youngsters this summer season!
Issues to Do in Virginia Seaside with Children
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Middle
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Middle is hands-down the most effective 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 reveals stroll you thru every kind of marine habitats from the Chesapeake Bay to the Pink Sea. Plus, contact swimming pools, interactive shows, and each 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, inventive, and totally inclusive, all proper on the oceanfront.
It’s truly the primary totally accessible seaside playground within the US, which makes it much more superb. With extensive ramps, delicate surfaces, and sensory-friendly options, this park was actually designed so that youngsters of all talents can play aspect by aspect.
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 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 kind 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 acquired a million-gallon wave pool, a soothing lazy river, and tons of water slides that vary from mild 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 hold them busy and secure.
Dad and mom, you’ll love the little conveniences that make a giant distinction: free parking, complimentary interior 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 exterior principally 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 mild pets and up-close interplay. It’s hands-on, instructional, and an effective way for little ones to study 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 Honest within the fall. They at all times carry an additional little bit of magic to the expertise.
Colonial Williamsburg
Simply an hour away from Virginia Seaside, Colonial Williamsburg is a kind of magical locations the place historical past involves life. It’s such a enjoyable and surprisingly hands-on instructional expertise for households. It’s the world’s largest residing historical past museum and actually 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’re feeling such as you’re proper there in colonial America. And for the youngsters? It’s not nearly watching it’s about doing! They’ll attempt their hand at candle-making, blacksmithing, and even wander by the boxwood maze behind the Governor’s Palace.
We beloved it at Christmastime!
Issues to Do in West Virginia with Children
Clay Middle for the Arts & Sciences
The Clay Middle 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. toes of interactive reveals. Your youngsters 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 youngsters can role-play totally different jobs, or the Caperton Planetarium & Theater, the place you possibly can see out-of-this-world area exhibits.
Camden Park
Camden Park is the type of place that offers you all the nostalgic amusement park vibes. West Virginia’s solely amusement park is full of over 30 rides and points of interest starting from traditional thrills to little-kid favorites. The Huge 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 underneath 48 inches, with charming rides like Hand Vehicles, Kiddie Boats, and Pony Carts which might be simply the precise pace for tiny adventurers. And for the entire household? There’s a miniature prepare journey 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 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 crimson spruce needles nature is fairly superb proper?!). You’ll be able to simply view the falls from the boardwalk and commentary platforms, which make it tremendous accessible for households with little ones in tow.
There are additionally climbing trails, together with the Light Path, a wheel-chair accessible path that results in a wonderful overlook excellent for all ages and mobility ranges. And, in the event you’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 youngsters 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 crimson pandas, lemurs, and kangaroos. Children can stand up shut with the animals, take part on feeding classes, and even study wildlife conservation in a method that’s tremendous hands-on and interesting. There’s even a veterinary hospital on website the place you possibly can watch animal care in motion, which is so cool in the event you’ve acquired an aspiring vet within the household!
Exterior of the zoo, Oglebay Park presents tons of area to discover with strolling trails, stunning gardens, and enjoyable seasonal occasions all year long. It’s the proper combine of out of doors journey and animal encounters that retains everybody dad and mom included joyful and entertained.
Issues to Do in Northern Virginia with Children
Smithsonian’s Nationwide Air and Area Museum
The Smithsonian Nationwide Air and Area Museum doesn’t simply wow the youngsters, but additionally adults, the second you stroll in. When you’ve acquired somewhat one who’s into planes, area, or something that flies, this can be a must-visit.
There are iconic plane displayed, just like the Area Shuttle Discovery, SR-71 Blackbird, and Air France Concorde, in addition to interactive reveals that make studying about aviation and area exploration tremendous enjoyable and hands-on. Plus, an IMAX theater exhibits cool instructional movies, and an commentary tower the place you possibly can 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 essentially the most hands-on, participating method.
Younger guests can seize an Journey Map, which turns the property into somewhat treasure hunt with enjoyable clues and colourful illustrations to information them alongside the way in which. Contained in the Palms-on Historical past Middle, youngsters ages 3–10 can actually step again in time by dressing up in 18th-century outfits, taking part in with interval toys, and making an attempt out themed actions that make studying really feel like play.
When you’re visiting within the hotter months, don’t miss the working farm, the place you possibly can meet animals and watch demonstrations of how farming was completed in George Washington’s day.
Leesburg Animal Park
Leesburg Animal Park is such a candy, fun-filled spot for households the place your youngsters can be speaking in regards to 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! Children can stand up shut and private within the Contact Space, the place they will pet and feed pleasant cattle like goats, sheep, and llamas.
However it’s not simply in regards to the animals! The park additionally has indoor and outside play areas, together with a multi-level jungle health club, large slides, and a Discovery Room with arts and crafts for while you want somewhat 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!
Youngsters’s Science Middle Lab
The Youngsters’s Science Middle Lab in Fairfax is ideal for curious youngsters who like to discover and get hands-on.
Tucked contained in the Honest 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, youngsters can truly run their very own science experiments, with somewhat steerage, whereas the Tinker Store lets them dive into constructing and engineering challenges.
With age-appropriate actions and reveals that rotate frequently, the Lab is a kind of locations that not solely retains youngsters engaged, however truly conjures up them.
LEGO Discovery Middle
Excessive on our household’s checklist: LEGO Discovery Middle. Excellent for teenagers who love spending the day constructing, exploring, and getting inventive. 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 journey, a 4D Cinema, and even Mini World, there’s something for each child.
Children can even construct their very own LEGO vehicles, create customized minifigures, or launch spaceships within the Area 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 looks like an journey for each youngsters and grown-ups alike. This can be a enjoyable household outing that blends nature, studying, and somewhat little bit of wow-factor!
As the most important caverns within the japanese US, the underground views are beautiful. You’ll wander by large rooms stuffed with towering stalactites and stalagmites, cross 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 while 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 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 wonderful locations to discover with youngsters, whether or not you’re into state parks, seashores, charming small cities, or all the above. I’m at all times searching for enjoyable methods to get the youngsters out of the home and into new, instructional experiences.
When you’re planning a visit or perhaps even eager about making Virginia your new house make sure to 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.