Heading to Virginia this summer time or within the temper for a staycation? Listed here are 15 issues to do in Virginia with youngsters by myself bucket listing!
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 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 via trails of pure wonders, this state is full of enjoyable for the entire household.
I’ve been fortunate sufficient to name Virginia dwelling for the previous 15 years, but there’s 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 night time away) with the boys. Whether or not you’re planning a summer time 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 among the greatest kid-friendly actions which are on our bucket listing!
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 one of the simplest ways. From hands-on museums to outside adventures, there’s one thing for each age and each sort of curious child.
Listed here are a number of weblog posts with among the highlights we’ve already carried out:
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 case you’re Northern Virginia particularly, the crime charges are literally among the lowest within the nation. The state additionally takes little one security severely, with wonderful sources like Protected Children Virginia providing every part from automotive seat checkups to security workshops and even sports activities clinics for households.
Inside Charlottesville particularly, we’ve applications that assist protected youngsters just like the Protected Routes to Faculty Program, Neighborhood Bikes, ReadyKids, nice public colleges and extra.
What to Do in Virginia with Children
Listed here are some concepts and new-to-me locations to take the youngsters this summer time!
Issues to Do in Virginia Seaside with Children
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Heart
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Heart is hands-down among the finest spots to go to with youngsters. 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 all types 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 good 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 wonderful. With vast ramps, mushy surfaces, and sensory-friendly options, this park was actually 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 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 boundaries. 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 obtained 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 protected.
Mother and father, you’ll love the little conveniences that make a giant distinction: free parking, complimentary internal 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 day trip, particularly in case your youngsters love animals and being outdoors 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, 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 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 deliver 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 academic expertise for households. It’s the world’s largest dwelling historical past museum and actually seems 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 youngsters? It’s not nearly watching it’s about doing! They will strive their hand at candle-making, blacksmithing, and even wander via the boxwood maze behind the Governor’s Palace.
We beloved 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 right 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’ll be able to see out-of-this-world area exhibits.
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 full of over 30 rides and points of interest starting from basic thrills to little-kid favorites. The Huge Dipper, a historic wood 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 appropriate 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 marvel that makes you cease and say, “Wow!” It’s the right 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 pink spruce needles nature is fairly wonderful proper?!). You possibly can 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 mountain climbing trails, together with the Mild Path, a wheel-chair accessible path that results in a phenomenal overlook excellent for all ages and mobility ranges. And, in case you’re up for exploring, try Elakala Falls for the breathtaking Lindy Level Overlook for some severely 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 be taught one thing new.
The Good Zoo is definitely the one AZA-accredited zoo in the complete state, and it’s dwelling to over 80 species together with favorites like pink pandas, lemurs, and kangaroos. Children can stand up shut with the animals, take part on feeding periods, and even study wildlife conservation in a means 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 in case you’ve obtained an aspiring vet within the household!
Outdoors of the zoo, Oglebay Park provides tons of area to discover with strolling trails, stunning gardens, and enjoyable seasonal occasions all year long. It’s the right combine of outside journey and animal encounters that retains everybody dad and mom included comfortable 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 youngsters, but in addition adults, the second you stroll in. Should you’ve obtained slightly one who’s into planes, area, or something that flies, it is 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 area exploration tremendous enjoyable and hands-on. Plus, an IMAX theater exhibits 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 means.
Younger guests can seize an Journey Map, which turns the property into slightly 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 making an attempt out themed actions that make studying really feel like play.
Should you’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 carried out 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 dwelling to a enjoyable mixture of home and unique animals assume zebras, camels, lemurs, wallabies, and extra! Children can stand up shut and private within the Contact Space, the place they’ll pet and feed pleasant livestock like goats, sheep, and llamas.
Nevertheless it’s not simply in regards to the animals! The park additionally has indoor and outside play areas, together with a multi-level jungle fitness center, large slides, and a Discovery Room with arts and crafts for whenever you want slightly 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 Heart Lab
The Youngsters’s Science Heart 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, know-how, engineering, and math) in a means that’s tremendous approachable and thrilling. On the Experiment Bar, youngsters can truly run their very own science experiments, with slightly steering, whereas the Tinker Store lets them dive into constructing and engineering challenges.
With age-appropriate actions and reveals that rotate recurrently, the Lab is a kind of locations that not solely retains youngsters engaged, however truly conjures up them.
LEGO Discovery Heart
Excessive on our household’s listing: LEGO Discovery Heart. Good 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 trip, a 4D Cinema, and even Mini World, there’s something for each child.
Children may also 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 via play.
Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns is a magical pure marvel in Virginia that actually seems like an journey for each youngsters and grown-ups alike. It is a enjoyable household outing that blends nature, studying, and slightly little bit of wow-factor!
As the biggest caverns within the jap US, the underground views are beautiful. You’ll wander via large rooms full of 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 power), a Rope Journey Park with programs for various ability ranges, and Toy City Junction, which options classic mannequin trains and basic toys that even adults will love.
Get able to discover Virginia via kid-friendly actions!
Virginia is full of fantastic locations to discover with youngsters, whether or not you’re into state parks, seashores, charming small cities, or the entire above. I’m at all times searching for enjoyable methods to get the youngsters out of the home and into new, academic experiences.
Should you’re planning a visit or perhaps even interested by making Virginia your new dwelling make 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.