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8 Free Things to do in Richmond this Fall

The West End Mom

Sep 11
9 min

8 Free Things to do in Richmond this Fall

We love celebrating autumn, but the admission cost for visiting the fairs, pumpkin patches and festivals can add up quickly. Luckily, we have *plenty* of ways to enjoy the cooler temperature and changing of seasons around Richmond. I've rounded up 8 of our favorite, free activities and events from last year, and none of them require advanced registration either! Here are 8 free events and activities to try with your family this fall in central Virginia. 1. Snap your fall-them

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The West End Mom

Aug 30
5 min

The Best Apple Orchards around Richmond

Looking for an apple orchard near Richmond? I've got you covered! Picking apples is one of our favorite ways to kick off fall, and we've visited five central Virginia orchards over the past five years with kids. To make it easier for your family to enjoy this fall pastime, I've rounded up all my tips and tricks for visiting these central Virginia farms! I've also given each one a superlative, so you know exactly which one will work for your family this year. Apple season is m

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The Best PYO Fruit Farms around Richmond, Virginia

The West End Mom

May 2
7 min

The Best PYO Fruit Farms around Richmond, Virginia

The spring and summer "pick your own" season is one of our favorite times of the year! Luckily for us, there are some amazing farms around central Virginia that are perfect for picking your own strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples... and they are easy to navigate with kids. Quick Tips & Facts: 1) When we visit farms, I always bring our sunscreen, bug spray, hats and snacks. You just never know when the market will be closed or if it will be extra hot that day! Almost

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5 Family Friendly Activities to Try at Massanutten Resort

The West End Mom

Nov 14, 2021
5 min

5 Family Friendly Activities to Try at Massanutten Resort

Whenever we need reset, we plan a visit to the mountains... and that's exactly what we needed this fall! In October we decided to visit Massanutten Resort in the Shenandoah Valley because of its close proximity to Richmond and the easy pit stops on the way. It's a little under 2 hours from Richmond, making it a very easy trip with little kids. We also drove through Gordonsville -- we love visiting this cute town to eat at BBQ Exchange or to explore Market at Grelen and Montpe

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The Best Places to Find Santa in Richmond

The West End Mom

Nov 11, 2021
5 min

The Best Places to Find Santa in Richmond

I've rounded up the best spots in Richmond to grab a picture with Santa, himself! Some of these locations offer brunch or snacks with Santa, and, at the time of making this guide, all restaurants still had availability. Santa also pops up around Richmond, unexpectedly. We've been surprised by Santa while we were playing at Short Pump Park ! Bass Pro: Located in Ashland, Bass Pro is a fishing, hunting & outdoor store. We love to visit it because the entire store is themed for

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7 Activities to Do with Your Family This Christmas

The West End Mom

Nov 2, 2021
7 min

7 Activities to Do with Your Family This Christmas

Christmas is officially 53 days away! And we all know that the holiday calendar fills up so quickly, so I created a list of family-friendly activities and events that you need to do with your family this year. Here are some of the best Christmas activities around Richmond for families: 1. See the Christmas Lights Ashland's Light up the Tracks: This historic main street town is hosting its annual tree lighting on Saturday, November 6 at 6pm. This free event begins at Town Hall

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The Best Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches around Richmond

The West End Mom

Sep 19, 2021
11 min

The Best Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches around Richmond

Growing up in Richmond, I've visited my fair share of apple orchards and pumpkin patches. In visiting new locations over the years, I've learned that not every farm works for us each season. I decided to round up the best apple orchards and pumpkin patches around Richmond and give each one a superlative, so you know exactly which one will work for your family this year. Quick Tips & Facts: 1) Almost every pumpkin patch has uneven terrain - vines in the patches or hayrides to

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10 Family Friendly Ways to Celebrate Fall around RVA

The West End Mom

Sep 7, 2021
8 min

10 Family Friendly Ways to Celebrate Fall around RVA

Fall is one of my favorite seasons in Richmond because the weather cools down enough that we could spend all day outside! In honor of September, I've pulled together the best things to do with kids in Richmond during the fall. These are some of our favorite annual events and some of the best adventures we've had this year. Here are 10 activities around central Virginia to try with your kids this fall! 1. Go Apple Picking: PYO apple season is how we kick off our fall every ye

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Savoring Summer: 6 Adventures around Richmond for Families

The West End Mom

Aug 29, 2021
3 min

Savoring Summer: 6 Adventures around Richmond for Families

With one more week until the official end of summer, we are filling our calendar with all the fun we can! If you're not spending the entire week at the pool, here are 6 adventures around Richmond and Virginia to try before Labor Day. 1. Attend the Chesterfield County Fair: The Chesterfield County Fair is back after skipping last year! You can visit now through September 4, and weekday hours are 5-11 and weekend hours are 11-11. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5

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Trucks, Trains, Ships & Planes around Richmond

The West End Mom

Aug 15, 2021
7 min

Trucks, Trains, Ships & Planes around Richmond

If your family is anything like mine then your kids are huge fans of anything that moves, anything that is big, and anything that is loud (sometimes we need our earmuffs)! Luckily, the Richmond metro area offers so many places for children to see trucks, trains, ships and planes. The best part? Most of these Richmond area spots are outside, and they are free to visit! Here's my guide to finding all the things that go around Richmond, Virginia: 1. Ashland, Virginia: Located le

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7 Classes for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers in Richmond

The West End Mom

Jul 27, 2021
5 min

7 Classes for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers in Richmond

I love participating in local programs with my children, and we started trying out activities when my son was around 4 months old. Ranging from learning about art and music to animals, the Richmond area offers a bunch of teacher-led classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. These local "mommy and me" classes create hands-on learning opportunities, provide time to bond with a parent or caregiver, and help little ones develop social skills. Based on my experiences, these 7

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The Best Shaded Parks in Richmond, Virginia

The West End Mom

Jul 13, 2021
12 min

The Best Shaded Parks in Richmond, Virginia

We love visiting parks all year in Richmond, but it gets so hot during June, July & August! Now that summer is in full swing, we need outdoor spaces with a lot of shade. Here is a round up of Richmond area parks with great shade: 1. Byrd Park: This City of Richmond park has 287 acres of open space, paths, lakes, tennis courts & fields. There are three lakes with sidewalks around them and lots of geese. During the summer, Fountain Lake has pedal boat rides, and a concession⁣⁣⁣

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10 Family-Friendly Adventures that Will Keep You Cool this Summer

The West End Mom

Jul 6, 2021
8 min

10 Family-Friendly Adventures that Will Keep You Cool this Summer

Summer days in Virginia can be scorching, so we alternate our adventures with visits to our pool, local splash pads, local beaches, and indoor spots. Here are ten adventures that are fun for children of all ages around Richmond: 1. VMFA: We love visiting the Virginia Fine Arts Museum in the City of Richmond. Visiting both the museum and the the Claiborne & Lora Robins Sculpture Garden is free, and it's a perfect for children of all ages! We absolutely love the childhood art

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A Summer Bucket List for Virginia Families

The West End Mom

Jun 22, 2021
9 min

A Summer Bucket List for Virginia Families

We've been looking forward to summer 2021 for a long time: the world is headed towards normalcy, safety guidelines have been relaxed & places are open! We have just over 70 days between the start of summer and Labor Day, and we need a lot of family fun along with beach trips and vacations. I've pulled together some of our favorite annual summer events from around Virginia & some of the best adventures we've had this year to make a summer vacation bucket list. Here are 10 acti

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Fourth of July Celebrations around Richmond

The West End Mom

Jun 16, 2021
2 min

Fourth of July Celebrations around Richmond

We have so much to be grateful for each Independence Day, but this year feels extra special. After a year of cancellations & only small gatherings, we are so happy that our public celebrations, and fireworks, are back! *Henrico Recreation & Parks Independence Day event 2020 Here are 6 local ways for families to celebrate this Independence Day: 1. Ashland July Fourth Parade & Celebration: Sponsored by The Hanover Arts & Activities Center, Ashland's Independence Day event begin

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The West End Mom

May 10, 2021
4 min

Berry Fun: PYO Fields around Richmond

PYO season is one of our favorite times of the year! Lucky for us, there are some amazing farms around central Virginia that are easy to navigate with kids. Here are a few of the PYO berry farms that are on our list to visit this year. 1.Blue Eden Farm: This farm has PYO strawberries and blueberries. It is currently open for strawberry season - make sure you check their website or @blueedenfarm to stay up to date on picking conditions. Blueberry picking starts in June! Locate

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The West End Mom

Mar 7, 2021
3 min

A Getaway Weekend in Roanoke, Virginia

We had the best time weekend in Star City! While it was freezing, we still managed to explore Roanoke, Virginia. We like visiting Roanoke because the trip isn't too far ( 2 hours 30 minutes) & there's plenty of fun spot to stop to break up our trip. If you take 64 to 81, these fun pit stops are on the way: 1. Charlottesville 2. Afton Mountain Overlook (Exit 99) 3. Lunch in Stuart’s Draft - Exit 94 has a Panera, Starbucks & Chick-fila all with a drive thru! 4. The Drive Thru S

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Charlottesville: Carter Mountain's Cultivating Curiosity Class

The West End Mom

Aug 19, 2020
4 min

Charlottesville: Carter Mountain's Cultivating Curiosity Class

I've been looking for some structured activities to help us get ready for preschool this fall, and I was so excited to find Cultivating Curiosity at Carter's Mountain in Charlottesville, Virginia. We love Carter's Mountain, and we visit multiple times each fall to pick apples and to grab some pumpkins. It's very family friendly, and my children love it! I booked our class the Saturday before our class (2 days). The classes do tend to fill up the day before the session. I trie

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The West End Mom

Jan 31, 2020
1 min

Art Class at the VMFA, Tots of Art

We love taking art classes at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). The VMFA offers classes and camps for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children. Tots of Art (14-30 months): This class has a morning option (10:30-11:30) and an afternoon option (4-5) on Thursdays. The afternoon class is a great option for teachers during the school year. This class is much more structured than Artsy Infants, which can be challenging when its time to put all the toys up and

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The West End Mom

Jan 5, 2020
1 min

Art Class at the VMFA, Artsy Infants

We’ve been taking art classes at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the City of Richmond since H was 4 months old. This was one of the first “mommy and me class” we did together. We love taking these classes once a month, and you and your little one can participate in them almost weekly if you want. Artsy Infants (3-13 months): This class is from 12:30-1:30 on select Mondays. It begins with an “open play” time: babies can do tummy time, experience new shapes/toys, and intera

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