Mother's Day 2024 is right around the corner! And if you want to treat your mother, grandmother or that special lady in your life, I have a bunch of lovely ways to celebrate Mother's Day around Richmond, Virginia. These RVA restaurants, gardens and wineries are family friendly, they each provide space for children to run around, and some even have delicious food and beverage options!
From splurge worthy to free, I have 9 places for you to try around Richmond, Virginia this Mother's Day! As a bonus, I've included my favorite carry out options in case you'd like to celebrate at home this year.
*Follow @thewestendmom on Instagram for things to do with kids in Richmond and around Virginia!
THE BEST PLACES TO CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY AROUND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
These Richmond area restaurants, wineries and gardens are some of the prettiest and fanciest kid-friendly places to celebrate special events. These places are all things I enjoy doing with my family for my birthday, to celebrate my children's grandmothers, and to enjoy family time somewhere special.
FAMILY FRIENDLY WINERIES AROUND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA:
1.Jolene Family Vineyard: Located in New Kent, Virginia, Jolene Family Vineyard is right off the Pocahontas Trail and it overlooks Tom Brooks Lake, a 18-acre private lake. Jolene Family Winery grows their own grapes right next to the property, and you’ll find variations of red & white. You can also try wine slushies!
The Tasting Room sells Firehook Bakery, Newsoms Peanut Shop, Birdie’s Pimento Cheese, Goot Essa Cheese & Sly Clyde Ciderworks. While the winery doesn’t serve hot food, you can bring your own food and snacks, plus they host food trucks on Fridays-Saturdays. They also host Trivia Night & have musical guests.
You can relax in The Greenhouse (sofa, fireplace & games), The Veranda (two patios & a gazebo), or you can reserve a Lakeside Lounge Tent by Wild Tribe ($100). There's plenty of greenspace for kiddos to run around, and you can find TikTacToe and Connect Four in The Greenhouse. During our visit, I also brought color supplies and games for my children. The patios and outside seating are dog friendly, with the exception of our Lakeside Lounge Tents.
Pro Tip: For special occasions, book the Lakeside Lounge Tents. You will even get your own server!
A special THANK YOU to Jolene Family Winery for providing a Lakeside Lounge Tent by Wild Tribe to The West End Mom community. Check my Instagram for this giveaway going on right now (April 18-April 23, 2024).
2. Brambly Park: Opening in 2020, this urban winery is the perfect spot to visit for live music, wine, and special celebrations. Located in Scott's Addition, Brambly Park is our go-to local winery because it has a really good restaurant and a beautiful park.
Bari, the restaurant, has an elegant interior dining area and a covered pavilion or you can choose to eat in the outdoor space. It’s on a two acre park, filled with picnic tables, open green space, yard games, and a small garden. They also host family-friendly brunches like their Santa Brunch and Mother’s Day Brunch.
Serves: Brunch, Lunch and Dinner
It is closed on Mondays.
*Check here for my review.
3. Fine Creek Brewing: This RVA brewery is family-owned in Powhatan County, about 25 minutes from Richmond. Fine Creek Brewing is family friendly, and it has a farmhouse, garden under shade sails, a patio, picnic tables in green space with fit pits. This is a fun place to explore with little ones because of the open green space, the creek & close proximity of food & bathrooms. The menu changes frequently, so check out Fine Creek Brewing‘s website before visiting. Tip: arrive when it opens!
*Check here for my full review.
4. Upper Shirley Vineyard - This vineyard is in Charles City, next to the historic Shirley Plantation . Upper Shirley is a 14,000-square-foot Low Country winery, surrounded by open green space, vineyards, horses, the river & the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. Upper Shirley has delicious food, live music, lots of space to run , horses & special holiday events! We've celebrated many special occasions here, from birthdays to Mother's Day.
Upper Shirley hosts an annual Mother's Day Brunch. Call the winery at 804-829-9463 during business hours to make a reservation.
*Click here for my full review.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS IN RVA:
1. The Boathouse at Sunday Park: Dining at The Boathouse & exploring Sunday Park is a fun, family-friendly dining experience! We walked around the lake & played at the playground before eating brunch on The Boathouse‘s amazing outdoor patio. The Brandermill community is built around the Swift Creek Reservoir, so you have spectacular views while you eat, walk & play. Tip: grab reservations today!
FAMILY FRIENDLY TEA TIMES IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA:
1. The Jefferson's Afternoon Tea: Open since 1895, the historic Jefferson Hotel is one of my favorite splurge-worthy spots to recommend to locals & visitors. It’s my pick for luxurious staycations, decadent brunches, and afternoon tea!
Afternoon Tea is served between noon and 4:15 on Fridays & Saturdays. Guests relax on the Mezzanine balcony & enjoy an assortment of teas, finger sandwiches, scones & pastries. The Children’s Menu includes hot cocoa, PB&J, ham sandwiches, brownies & bear cookies!
The 2024 Holiday Teas will be celebrated for Valentine’s Day (February 9, 10, 16 & 17), Easter (March 29 & 30), Mother’s Day (May 10 & 11), and Father’s Day (June 14 & 15). All teas between Thanksgiving & New Year’s are also holiday teas.
Pro Tips: (1) These teas fill up quickly. You can book your tea time starting at 6 months out. (2) Put your name on the cancelation list! We've been worked in many times, including during Holiday Teas.
KID-FRIENDLY GARDENS AROUND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
1. Agecroft Hall: This 16th century mansion was originally built in Lancashire, England. In 1925 it was dismantled & shipped across the Atlantic. Now in Windsor Farms, Agecroft Hall & Gardens overlooks the James River and the railroad tracks, and it’s surrounded by intricate gardens. As a part of the RVA Garden Trail, it’s the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic and to explore the beautiful green space & trails. It’s also less than 10 minutes away from Taste Unlimited. They have a family friendly patio or you could pick up items for a picnic at Agecroft.
*Check here for my full review.
2. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: This garden is my favorite spot for a multigenerational group. I love to bring my grandmother, my mother & my children here. Lewis Ginter has 50 acres of themed gardens and it is a part of the RVA Garden Trail. We spend a lot of time running on the giant hill, walking the Tree Trail & exploring the Children’s Garden. April through June is also a gorgeous time to visit because everything in the garden is blooming. The Tea House is open from 10:30 to 4 for in person ordering & dining. You can also order your food to go and have a picnic in the garden. Blankets & lawn chairs are welcome.
The Robins Room in the Visitor's Center hosts an annual Mother's Day Brunch. You can make reservations online.
*Check here for my full review.
3. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - We love visiting the VMFA & the Claiborne & Lora Robins Sculpture Garden is perfect for families! The 3.5 acre garden is part of the RVA Garden Trail. It has green space, blooms, waterfalls & paths. It’s also one of only 8 museums to have a permanent work by Chihuly! The museum is currently offering to-go meals, or you could eat at Amuse or Best Cafe.
Outside food is permitted, so you could also pack your own special picnic to celebrate mom, too. It is free to visit both the museum & its garden (special exhibits require tickets).
*Check here for my full review.
Celebrating Mother's Day at home in Richmond? Here are a few local RVA restaurants we love to use to make our special occasions at home even better.
Tazza To Go: This is one of our favorite places to order a complete meal. You can order a BBQ Kit, a Taco Kit, salads, entrees, desserts & cocktails. All items come chilled; you just have to heat them up. They are closed on Sunday, so make sure you order for pick up on Saturday.
Stella's Grocery : This gourmet market sells prepared foods, sandwiches, desserts and more. We love their Greek meals & chocolate chip cookies (they come frozen & you just pop them in the oven). Most of the meals come chilled; you just have to heat them up! They are closed on Sunday, so make sure you pick everything up before then.
Taste Unlimited: This local restaurant has frozen family meals ready to pick up anytime, and they even have vegetarian & gluten free options. They have entrees like rustic sausage lasagna, vegetable lasagna, mac & cheese and quiche. We also love how you can make your meal into a "family dinner" by adding a salad, bread, a gallon of tea or lemonade and dessert.
Pearls Bake Shoppe: This local bakery offers same day pick up or you can just walk up to order. They have delicious baked goods, and our favorites are their cupcakes! They are closed on Sunday, so pick up your treats on Friday or Saturday.
Small Cakes Bakery: While pre-order is highly recommended, you can always just walk in to pick up a few cupcakes to go. They also offer cupcake decorating kits & curbside pickup too. They are closed on Sunday, so make sure you grab your treats before then.
Whisk: You can order pastry & breakfast items to go from this local bakery. They are currently offering online ordering for pick up on May 8 or 9. You can select the Mother's Day Brunch meal ($60 for a quiche plus two each of their Classic Butter Croissants, French Buns, Coffee Cake & Blueberry Muffins) or freezer to over pastries ($14 for monkey bread, french buns or croissants). For same day pickup, call the store.
For more things to do with kids around Richmond, Virginia, follow me on Instagram - @thewestendmom !