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 for children 4-12 and children 3 and under are free. Families can enjoy the usual fair favorites like rides, animals, races, and other live entertainment. Some of our favorites were riding the ponies and the camel, playing laser tag, riding the free barrel tractor, and watching the model trains. Check this link to schedule your visit around what you and your family would like to see.
*For more details on the safety protocol's The Chesterfield County Fair is operating under, check out this article by NBC12.
2. Visit Jamestown & Surry, Virginia: Located just about an hour from Richmond are both Historic Jamestown and Chippokes Plantation State Park . Historic Jamestown has an indoor museum and a recreated settlement outside. My children loved walking through the Powhatan village and exploring the three ships, the Susan Constant, the Godspeed and the Discovery. After eating lunch at the café, you could take a free ferry ride across the James River to Chippokes Plantation State Park. This state park has hiking trails, river access on its beaches, a small playground, farm animals and antique tractors. Bring your water shoes if you plan to explore the beach - it has a lot of sharp shells!
3. Pick Peaches in Crozet: Chiles Peach Orchard is one of our favorite places to visit because it is stroller-friendly (and wagon friendly too), it has a variety of fruit, and it has delicious treat options. We like pack our lunch and have a picnic in the covered picnic area. We are usually worn out by spending a half day here, but you could easily add on a Charlottesville visit too since it's on the way back to Richmond. We like exploring UVA's campus and Monticello, playing at Bounce, Play N' Create and hiking The Saunders-Monticello Trail.
*Check here for my full review.
4. Visit Williamsburg, Virginia: Located less than an hour from Richmond, Williamsburg is one of our favorite day trips. You could visit Freedom Park and try Go Ape's high ropes course or learn about one of the earliest Free Black Settlements in America. If a beach hike interests your family more, check out Fossil Beach at York River State Park. Then, grab lunch at Pierce's BBQ or The Cheese Shop at Merchant Square. You can end your day by exploring Colonial Williamsburg, playing on the 30,000 square foot ship themed playground at Veteran's Park, or shop for some last minute back to school clothes at Williamsburg Premium Outlets.
*Check here for my review of Freedom Park, here for Veteran's Park, here for Colonial Williamsburg, and here for York River State Park.
5. Visit Lexington, Virginia: Located about 2 hours from Richmond, Lexington could be a packed day trip or a weekend getaway. If you're looking for a day trip, you could visit Natural Bridge State Park, grab lunch at The Palms and eat in Hopkins Green, the park across the street from The Palms, visit Sweet Things for ice cream, and then drive through Virginia Safari Park (bring a towel; the animals are messy eaters). Dino Kingdom 2 is also located by Natural Bridge State Park, and it would be a fun add on if you stayed for the weekend.
*Check here for my review of Natural Bridge State Park.
6. Visit Orange County, Virginia: Located about an hour from Richmond, Orange County has a lot of fun places for families to visit and explore. If you're looking for an entire day adventure, you could attend Liberty Mills Farm's Sunflower Festival (August 28 - September 6), grab lunch at BBQ Exchange, and then tour James Madison’s Montpelier. If you're looking for a lot of activities in one place, check out Market at Grelen. Families can pick peaches, have lunch at their casual café and then hike around the 5 miles of trails on property.
Looking for more ways to celebrate the end of summer? Check out this post on local beaches and this post about a weekend getaway in Roanoke.
Don't forget to tag @thewestendmom and #thewestendmom in your adventures! I love seeing all the fun your family has! #rvamoms #visitrichmondva #visitvirginia #summerfun #daytrips #laborday