Virginia Summer Bucket List for Families
- The West End Mom
- May 12, 2024
- 21 min read
Updated: Apr 9, 2025
Virginia schools start summer vacation between May 9 and June 5 -- are you ready for it?! I am here to help with my Summer Bucket List for Virginia Families!
In honor of my favorite season, I've curated a list of 30+ places to visit and activities to try around Central Virginia. While these places and activities are tailored to the Richmond metro area, most of them are fun no matter where you live in Virginia. These activities, events and day trips are the perfect way to make sure you make the most of this summer with your family (all-ages)!
You will find options that are free and ones have a cost associated with them. You can try them all activities or just one! If you would like my printable Summer Bucket List, send me a DM on Instagram!
*Follow @thewestendmom on Instagram for things to do with kids in Richmond!
This guide is brought to you by Gelati Celesti!
Open since 1984, Gelati Celesti is a Virginia ice cream company that opened in Richmond, Virginia. You can find 7 stores in RVA and 3 stores in Hampton Roads. Gelati Celesti has 24 house favorites and over 100 flavors that rotate seasonally. You can also purchase ice cream pies, cakes and sandwiches!
Visit any RVA Gelati Celesti on Thursday, June 20 and your kiddo can get a FREE toddler cup of ice cream by mentioning "THE WEST END MOM"! Can't wait to celebrate the first day of summer with you!
Looking for all the free things to do around Richmond, Virginia? Check out Part 1 of my Summer Bucket List: Free Things to do with Kids in Richmond this Summer!
Here are 35+ things to do this summer with kids around Richmond, Virginia:
1.Attend a Concert.
VMFA's Jazz Cafe: The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts hosts a weekly jazz concert: Jazz Cafe. This is a free concert. To learn more about this free event, check out my guide Free Things to do with Kids in Richmond this Summer.
Maymont Summer Concert Series: Music at Maymont is back for summer 2024! This outdoor concert series features 7 local bands, performing rock, soul, blues and more. The concert series kicks off on Friday, June 7 at 6 pm with Fill Moon Fever, a Tom Petty cover band, and yacht-rock band Three Sheets to the Wind. Concerts are also on June 8, July 7, August 16, and September 2, 2024.
Since this is an outdoor concert, you will want to bring chairs and blankets to sit on. There will also be refreshments available to purchase; outside food and alcohol is not permitted.
Tickets costs $20 per adult, $10 per kid, and children under 3 are free. Museums for All participants can purchase tickets at the nature center for $3 per adult and all children 17 & younger are free.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens' Flowers after Five: Lewis Ginter's annual summer concert series is back for the 2024 season, and it starts on May 16 and running through October. All concerts take place outside the Bloemendaal House on Thursday evenings between 5-8pm. This live music series features a mix of local and regional bands like Kozy Cats , The Orbital Blues Band, and PumpHouse Blues Band.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit in the Grace Arents Garden. While there are tables and chairs set up in the garden, these are first come, first serve. Outside food and drink are not permitted in the garden, but you can buy snacks, dinner and adult beverages by the Bloemendaal House.
Concert Dates:
May 16 and 23
June 6, 13, 20, 27
July 11, 18, 25
August 1, 8, 15
September 5, 12, 26
October 3, 10, 17, 24
2. Visit a Water Park.
Pocahontas State Park's Aquatic Center: Located in Pocahontas State Park, the aquatic center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. While it has a daily admission fee, it has a LOW price & LOTS to offer. The fenced in pool area has a spray park, 3ft & 5ft pools, baby pool & activity pool. The two, large water slides are currently closed for repair, but will open back up this summer!
The activity pool is the main attraction for families with kids (~9 & younger). The pool is zero entry, going to 2ft deep. It has tube slides & small slides. There are spray features, including hoses & sprinklers.
Cost: It costs $9 per adult & $8 per kid (12-3) on weekdays. 2 and under are free. It costs $10 per adult & $9 per kid on weekends/holidays. Parking costs $7 on weekdays & $10 on weekends.
Location: 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield, Virginia
Looking for FREE water play in RVA? Check here for all of our Richmond area splash parks.
2. Go to a farmer's market.
There are so many farmer's markets around Richmond, and these are so much fun to visit as a family. Most markets have live music, food trucks, and lots of vendors!
We like to visit Dorey Park's Farmer's Market at Dorey Park, St. Stephen's Farmers Market at St. Stephen's Church and RVA Big Market at Bryan Park. Dorey Park's & RVA Big Market are at parks, so there are walking trails and a playground to add onto your adventure. St. Stephen's doesn't have as much walking but just as great of vendors as the larger farmer's markets. It also has the perfect fenced in playground for little kids, so this is perfect if you have kiddos 6 and younger.
3. Visit a theme park.
Kings Dominion: Open since 1975, Kings Dominion is located in Doswell, about 25 minutes from RVA. This theme park has 12 world-class coasters, a 20 acre water park, a 14 acre kids’ area, music festivals & seasonal events. Don't miss their fireworks spectaculr on July 4-6, 2024!
Busch Gardens: Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a 422-acre amusement park with rides, attractions & events for thrill seekers & families, including concerts & holiday events. This theme park is located about an hour from RVA and an hour from Virginia Beach, so it's easy for a day trip for Virginia families!
Want to visit Kings Dominion? Check out my guide on visiting Kings Dominion with Little Kids.
4. Ride a Zip Line:
Harrowgate Park: Located on 35 acres, this Chesterfield park is directly across from Harrowgate Elementary School. It has a large, new play area with climbing features, slides, and two smaller play structures. The climbing structure is the largest I've seen around RVA! The bathrooms are next to the play space. You'll also find a large grassy lawn, picnic shelter, and paved walking trails.
Location: 4001 Cougar Trail, Chester, Virginia 23831
Hours: dawn to dusk daily
Cost: This Chesterfield County Park is free to visit.
Tree Time Adventures: Tree Time Adventures is an outdoor aerial obstacle course. It has 4 tree top courses that take you on ~2-3 hour tour through the tree canopy. There is even a course for beginners & children as young as 3 years old. With almost 60 obstacle bridges, 8 zip lines, axe throwing & 2 nature trails, this adventure park has the MOST activities for all ages in RVA.
Location: 6680 Courthouse Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875
Cost: it costs $39 per child (Ages 14 and Below) & $49 per adult for 2.5 hours.
5. Pick Flowers.
Alvis Farm's Sunflower Festival: Located in Manakin Sabot, this sunflower festival is on June 21-23, 2024. It’s hosted by Alvis Farms, a working dairy farm that’s been in Goochland since 1965. Alvis Farms has 50 acres of sunflowers, and we like how this festival has a bunch of activities: touch a truck, lawn games, animals, a misting tent, and food trucks.
It does get very hot picking sunflowers during the summer in Richmond. We like to visit early in the morning or at sunset to get the coolest temperatures possible! This is also a very big farm, so depending on the ages of your kiddos, you may need two adults. We've visited as a family the past two years.
*Check here for my full review.
6. Visit the Farm:
The Red Barn Farm: Located in Dinwiddie, The Red Barn Farm has 197 animals, including chickens, peafowl, Sebastopol geese, mini horses, dairy cows, Nigerian dwarf goats, an African Sulcata tortise, a mini pig, and more. Families can visit for farm tours, and you will learn about the farm and all the rescue animals.
We've visited multiple times with kids 6 and younger. During our visits to The Red Barn Farm, we got to pet an emu, hold baby chickens and bunnies, and feed animals in the yard. In the yard, we fed two ponies, a donkey, an emu (they love grapes), cows, chickens, turkeys, and goats. G loved petting the baby chickens the most! H had so much fun feeding all the animals, but he loved the goats the most.
This farm is about 50 minutes from Short Pump. The trip is very easy on 95!
Looking for more places to see animals around Richmond? Check out my guide: The Best Places to see Animals in RVA.
7. Bike the Capital Trail.
This paved trail starts at Brown's Island and goes all the way to Jamestown! We visited many portions of this trail, but one of our favorites is Great Shiplock Park to Rocketts Landing.
This is one of the most popular portions of The Capital Trail, and it is about 2.4 miles round trip (each way is 1.2). It’s stroller and bike friendly, plus it has incredible city and river views. While this path is mostly flat, I think it would be better for older children because of the environment (lots of walkers, bikers & dogs, fishhooks & wire in the grass) and there are sections with very easy access to the river.
Heads up: This paved trail has full sun. The long distance is great for bigger kids and more intermediate bikers. If you've got smaller kids, bring the stroller or use a toddler bike trailer on your bike. We haven't made it the entire way yet - my almost 5 year old loved it, but it was tough for my almost 3 year old.
8. Look for Fossils.
Westmoreland State Park: Located in Montross, this Virginia State Park covers 1,321 acres on the Potomac River. Westmoreland State Park has 6 miles of trails, a playground overlooking the river, boat ramps & rentals, a fishing pier & campsites. With so many amenities, this park is great for children. It’s also close to George Washington’s birthplace & James Monroe’s birthplace, and it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. The biggest draw for families is Fossil Beach. Ancient shark teeth (from 5-25 million years ago!!) can be found along this hiking beach.
9. Cheer on the home team!
The Richmond Flying Squirrels: This minor league baseball team has games every year between April and September. While they are an affilate of the San Franscisco Giants, they have infused everything RVA into their gear, stadium and atmosphere.
All kids 14 and younger are invited to join the FREE Squirrels Tails Kids Club. Kids who are members get FREE general admission to all Sunday home games. Children can also enjoy kid-themed giveways and meet and greets with Nutsy and Nutasha.
Richmond Kickers: Our local Richmond Kickers' play throughout the summer, and their games are really fun! They have concessions and local food trucks like Chick-Fil-A, Kona Ice + Dippin' Dots and Cary Street Cafe food truck. We really enjoyed arriving early, getting a free hat, having a picnic and watching the game - there was so much for the kids to see.
The Red Army, the most loyal fans, have flags, red smoke and drums - my kids loved watching them cheer on the team!
If you purchase your tickets before the day of the match, they are $15. Children 4 and under are free. Another bonus is that the stadium seats are completely shaded in the evening!
10. Take the Train.
Ride from Staples Mill Station to Ashland: If your kiddo loves trains, try taking a ride to Ashland on the Amtrak train! This is such an easy adventure to plan & my kiddos loved it. I purchased our tickets last minute - a day before we went. It cost $22 for one adult & two kids to ride to Ashland. We used the Staples Mill Station instead of Main Street Station because of train departure times - but they both go through Ashland.
Where to see trains: Check out my Things that Go guide to find trains, trucks, ships and planes are Richmond!
11. Take a Hike on a Boardwalk:
Dodd Park at Point of Rocks: Located on the banks of the Appomattox River, this 176 acre park has a lot of space to explore. The upper area of Dodd Park has athletic fields, picnic areas, a large play area with 2 play structures, swings & exercise equipment. The lower area has a play space, 2.7 miles of trails & a floating boardwalk over tidal marsh
*Check here for my review.
12. Visit the Lake.
Lake Anna State Park: This is one of Virginia's most popular beaches, and this is a great spot for families! We like it because it has shallow water & no waves, and it has a playground, concessions & bathrooms near the beach. Lake Anna State Park also has trails for biking, hiking & horses plus yurts & cabins.
Driving Distance: 1 hour
Cost: Parking costs $7 in off season & $10 April through October.
When to Visit: all year
13. Watch a movie outside.
Goochland Drive In Theatre: Located in Hadensville, this drive-in theater has been open since 2009. The venue is pet friendly, they have restrooms, and they have an affordable concessions stand. Movies are rain or shine, and most of the nights have double features. Gates typically open around 6/6:30 on movie nights with movies beginning around 8pm. Tickets cost between $18-$25 per vehicle, and all tickets must be purchased ahead of time from Goochland Drive-In Theater's website. I like this theater for families because it is not as expensive as a trip to the regular movie theaters, too!
14. Go camping (or glamping)
My kids absolutely love creating forts and tents in our playroom. If you are extra adventurous, try sleeping in a tent in your backyard or at one of our 42 Virginia State Parks!
Sandy River Outdoor Adventures: Located in Rice, Virginia, Sandy River Outdoor Adventure is glamping at it's finest. Guests can choose to sleep in luxury tipis or log cabins! Plus this outdoor adventure resort offers other activities on property, so guests can unplug, unwind and reconnect with nature. At about an hour from Richmond, this is such an easy getaway for busy families!
15. Play at the beach.
Cape Charles Beach: Ready for a kid-friendly beach trip? Check out the charming beach town of Cape Charles. It's Virginia's best beach for families because of the calm, shallow water.Cape Charles is located on Virginia's Eastern Shore, with about 5 blocks of beachfront on the Chesapeake Bay. It's also the only public beach on the Eastern Shore that doesn’t have an entrance/parking fee.
Looking for more beaches close to Richmond, Virginia? Check out my guide on beaches 2 hours or less from RVA!
16. Learn about Richmond's history.
Riverfront Canal Cruises: Located on the historic Kanawha Canal, Riverfront Canal Cruises take you on a 40 minute historical boat cruise. These flat bottom boats float in 3 feet to 15 feet of water by the Capital Trail, tobacco warehouses & the Low Line gardens. In addition to the historical narration, you can see river wildlife like otters, herons, and turtles. You will also pass by the Triple Crossing railroad tracks.
17. Eat Ice Cream.
On Thursday, June 20, all children 17 and younger can get a FREE ice cream from Gelati Celesti with their "THE WEST END MOM" Summer Bucket List. Just show up to your local Gelati Celesti with my bucket list, and each kiddo in your family can get a free toddler cup (value $4.65). No purchase necesssary.
I am so thrilled to partner with Gelati Celesti to celebrate the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER! Thank you Gelati Celesti for providing FREE toddler cups and cones to all kiddos 17 and younger who are participating in my 2024 Summer Bucket List.
18. Go summer tubing.
Liberty Mountain SnowFlex: This mountain top rec center has ski slopes, mountain tubing & a sledding hill. The mountain is covered in Snowflex - a special surface that’s slippy & grippy, essential for snow sports, plus it’s soft to fall on (no hard ice or packed snow)! All ages are welcome & you can even schedule a beginner lesson for any of the snow sports. The views from Liberty Mountain are gorgeous too!
*Check here for a full review.
19. Visit a Library.
No matter which county or city you are a resident, you can visit other area's libraries for free too! Also, City of Richmond Public Libraries, Henrico County Lirbaries and Chesterfield Public Libraries all allow other residents to get a lirbary card.
Here are 5 of the best libraries for children around Richmond:
Ashland Library: If your children are 6 & younger, this is a must visit library because of the trains! The children's section has a large train table, and you have a perfect view of the real trains that come through Ashland.
Fairfield Library: Opening in October 2019, Fairfield Library is one of the newest libraries around RVA. This 44,000+ square foot library is a building for all ages. This modern & spacious library has 2 levels with over 54,000 books, 100 public computers & plenty of meeting & study rooms! The highlight for families is the gorgeous children’s area with an Everbright, kitchen playset, reading nooks & movement activities on the floor. The library’s thoughtful design even has a central sitting area between the children’s & teen areas — perfect for parents to see both areas.
Midlothian Library: This 25,000 square foot space includes an outdoor reading garden, gathering spaces for teens, unique seating like pods, a digital media center, and a 3D printer! The Children’s Area is thoughtfully designed for both caregivers & kiddos. It has a LEGO table & wall, a playhouse that changes themes (currently a snowman cafe) & play tables with toys. You will also find an outdoor classroom for famlies to enjoy. This fenced-in outdoor space has large musical instruments, climbing structures & a learning circle for children’s programs. It has sections with shade & full sun… and lots of space to get the wiggles out!
Varina Library: This Henrico library spans 43,885 square feet on 22 acres! Resembling old tobacco barns, its 3 pavilions overlook the forest & wetlands. Inside you’ll find a large open space for gatherings, a Reading Landing & expansive windows. It also has reading terraces outside overlooking the forest. The view is especially spectacular when the leaves change. The highlight for families are the Children’s Area & paved nature trail! The Children’s Area has a play food truck, mailboxes & movement activities on the floor around the entire area. It also has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the forest. The outside nature trail has paved paths around the library!
James City County Library: This library is located in Williamsburg, and it was voted Best Library Virginia in 2023. The children's section looks more like a children's museum than a library!
20. Pick your own fruit.
College Run Farms: Located in Surry, College Run Farms has been serving the community since 1999. This small family farm grows blueberries, pumpkins & corn. Pick your own blueberries are available each June & July. They’ve got 1,000 blueberry bushes ripe right now! College Run Farms also makes & sells homemade ice cream - be on the look out for seasonal specialties.
This farm is less than 10 minutes from the Surry side of the Jamestown/Scotland Ferry. Visit Jamestown Beach and take the ferry to the farm for a special family activity!
*Check here for my full guide..
Hanover Peaches: Located in Mechanicsville, Hanover Peaches is about 30 minutes from Short Pump. This family-owned orchard is 20 acres. They grow peaches and nectarines in the summer and apples in the fall. You can find farm updates on their Facebook page.
*Chere here for my full review of picking peaches at Hanover Peaches.
21. Race Go Karts.
Swaders Sports Park: This sports park has everything! Swader's has outside attractions like 2 professionally designed 18-hole mini golf courses, a driving range, batting cages & 2 go kart tracks. It also has 70+ arcade games, duckpin bowling, and 5,800 square feet of laser tag with obstacles on multi levels. The highlight for younger kids is the Kid Zone - an indoor play area with obstacles, slides & more. Swaders Sports Park also host birthday parties!
Location: Prince George County, Virginia
Cost: There’s no coverage charge - you pay per activity you want to do. Members of the military can get 10% off every day. It costs $9 per person for laser tag, go karts, putt putt & the KidZone. Kids 3 & under can play in the KidZone & putt putt for half price ($4.50).
*Check here for my full review.
22. Bike (or stroll) the longest pedestrian bridge in Virginia!
High Bridge Trail: Want to hike the longest recreational bridge in Virginia? Visit High Bridge State Park. The High Bridge is more than 2,400 feet long & 125 feet above the Appomattox River! While the complete trail is 31 miles, you can jump on the trail at Camp Paradise. It’s just .3miles from the bridge.
I love this hike for families, especially with young children. The paths are wide & flat. It’s completely stroller friendly! You can also ride bikes, scooters or horses. A new visitor center is being built at Camp Paradise too. The 2,600 square-foot trail center will resemble a 1900s train station with exhibits & an ADA-accessible path to the trail!
*Check here for my full guide.
23. Kayak or paddle board on the James River.
River Rock 2024: The Nation's biggest sports adventure festival comes to RVA every May. River Rock 2024 is on May 17-19 this year on Brown's Island. It's a 3-day outdoor adventure and music festival, and it is FREE to visit. You don't even need to reserve a ticket! You can kayak on the canal with the help of Trinity Episcopal High School students, watch the Ultimate Air Dogs competition, and cheer on the slack line and bouldering. Kids can even try a kid-friendly sized slack line and Peak Experience's has a climbing wall too. There are concerts all weekend, too. While you can pack your own food, there are also food trucks around the area.
24. Visit an aquarium.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center: This aquarium features coastal habitats from around the world with animals representing over 300 species! It also has a 1/3 mile nature trail on Owls Creek, a protected salt marsh. The Adventure Park is by the marsh & it has low & high ropes courses plus zip lines! The Virginia Aquarium is about 2 hours from RVA & only 5 minutes from Virginia Beach’s oceanfront.
*Check here for a full review.
25. Ride a Boat.
Jamestown VDOT Ferry: Jamestown-Scotland Ferry is located between the Jamestown Settlement & Jamestown Beach. It’s free to ride this ferry, and it takes about 30 minutes to cross the James River. Chippokes State Park is in Surry, less than 10 minutes from the ferry’s dock.
26. Ride a BMX Bike Course.
Deep Run Park: This 165 acre park has so much for families to enjoy! Deep Run has a pond, 3.4 miles of paved trails, two separate playgrounds, picnic shelters, a basketball court, soccer fields, and multiple open spaces. It also has the first pump track in central Virginia. Anyone can maneuver the course regardless of age or skill level. I’ve seen children 2-3 years old on balance bikes riding the course. You’re supposed to shift your body weight (*pumping*) to propel yourself through the course. My son is 5.5 years old & he LOVES it. As you can see, he does pedal
*If your kiddo is too young for a bike course, try biking Midlothian Mines Park. The trails are paved and there's a lot of shade. Check here for 7 kid-friendly bike trails around Richmond, Virignia.
27. Hike across the James River.
Tyler Potterfield Bridge: Completed in 2016, this pedestrian & cycling bridge connects Brown’s Island to Manchester. It’s 1,600 feet long with gorgeous views of the city & the river. This is one of our favorite places to walk by the river because of the views & the other areas nearby like Brown’s Island, Tredegar Ironworks , Virginia War Memorial & The Canal Walk.
*Check here for a full review.
*For more details on kid-friendly walks by the James River, check out my guide.
28. Create something.
All Fired Up: With location a in Short Pump, this art studio is open daily for painting. You can pick your own piece of pottery and decorate it however you'd like! They also host classes and special events.
We've tried “Preschool Pottery Time." In this mommy and me class, there is a class theme, and our art project went along with a story. First, our teacher read us a story, “A Unicorn Named Sparkle”After the story, the children had the rest of class to paint their pottery {ours was a unicorn mug}. The children had fun picking the colors and the method to paint their pottery. They could use different size paint brushes or sponges.
Hours: Monday-Saturday from 10am-6pm, Sundays from 1pm-6pm
*Check here for my review.
29. Watch Fireworks:
The Richmond Flying Squirrels host 25 fireworks shows every Thursdays and Saturday nights over the summer. You can watch them from inside The Diamond or around the area.
Fireworks are on every Thursday and Saturday night after the games (usually around 9ish). You can also watch fireworks on July 4 and July 5.
30. Play with Legos.
RVA’s Lego Factory's Visitor Center: Did you know you can visit the Lego Factory in Chesterfield, Virginia right now?! The Visitor Center at the future Lego plant is open to visitors every day from 10am to 4pm! This Lego shaped building has a Lego model of the future plant, information about everything you can expect to see at the plant, and it has the history of Legos!
👀 ICYMI - LEGO is building a 1.7 million-square-foot facility in Chesterfield, Virginia. It will sit on 340 acres — approximately the size of 260 football fields. They are hiring 1,761 people too!
After visiting Dodd Park, we drove 5 minutes to check out the Lego Visitor Center. My kids were so excited to see the future site & we learned that there will be a PLAY SPACE for up to 100 kids. Can’t wait to visit in ~18 months!
Location: 1400 Meadowville Road, Chester, VA 23836.
Cost: The Lego Factory's Visitor Center in Chester is free to visit. It's open 24 hours a day with surveillance.
31. Have a picnic.
Libby Hill Park: One of the orginial parks in Richmond, Libby Hill park is lovated at 28th and East Franklin Street. This park has one of the best views in Richmond - it is said that it looks very similar to Richmond on the Thmas in England.
The VMFA's Sculpture Garden: The Claiborne & Lora Robins Sculpture Garden is a 3.5 acre garden, and it is part of the Richmond Garden Trail . It has green space, blooms, waterfalls & paths. The garden has large trees and tables with umbrellas that provide shade. It’s one of only 8 museums to have a permanent work by Chihuly!
*Check here for my full of the garden.
Agecroft Hall and Gardens: 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 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 or to explore the beautiful green space.
*Check here for my review.
32. See a waterfall.
Beaver Lake Trail: Located inside Pocahontas State Park, Beaver Lake Trail goes 2.5 miles around Beaver Lake. While it’s rated a moderate hike, we make it kid-friendly & stroller friendly by starting at the CCC Museum, walking down the gravel incline, going around the dam & connecting to the paved trail that goes back up to the CCC Museum. The best part? It will only take ~5 minutes with kids to reach the water fall! Make it even easier by going back up the hill instead of trying our loop (~an hour).
33. Visit an island.
Did you know you can visit an island in Richmond? Okay, so these aren't technically islands, but they are Richmond "islands."
Brown's Island: Spanning 6 acres, this riverfront park is the perfect spot to picnic, runaround, or stroll. The trail around the park connects to the Canal Walk, and you can access the Potterfield Bridge too.
Belle Isle: A part of the James River Park System, the Belle Isle Trails are relatively easy hiking paths with scenic views and river access. These trails total 1.5 miles around Belle Isle & are perfect for strollers, bikes and scooters. One of the popular ways to access this trail is by crossing the pedestrian suspension bridge under the Lee Bridge. The bridge offers gorgeous views of the city, the railway & the river. There’s even a dirt bike park once you cross the bridge!
34. Visit Yorktown.
Located in Historic Yorktown, this beach has 2 acres of beachfront on the York River. It’s family friendly with lots of room to play in the sand & shallow water. There are public bathrooms & outdoor showers. Yorktown also has lots of restaurant options within walking distance. Don’t miss the free trolley! We rode the entire loop to cool off (~35 minutes). There’s a lot to explore nearby: Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center , Watermen's Museum , the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown , Riverwalk Landing & more. If you want a day trip to the beach, this is your spot!
*Check here for a full review.
35. Go Roller Skating.
Skate-a-Way: Located in Midlothian, this roller skating rink offers open skate times, roller skating lessons and classes! We tried Tiny Tots Skating, and my littles LOVED it. During class, you get to free skate, have a skating lesson, dance to kid-friendly songs & classics, run around the rink & you get a ice pop! Class costs $7 per child, and it’s a really fun hour & 15 minute activity with toddlers & preschoolers. Older children can join in too - we had all ages in our class.
Hours: Tiny Tots is every Thursday from 10-11:15. Open skating is on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30, Friday 7:30-10:30, Saturday from 1-4, and Sundays from 2-4:30. Family Night is every Saturday from 7:30-10:30pm.
*Check here for my review.
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