Whether you're a family of thrill-seekers looking for outdoor spring excitement or simply want a fun hands-on museum experience to entertain your little ones when it's raining cats and dogs, we've got spring fun sure to please every member of the family along with useful tips on snacks, strollers and planning a full day of adventure. We've spent more than 15 years discovering the best in events and attractions and share with you here our top staff picks for fun attractions. Check back often to see what is new! For other fun ideas, be sure to check out our other publication, The Charlottesville Welcome Book. Please call ahead to confirm as hours and activities vary seasonally.
UVA Athletics: Baseball
(Charlottesville) 0-1 hour drive
Living in a college town has its advantages when it comes to enjoying a variety of competitive athletic events. The University of Virginia - a member of the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference - offers 12 intercollegiate sports for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor/outdoor track & field and wrestling) and 13 for women (basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor/outdoor track & field and volleyball). This spring, take the kids out to a ballgame for some peanuts and crackerjacks at the stunning Davenport Field. This spring, they'll be having home games against Harvard, Yale, VMI, Miami, NC State and more. Don't forget your mitts to catch a foul ball! virginiasports.com (800) 542-8821
Amazement Square
(Lynchburg) 1-2 hour drive
Kids can slide, dangle, crawl, leap, swing and zip through the tallest indoor climbing structure in the nation. Toddlers can roam safely in the "Big Red Barn" complete with a cow to milk, crowing rooster, crops to harvest and an earthworm's-eye-view of growing plants. In the Indian Island Cultural Gallery, you can hear children playing drums in the authentically recreated local Monacan Village. Kids of all ages love the James River Waterways where they can take a miniature batteau through locks and canals. The paint-on-the-walls room, music-recording studio and puppet theatre are a few of the other popular exhibits. Make sure to check out the HVAC School Bus outside, children will love pretending to operate the bus. On fair days, skateboarders can practice their ollies and nollies at Amazement Square's Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark too! amazementsquare.org (434) 845-1888
TIP: Did you know that Amazement Square, the Children's Museum of Richmond, Harrisonburg's Children's Museum, Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum and the Virginia Discovery Museum are all members of the Association of Children's Museums and offer reciprocal membership benefits? If you belong to one, you belong to them all. It's a terrific way to save on admissions. childrensmuseums.org
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
(Harrisonburg) 1-2 hour drive
Tucked just off the highway, this oasis evokes memories of Monet's garden with graceful arching bridges and is a wonderful place to explore. Turtles, ducks, frogs and any number of birds inhabit the park and wide well-mulched trails invite you to linger. For children, it is an invitation to play Daniel Boone! The arboretum is just the right size for pint-sized explorers to roam freely through the magnificent shade trees but always just within calling distance. A rose garden, water plants, shrubs and trees both native and unique, along with a well-designed trail guide, make the arboretum a great stop. jmu.edu/arboretum (540) 568-3194
Maymont House & Park
(Richmond) 1-2 hour drive
Maymont is a day full of adventures, from the Victorian mansion of the Dooley family to their gardens, which include a zoo, James River Nature Center and their Children's Farm. The 12,000 square foot historic home is meticulously decorated. A favorite room with guests on the tour is the Swan Room with its carved wooden bed shaped like a swan - a classic example of the high style of the Gilded Age. Be sure to stroll the grounds to experience the gardens and, of course, stop to see the animals too. On nice days, stop for a treat from one of the ice cream vendors! Completed in 1910, the Italian Garden's exquisite stonework is Petersburg granite, and remains unmatched by any other public garden. The Robins Nature Center is packed with James River exhibits and is quite engaging for all ages. Maymont is so big, a stroller for little ones is a must, or better yet, purchase tram tickets and ride from one area of the park to the next and enjoy the tour. maymont.org (804) 358-7166
Goochland Drive-In
(Hadensville) 0-1 hour drive
Nostalgic for the days of soda fountains and poodle skirts? The Goochland Drive-In Theater offers an old-fashioned movie-going experience that is completely up-to-date with modern technology. The drive-in was made with families in mind; everything at the snack bar is $3.50 or under, a playground is available for supervised use, leashed pets are welcome, and frisbees and lawnchairs are welcome for pre-movie entertainment. The site, covering over 10 acres, also offers a spectacular view of the surrounding natural area. The theater is open from spring through fall. goochlanddriveintheater.com
Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest
(Forest) 1-2 hour drive
Everyone, including our founding fathers, need to get away from it all every now and then. Thomas Jefferson wrote that Poplar Forest was "the most valuable of my possessions," and it's easy to understand why. He designed the octagonal retreat himself, and, next to Monticello, considered it "the best dwelling house in the state." Although still undergoing restoration, visitors can take advantage of interpretative tours, programs and exhibits to see restoration and archaeology in progress. Read the tour information online before heading out, especially if anyone in your party is physically challenged. poplarforest.org (434) 525-1806
Traveling Farther Afield?
Plan your visit to nearby cities and states with the following publications who each feature extensive guides and calendars that will make your stay both easy and fun!
District of Columbia
Washington Parent
Maryland
Chesapeake Family
Child Guide
Maryland Family Magazine
Parent Line
North Carolina
Carolina Parent
Charlotte Parent
Crystal Coast Parent
Eastern Carolina Parent
Piedmont Parent
Wilmington Parent
Virginia
Fredericksburg Parent and Family
Richmond Parents Monthly
Tidewater Parent
Traveling farther? Check out more great publications!
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