15 Fun Family-Friendly Things to Do with Kids in Richmond, VA
Richmond is the state capital of Virginia and one of America’s oldest cities.
Richmond is a beautiful city that attracts families from all over the country because of its rich history, kid-friendly attractions, parks, fine restaurants, art, and museums.
Regardless of what your family members prefer to visit, Richmond has it all, like museums, amusement parks, shopping areas, and the great outdoors.
Here is a list of enjoyable things for kids to do in Richmond. It helps you to design the ideal family vacation.
- The Science Museum of Virginia
Founded in 1970, the Science Museum of Virginia has an incredible dome and three floors of exhibitions.
Visitors can engage in enjoyable, family-friendly activities here in addition to viewing the exhibits.
Why We Recommend This Activity
One of the top places in Virginia to take children is the Science Museum of Virginia.
Your family can observe beautiful and amusing exhibits when they visit this museum.
The Giant Insects exhibition, where you will see new perspectives on how these tiny creatures became gigantic, and the Speed exhibit, where you can participate in fun activities while viewing the fastest and slowest moving objects on Earth, are just a couple of the exhibitions on display.
Your children will have a blast at The LightPlace as they learn and explore science through engaging activities that involve problem-solving, sensory awareness, and basic math.
One of the spectacular features of the Virginia Science Museum is The Dome.
Your family will explore the Earth and the universe here.
When you sit in the chair, you will feel as if you are traveling through space to the unknown wonders of Earth.
Recommended Ages
Only your children under five are allowed in the Light Place.
For the rest of your family, the other displays are perfect.
- William Byrd Park
The most visited park in Virginia is William Byrd Park, also referred to as Byrd Park, and it is a 200-acre park.
Byrd Park has three small lakes, a theater, monuments, beautiful pathways, tennis courts, a picnic area, and basic restrooms.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Consider visiting Byrd Park if you are seeking enjoyable family activities where you and your loved ones may spend quality time together.
By visiting this lovely park, you can bond with your tribe by playing fun games such as throwing a ball, catching a Frisbee, playing hide-and-seek, or catching a ball on the grass.
You can participate in a competitive tennis match at one of the park’s tennis courts.
Your family will enjoy riding a pedal boat at Fountain Lake in Byrd Park during the summer.
Recommended Ages
All ages are welcome at William Byrd Park.
If you’re traveling with a baby, the paved paths are great because pushing them around in a stroller is simple.
- Black History Museum and Cultural Center
Featuring artifacts and displays that reflect African-American history, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center is pleasant and comfortable.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Everyone will enjoy and learn something when you take your family to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center.
You can even arrange a trip specifically for families.
You can keep your children entertained while taking a tour of this family-friendly museum by giving them hands-on historical activities.
You can also purchase a scavenger hunt booklet for your kids to work on when they explore the museum.
Freedom Fridays, when the Black History Museum and Cultural Center hosts concerts and offers tasty dishes, are a fantastic time to visit this museum.
Recommended Ages
All ages are welcome at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center.
However, it is excellent for children ages five and older who can fully appreciate the exhibit and enjoy the activities.
- G-Force Karts
Visitors can try High-Speed Karting at Richmond Raceway’s G-Force Karts, where they can enjoy go-karting and off-road racing for a fun experience.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Visit G-Force Karts, which offers thrilling family activities in Richmond and is entertaining for teenagers and older kids.
Your family will have a blast riding go-karts and off-road vehicles here.
You can ride and race in one of three different types of go-karts.
The Super Karts, high-performance European cars for experienced drivers, come first.
Second, Junior Karts are an excellent option for your kids.
The last category is two-seater karts, which are the most family-friendly.
Off-road racing is another thrilling activity you may try, but these are only for experienced drivers, requiring more training than go-kart racing.
The Junior Karts are reserved for children aged 10-15, while you can only drive the Two-Seater Karts and ride with children aged 5–14.
- Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
The stunning 50-acre Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features gorgeous scenery, a library cafe, a tea house restaurant, and a conservatory.
There are approximately 11 locations that you can visit.
Why We Recommend This Activity
I suggest taking your kids to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden if you’re wondering what to do with kids in Richmond, Virginia.
While engaging in fun activities, your kids can immerse themselves in this beautiful garden.
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers storytime for children and a Kid Quest, which requires them to complete a brochure while they walk the tree trail through the Fairy Forest.
Additionally, there is a children’s garden where your kids may climb a mulberry tree, a butterfly meadow, a farm garden where they can plant fruits and vegetables, and a water play area where they can play in the splash pad and water spray.
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s conservatory, which is the highlight, is home to thousands of exotic and unusual plants from all over the world.
Recommended Ages
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden welcomes visitors of all ages, including babies, kids, teenagers, adults, and elders.
- Children’s Museum of Richmond
One of Richmond’s top family-friendly attractions is the Children’s Museum.
It features many kid-friendly activities, including play spaces and hands-on exhibits.
It’s divided into two parts: Downtown and Chesterfield.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Bring your kids to the Children’s Museum of Richmond, where there are countless fun activities to do in Richmond with toddlers.
The ideal-sized Children’s carousel, an art studio, a SchoolHouse where your children can learn and practice basic math and study letters, and an Enchanted Forest with toys, slides, and a tree they can crawl in, are all elements of this exciting museum.
Your kids can engage in various activities here in addition to the exhibitions above while they play, study, and figure out what they want to accomplish with their lives.
Recommended Ages
Children ages 0 to 8 are the most suitable visitors to the Children’s Museum of Richmond.
- The Poe Museum
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is another name for The Poe Museum.
This museum honors Poe’s time in Richmond, even though he never lived there.
It has the most impressive collection of Edgar Allan Poe memorabilia.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Your family can explore Edgar Allan Poe’s works and personal things at the charming Poe Museum, where you can visit.
The incredible poet’s childhood bed, waistcoat, 1831-dated poem collection, letters, autobiography, walking stick, trunk, hair, trinket box, portrait, and more are all displayed here.
There is a gift shop at the Poe Museum where you may purchase a wide variety of items for your children, including clothes, books, bobbleheads, jewelry, accessories, and toys.
Recommended Ages
No matter how old they are, the Poe Museum is a great place for your family.
- The Virginia Museum of History and Culture
The most extensive collection of Virginian artifacts is present and saved in the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, which opened its doors in 1831.
This museum is the best place to learn about Virginia excitingly and enjoyably.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Visit the Virginia Museum of History and Culture this weekend with your kids to learn more about Virginia’s wonders.
The Story of Virginia, which recounts 16,000 years of this state’s fascinating history, and the Landscapes of Virginia, which contain 21 breathtaking landscape paintings of various locations in Virginia, are just two of the several exhibits on display here.
Maps, paintings, manuscripts, weaponry, postcards, 19th-century photographs, sheet music, genealogy papers, and a wide variety of other Virginian artifacts are all housed at this museum.
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture also offers storytelling for your kids’ enjoyment.
Recommended Ages
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture is ideal for visitors of all ages and even has wheelchair access.
- The Belle Isle
Within Richmond, there is a lovely island called Belle Isle.
This city park is located on the James River and covers approximately 54 acres.
Why We Recommend This Activity
One of your best options if you are looking for free kid-friendly activities in Richmond is Belle Isle.
This park is a great spot to spend quality time with your kids. You can go bicycling along the beautiful trails, Try Mountain biking, teach your kids to fish, watch skilled kayakers sailing the rapids, go rock climbing, and play with your kids on the smooth rock.
If you want to spend quality time with your loved ones while taking tonnes of photos outside, Belle Isle is the ideal location.
Recommended Ages
All ages of guests are welcome at the Belle Isle.
However, this park might be better suited for children ages seven and older.
Recommended Ages
All ages of guests are welcome at the Belle Isle.
However, this park might be better suited for children ages seven and older.
- Riverfront Canal Cruises
A guided and narrated trip of the James River and Kanawha Canal is available from Riverfront Canal Cruises.
George Washington designed The Kanawha Canal.
Why We Recommend This Activity
A proper, covered flat-bottom boat uses for the 40-minute Riverfront Canal Cruises.
You and your group will love taking these beautiful boat rides after shopping and sightseeing in Richmond’s downtown.
If your family would want a more personal and private experience, you can also rent boats.
After your river trip, you can visit any of the surrounding eateries in the area.
These restaurants provide a wide variety of tasty dishes and kid-friendly choices.
Recommended Ages
From young children to senior adults, Riverfront Canal Cruises is suitable for all ages.
- Breakout Games
An exciting escape room adventure for the whole family is Breakout Games.
Five rooms are available for you to pick from, including Operation: Casino, The Kidnapping, Museum Heist, Undercover Alley, and Do Not Disturb.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Taking the kids to Breakout Games is among the best things to do in Richmond with kids.
You and your tribe work together in this entertaining game to solve puzzles and try to escape before time runs out.
Before the kidnapper returns, you and your tribe must find hidden clues in The Kidnapping, a one-hour game, the most well-known escape room.
In the game The Museum Heist, you must work together as a team to find the stolen artwork.
Recommended Ages
The best candidates for Breakout Games are you, your older kids, and your teens.
- Hadad’s Lake
The best summertime destination is Hadad’s Lake, which has a water park, playgrounds, ball fields, slides, picnic tables, inflatables, and much more.
Why We Recommend This Activity
You and your family will love spending time in the water at Hadad’s Lake.
There are three distinct pool sections available.
The depths of the first two portions range from 0 to 4 feet, and the depth of the third section is roughly 16 feet.
Your kids may go swimming, swing from ropes that fall into the water, jump on floating trampolines, ride paddle boats, and much more when you take them to Hadad’s Lake.
Your kids can have fun on the playgrounds, play basketball or volleyball, or play miniature golf while they aren’t swimming.
You can have a soothing sunbath while your kids enjoy swimming and playing.
Recommended Ages
Hatta Lake is suitable for all ages.
There are wading pools, perfect for your little ones to play in.
- Maymont
For its visitors, Maymont provides a wide variety of activities.
There are three gardens, a botanic garden, Maymont Farm, The Robins Nature Center, wildlife habitats, and a historic estate with the Maymont Mansion and other historic structures.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Please bring your family to Maymont immediately to take advantage of endless opportunities.
The Old Estate is ideal for a family picnic where you can enjoy deliciously cooked food while lounging on the soft grass and exploring historical buildings that will make your tribe feel like you have traveled back in time.
Your children who are passionate about animals will enjoy the Wildlife Habitat because they can get a close-up look at beautiful animals like black bears, elk, bison, hawks, bald eagles, bobcats, and more.
However, families are more likely to visit The Maymont Farm.
All the gardens are open to the public for free; visiting there will be an unforgettable experience providing inexpensive family entertainment.
The Italian Garden, Japanese Garden, and Specialty Gardens are the three gardens from which you can choose.
Recommended Ages
Maymont is the best option regardless of your family fellows age.
Maymont Farm is more suitable for younger children.
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park
There are about 22 enjoyable entertainment options at the Sky Zone Trampoline Park, including dodgeball, bubble zone, ninja warrior lessons, and more.
Why We Recommend This Activity
A trip to the Sky Zone Trampoline Park will ensure that you and your loved ones have a great time they will never forget.
Your family will have the opportunity to play a traditional game of dodgeball while jumping on trampolines at the Ultimate Dodgeball attraction.
The Ninja Warrior Course is the ideal place for your tribe to complete a course that will test their strength, speed, and agility.
You can also attempt other fun things, such as climbing ladders dangling in the air, playing basketball, jumping into the foam area, and so much more.
On the other hand, Toddler Time is a less extreme environment where your small ones may safely bounce around while having fun.
Recommended Ages
While Toddler Time is only available to toddlers two and under and their adult guardians, Sky Zone Trampoline Park is open to all ages.
- Triangle Rock Club
The Triangle Rock Club, Virginia’s second-largest climbing facility, offers various activities and programs, including rock climbing, yoga, and fitness classes.
Why We Recommend This Activity
I recommend visiting the Triangle Rock Club if you are searching for entertaining activities for kids in Richmond.
Your kids can practice climbing and engage in climbing games in the youth programs.
A harness secures your young children, and instructors closely monitor them, so do not be concerned about it being dangerous.
You might enroll in yoga or fitness classes for a stress-relieving experience.
Depending on what you wish to focus on, there are nine yoga classes and seven fitness classes from which you can select.
Recommended Ages
The Triangle Rock Club is suitable for adults and kids ages four and above.