Richmond and the surrounding area feature numerous attractions for children from the wonders of the Children’s Museum to the well-known theme parks near Williamsburg.
Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is a theme park based on 17th century European life, featuring eight stage shows, over 40 rides and attractions, many authentic eateries and shops and a magical adventure area for children. Also for the youngsters are a children’s theatre and a three-story tree house. ‘Dumphrey,’ Busch Gardens’ friendly dragon welcomes all members of the family to enjoy the fun.
Children's Museum of Richmond
The Children’s Museum is located in the centre and boasts over 250 interactive exhibits in the 42,000 square foot space. It’s an interactive, hands-on place for children from six months to twelve years, with features including the wonders of flight, illusions and astronomy. There are permanent exhibits here that are very popular, such as: the Art Studio, How it Works, the Feeling Food Neighbourhood and Our Great Outdoors. You’ll find an OMNIMAX theatre and a multimedia planetarium show at the museum as well. Phone: +1 804 474 2667
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is a resort located in Williamsburg, boasting the area’s latest indoor water park. You’ll find plenty of amenities here, including water attractions, restaurants and so much to do that you wouldn’t ever have to leave the resort. There’s a toddler pool for the really young ones and a wave pool and fountains for the children to play in as well. Phone: +1 800 551 WOLF
Kings Dominion
The Kings Dominion theme park is spread over 400 acres and eight distinct areas including the very popular KidZville and Nickelodeon Splat City. Busytown Café provides a themed dining experience, bringing to life the characters and stories of author Richard Scarry. As you make you way around the park, you’ll encounter life-sized characters, such as your favourites from Rugrats and Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Facilities available at Cave Kids include diaper changing, feeding and nursing areas. If you’re interested in water rides, you can visit the Water Works while you’re here.
Phone: +1 804 876 5000
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
A visit to the botanical gardens can be a pleasure for the whole family, and the kids will be sure to enjoy the children's area which has a water play area complete with fountains and jets. On a hot day, you can appreciate the beauty of the gardens and get cooled down as well. Phone: +1 804 262 9887
Water Country USA
Water Country USA is a theme park dedicated to water play. It’s the mid-Atlantic region’s largest family water play park, boasting the world’s newest state-of-the-art water rides and attractions. There’s also entertainment, shopping and restaurants on offer, all set in a colourful surf theme from the 1950s and 60s.
Website: www.watercountryusa.com
There is a significant art community in Richmond and the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University is ranked as one of the top in the US. You’ll find many art venues associated with the university and also a number of nearby attractions, including the Richmond Ballet, the Richmond Symphony, the Valentine Richmond History Center, the Virginia Historical Society and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts
The Carpenter Center is located in what was originally the Richmond Loew's movie palace, opened in 1928. The old movie theatre closed down in 1979 and over the next four years underwent renovation for its use as a performing arts centre, opening in 1983. For more than 20 years now, the centre has hosted a myriad of exciting performances.
Website: www.carpentercenter.org
Firehouse Theatre
Since its first performances in 1994, the Firehouse Theatre Project has produced plays that are particularly American, performed in an authentic urban space. The theatre is housed in the Richmond Fire Department’s 90-year-old former Fire Station House 10.
Website: www.firehousetheatre.org
Richmond Symphony
Founded in 1957, the Richmond Symphony is one of Virginia’s largest performing arts organisations. The Symphony offers a number of series by subscription and also special performances, spanning the range from classical to pop. Its stated mission is to ‘perpetuate the orchestral tradition, develop audience enthusiasm, educate future generations of concert-goers, and contribute to the enjoyment and evolution of the art of symphonic music.’
Website: www.richmondsymphony.com
St John's Episcopal Church
St John’s Church is Richmond’s oldest church and one of the oldest wooden buildings still standing in Virginia. This was the site of Patrick Henry's famous ‘Give me liberty or give me death’ speech. Re-enactments of this famous speech, which was considered to be one of the important events leading up to the American Revolution, are held regularly. Phone: +1 804 648 5015
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The museum supports a year-round program of art, film, music, dance, theatre and special programmes for children and adults. Galleries feature permanent collections of original works of art from across the globe, spanning more than 5,000 years. In addition, special exhibitions on loan showcase new perspectives from some of the finest collections in the world.
Phone: +1 804 340 1400; website: www.vmfa.state.va.us
Richmond boasts more than 900 restaurants ranging from southern barbecue to elegant five-star cuisine. Neighbourhood eateries abound and can be found on virtually every corner in the Fan area. Whether you're looking for a table outdoors where you can enjoy a quick burger or a spot for an intimate, candlelit dinner to celebrate a special occasion you’ll find it here.
All the familiar national chain restaurants are represented in the area. A short drive down Broad Street (Henrico County) or the Midlothian Turnpike will turn up a multitude of options from finer dining to fast-food chains. For a more authentic dining experience, tucked into the corners of some of the shopping centres in the area you’ll find the ‘mom-and-pop’ eateries favoured by the locals. If you’re looking for something a bit further from home, there are many ethnic eateries here too, serving the range from African to Vietnamese cuisine.
Area shopping ranges from the suburban shopping malls to quaint specialty stores, boutiques and treasure-filled antique shops. Two new upscale, open-air malls opened recently and quickly became popular with local and visiting shoppers: Pump Town Center and Stony Point Fashion Park.
If you’re looking for something a bit different, the unique shops in Carytown or the designer shops ‘On the Avenues’ are well worth a try. The 17th Street Farmers' Market is open on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from May through October. Outlet shopping malls are just short drive to the north and east of the city.
The Richmond region is ideal for visitors looking for outdoor activities, as the weather is good here for much of the year. It’s the sort of weather that encourages strolls in the parks, James River boat cruises and, for the more adventurous, rafting and kayaking. You’ll also find that there’s a variety of sports venues, with some open seasonally, so you’ll need to check for the dates you’re planning to visit.
Byrd Park
Lakes feature predominantly here and paddleboats are popular, but there is so much more to capture your interest. Frequently scheduled concerts and festivals are held in the stone and glass amphitheatre called Dogwood Dell.
Dutch Gap Conservation Area
This wildlife preserve is a great area for bird watching and for spotting many animal species native to Virginia. Boating, fishing and hiking are other popular activities. The conservation area is adjacent to Henricus Historical Park. Phone: +1 804 748 1623
Golf
There are a range of choices here from very challenging courses to the more user-friendly games played among the beautiful rolling hills. The enormous variety of courses reaches into Virginia's Piedmont, with Richmond sitting in the centre of this golfer’s paradise. Public clubs, semi-private clubs and resorts are all within a 45 minute drive of the city centre.
Richmond Rafting Company
You don’t have to be a seasoned rafter to enjoy the programmes on offer by this company. Whether you’re a veteran or a beginner, old or young, there’s a rafting adventure waiting for you here. Richmond is the only city in the US having class IV rapids within its city limits. Call for program information: +1 804 222 7238
