Your Guide to Kid-Friendly Fun from Richmond’s Local Businesses
School’s officially out for summer— now what? Keeping kids busy all summer can be a challenge, but RVA’s locally owned businesses are here to help. From hands-on learning to active play, there’s no shortage of fun to keep little Richmonders engaged, indoors and out. Continue reading for just a few of Richmond’s local businesses that offer kid-friendly summer fun, both indoors and out, making them a happier place for both kids and parents!
Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s Commonwealth Explorers Exhibit:
A long-term exhibition featuring designated stations as well as opportunities for free play, this hands-on, interactive exhibition uses a wide range of story-driven features for kids to see, touch, and experience Virginia’s past and present.
Children’s Museum of Richmond:
From dress-up to arts and crafts, interactive exhibits to a beloved carousel, The Children’s Museum promotes growth through play for the whole family.
Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day feeding giraffes, scoping out penguins, and communing with peacocks. Don’t miss one of Richmond Zoo’s newest and perhaps most famous residents, Poppy the pygmy hippo, who was born this past winter.
Inspire a love of reading this summer with a visit to Richmond’s kid-focused bookstore, bbgb. Let your littles pick out their own book or join them for one of their children’s book clubs— available for toddlers and young readers alike.
Let your kids run free at this 100-acre estate in the heart of Richmond. Part park, part farm, part gardens, and so much more, this uniquely Richmond gem offers something for everyone. For an indoor activity, check out the Robins Nature Center or an upcoming Toddler Time. While there’s no fee to enter the estate, tickets are required for the Nature Center.
Log off from electronics and snag a copy of your favorite game or try a new one at this unique café with more than 1,000 tabletop games in its library. Children 12 and under play for free with a paying adult.
From the splash-worthy Waterway in the Children’s Garden to story time among the blooms—and of course, their iconic tree house—Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is full of ways for kids to cool off, explore, and connect with nature all summer long.
Play a round of miniature golf on Bogey’s picturesque course accented with water features and mature landscaping. Looking for something a little faster? Check out Little Links- a new offering where players of all ages and skill levels use oversized clubs and balls to play nine holes in less than 30 minutes.
Richmond Railway Museum & Main Street Station:
Check out an impressive model railroad that showcases many scenes from Richmond’s yesteryear as well as exhibits highlighting railway history in Virginia, then head across the bridge to Main Street Station, where you can catch daily trains pulling into the historic station.
The Play Space at Art Factory, designed for kids 0-5, features multiple play structures for kids to climb, slide, and explore in a climate-controlled setting.
At just 40 minutes, this quick zip down Richmond’s historic canals by flat-bottomed boat is the perfect unique activity for a summer afternoon.
Let the imagination run wild with a visit to Fort for their signature “pure play,” beautiful, sensory rich, loose play parts. Pick out a themed or custom sensory box and take the fun home.
While not an activity per se, a stop to Perk! is a child and parent-friendly activity. Grab coffee and some fresh pastries while the littles enjoy their children’s corner packed with kid-height chairs, toys, and more.
Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum:
Travel back in time and explore 125,000 square feet of antique trucks and tractors. From an antique fire truck to row after row of tractors, this is a must-see for any child who loves trucks and old cars.
