The Best Family Destinations in Four Regions of Virginia

For the past 15 years, we have been exploring the best family destinations in Virginia, especially the closer regions to where we live. Here we’ll focus on destinations in the Northern, Central, and Eastern regions of the state, including those within the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and the Coast.

The Best Family Destinations in Northern Virginia

The first time we visited Great Falls National Park, our children were less than excited about the visit. It was gratifying to hear them catch their breath at the first view of the falls. They really are majestic, and all the outcropping of rocks make it look and sound quite dramatic and different. Some people do go white water rafting there, which frankly looks terrifying! While the viewing area for the falls can get crowded, there are also a number of beautiful, quieter trails.

Not far from Great Falls is a lesser known but lovely park called Scott’s Run Nature Preserve. Here you can take a fun and family-friendly hike out to another beautiful, albeit smaller, waterfall. Crowds are typically lower during the week though weekends in the summer it can get crowded. There is no cost to enter the park.

There is a lot to see at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Tour the museum, the home, the farm, many outbuildings, and the somber place where our first president is buried. The house itself contains many artifacts of what life was like, and a beautiful view of the Potomac River. It gives you a glimpse into George Washington’s style and character. Older children will especially enjoy this attraction.

Arlington National Cemetery is an excellent place to help instill a deep respect for those who protect our country if your children are old enough to appreciate it. Visitors enter through the Museum and Visitor’s Center. From there, most monuments are walkable, but a tram is also available. Don’t miss the Amphitheater and The Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Meadowlark Botanical Garden is a lesser known attraction in Fairfax, VA. It includes wide sloping hills, a meandering stream, a little bridge and a gazebo. Nature lovers will find interest in the wide variety of neatly labeled plant and trees, and the abundance of turtles and fish. A trail through the woods is especially quiet except for the crunching of your feet on the leafy path. It is especially picturesque in the spring when the cherry trees are blooming.

The National Museum for the United States Army is just south of DC in Fort Belvoir, VA.  It is very large with several displays specifically for children to play in while learning at the same time. You can find displays on all of the different wars. Our kids also really enjoyed the film shown in a surround sound immersive theater. The whole museum is free, and we ate in the café, which was reasonably priced.

Towns of Northern Virginia

There are many charming historic towns in Northern VA. One such town is Alexandria, VA, which has a lovely waterfront area for families to explore. Old Town Manassas is also worth seeing, with its pretty old churches, old Town Hall, and interesting boutiques. If you’re a history buff, visit Manassas National Battlefield Park, which includes a small but interesting museum. The park memorializes the beginning of the Civil War with the battle of Bull Run, with a driving tour with 12 points of interest along the way.

Another town to see is Occoquan, VA, on the Occoquan River. Visit the tiny Occoquan Mill House Museum for friendly and knowledgeable staff.  From there, there are also several beautiful parks nearby. Pohick Bay Regional Park includes a playground, a lovely Bay view, clean restrooms, vending machines, boat rentals, camp ground, fishing docks, and more. Neabsco Creek Regional Park has a unique boardwalk trail that goes out over the wetlands and a playground.

The Best Family Destinations in Central Virginia

The city of Richmond is always a fun place to visit. Carytown is a unique and interesting place to shop where you’ll find quirky, one-of-a-kind boutiques and cafes, and few chain stores of any kind. It’s also known for its historic movie house, the Byrd theater, where you can still sometimes see a movie for $5.

One of my favorite places in Richmond is Maymont, which belonged to a wealthy couple who left their home to the city. You can visit their mansion for a glimpse of what life was like for the very rich during the Gilded Age. The 100 acre property is a lovely place for a walk, and includes Japanese gardens, a petting zoo, a nature center and an arboretum.

Just south of Richmond, you can visit the Lewis Ginter Botanic Gardens, which is especially lovely during the holiday season. Then you can find the memorial to this prominent Richmonder (Lewis Ginter) at Hollywood Cemetery. Established in 1847, it is the final resting place of several presidents. It also happens to be a beautiful place to wander, with manicured gardens, park space and an arboretum. Guided tours are also available.

If you are interested in American presidential history, visit the Charlottesville area and tour three presidential homes: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier, and James Monroe’s Highland.

The Best Family Destinations in Coastal Virginia

Drive the epic Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (over 17 miles long) and stop at First Landing State Park, the most visited park in VA. The park includes over a mile of beach on the Chesapeake Bay, and over 20 miles of trail through habitats that include cypress swamps and maritime forests. Named for the first English colonists’ landing in 1607, it is a National Landmark and Historic Place.

Also visit Virginia Beach, which includes 29 miles of Atlantic coastline, and is known for its wide sandy beaches, long boardwalk, and charming lighthouses.  If you’re looking for a less bustling and quieter feel, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge may be more to your taste. That is, unless you are there for the annual pony swim, when visitors gather from near and far. The classic book Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry, made the island famous and there are still tributes to Misty the pony there. See the beautiful wild ponies year round on both the Maryland and Virginia side of Assateague Island.

Williamsburg Area

Finally, the Williamsburg Area and its “historic triangle” is one of the best family destinations in Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history park in the US.  Even without buying tickets, there is a lot to see, so check the schedule online before you buy. We got to enjoy a fife and drum performance, carriages, and our girls in the stocks at the courthouse.  We ate dinner there at Chelsey’s Tavern, which was pricey (the going rate) but delicious, and were even serenaded by a Colonial guitarist.

The other two points of the triangle are Jamestown and Yorktown. The latter is a national park that includes a Visitor’s Center and Museum. It includes a drivable trail with various points of interest highlighted along it, such as a cemetery, redoubts, and areas that played a strategic role during the revolutionary war. This is separate from the American Museum of the Revolution, which is also a popular point of interest in Yorktown. The waterfront at the town of Yorktown was also quite cute.

Jamestown was my personal favorite point of the historic triangle. There was so much to see!  We loved the Powhatan Indian village where we could see inside the dwellings. We went on board the historic ships to explore what life was like living on these vessels.  The settlement itself included living history actors and examples of many facets of colonial life. We also got to see some musket shooting, and a few farm animals.

Finally, this area is the home of “America’s most beautiful theme park,” Busch Gardens. The rides are fun, but I absolutely loved watching the shows. Just seeing all of the different areas, which are based on various European countries, is a treat.

The Best Family Destinations in the Shenandoah Valley

Shenandoah National Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in Virginia, and one of the best family destinations in Virginia. The park has three sections, each with it’s own entrance – the Northern District with the Front Royal entrance; the Central District with the Thornton Gap (northern side) or Swift Run Gap (southern side) entrances; and the Southern District with the Rockfish Gap entrance.

Luray Caverns is near the northern end of the park, which is a popular and fun family destination to explore. Front Royal is the town that has grown up around the northern entrance of the park, and is a fun place to stay – Dinosaur Land is a strange, fun little spot to visit in Front Royal if you have the time.

Natural Bridge State Park is another natural wonder that is great to explore with young kids. It includes about a mile long trail that goes under the natural bridge, and leads to some other, smaller points of interest including a small waterfall, a saltpeter cave and a lost river. There are also a zoo and caverns to explore in the area of Natural Bridge so you can spend several days there.