Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Richmond

Richmond is undoubtedly “rich” with arts, culture, history, and exciting attractions that bring people from around the state as well as the country. Explore the best of RVA with your kids by visiting these ten amazing family-friendly spots.

Maymont Farm

Part of the beautiful Maymont Estate, Maymont Farm is easily one of the best things to do with kids in Richmond. The farm offers hands-on animal encounters and educational content for families to learn about life on a farm. Kids will love getting up close with chickens, pigs, horses, and other farm animals. Also on-site are a 40-acre wildlife habitat with Virginia native species such as black bears and bobcats and the Robins Nature Center, which houses an aquarium and interactive educational exhibits.

Open: Daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Cost: $5 suggested admission

Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion offers a variety of fun activities for the whole family during most of the year. The park has more than 60 rides, a PEANUTS-themed area for younger kids called Planet Snoopy, and Soak City — an adjacent 20-acre waterpark with a lazy river, wave pool, and thrilling water slides. For its 50th anniversary in 2025, the park is unveiling a new ride called Rapterra, the world's tallest and longest launched wing coaster. Kings Dominion also holds special events throughout the year, including its Grand Carnivale and Halloween Haunt.

Open: Hours vary by season; open weekends late March, April and May, first week of April, daily late May through mid August, weekends late August through mid-September

Cost: Daily tickets start from $42 per person. Discounted rates apply for seniors, military personnel, and season pass holders.

Children’s Museum of Richmond

The Children’s Museum of Richmond provides early-learning exhibits and experiences geared toward children under nine years of age. Kids can ride the carousel, climb the living tree house, and practice being a teacher, mechanic, and hospital or ambulance worker. The museum also has an art studio, where kids can draw, paint, and build individual and collaborative projects. In addition to its downtown location, the museum has a satellite location in Chesterfield County.

Open: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Cost: $9 for adults and children over 12 months of age, $8 for ages 60+, free for children under the age of 12 months

Science Museum of Virginia

Located next to the Children’s Museum of Richmond, the Science Museum of Virginia offers exciting interactive exhibits. Permanent exhibits include Speed, which contains more than 50 stations showcasing motion, time, science, and technology in various ways. The museum also houses the 76-feet Dome theater, the largest screen in Virginia. Many of the museum’s visiting exhibitions and special exhibits provide hands-on experiences that expose kids to STEM activities.

Open: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Cost: $17.50 for persons 13 and older. Discounted rates for those under 13 and over 60. Children two years old and younger can enter for no charge.

Amazing Scavenger Hunt

The Amazing Scavenger Hunt is a phone-enabled tour experience designed by Urban Outdoor Adventures as a trivia-based scavenger hunt of the city. This self-paced tour begins in Capital Square and takes participants on an "Amazing Race"-style adventure through well-known and less-known parts of the city. Participants solve puzzles and answer questions using the clues provided, and it’s a fun way to learn about the city’s history, artistic heritage, and unique communities.

Open: Daily

Cost: $49 for a party of two to five people

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Recognized as one of the top botanical gardens in the country, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is one of the most photographed and iconic places in the city. The garden offers 50 acres of themed gardens, including the Rose Garden, the Cherry Tree Walk, and a healing garden as well as a beautiful Conservatory. Kids will love the Children’s Garden, which contains WaterPlay, the Klaus Family Tree House, the Jane Quinn Sanders Farm Garden, and the International Village, which has references to world architecture, global cultures, and native plants.

Open: Daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Cost: Cost is $20 for person aged 13 years and older, $15 for ages 65+, $10 ages 4-12, and children under 3 and members are free.

Brambly Park

Set on two acres in Scott’s Addition Historic District, Brambly Park is the perfect spot for a casual family outing. This urban winery and restaurant has a heated outdoor pavilion where families can enjoy a great selection of Italian-style appetizers and entrees year-round. The company also offers games ranging from Giant Jenga to cornhole as well as special events such as Trivi-o-ke (trivia followed by karaoke). The restaurant serves a variety of beverages, beers, and wines, some of which it produces in its on-site commercial winery. 

Open: Daily with variable hours

Cost: Cost of purchase

Metro Richmond Zoo

The privately-owned Metro Richmond Zoo is easily one of the top things to do with kids in Richmond. In addition to observing more than 2,000 animals such as giraffes, tigers, and lemurs in a natural setting, families can enjoy the zoo’s playground, carousel, safari train ride, and safari ski lift. In 2012, the zoo opened the Cheetah Conservation Center on 52 adjacent acres of land. The zoo also has conservation projects for African penguins and Diana monkeys.

Open: Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Cost: Entrance for persons 12 years of age and older is $26.95. Ages 60+ are $25.95, ages 2-11 are $19.95, and infants are free. 

Treetop Zoofari Zip Line and Adventure Park

Housed within the grounds of the Metro Richmond Zoo, Treetop Zoofari Zip Line and Adventure Park offers a series of obstacle courses to experience nature in an exciting way. Of the two zip-line courses, the Junior Explorer Course contains 22 challenges and two zip lines, and the Treetop Zoofari course contains 44 challenges and 15 zip lines, including a 600-foot zip line over the zoo’s lake. The complex also has jungle ropes, tight wires, and a Tarzan swing.

Open: Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm (last admission time)

Cost: From $55 for adults and $28 for juniors

Virginia Capital Trail

The 52-mile Virginia Capital Trail connects Virginia’s three historic capitals—Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Richmond. Biking this trail will take you past Revolutionary War battlegrounds, riverfronts, bridges, wetlands, rail trails, and notable landmarks. One historic place along the trail is the Charles City County Courthouse, a one-story brick building dating back to 1730. With history around nearly every turn, spending a day on the Capital Trail is a great way to learn more about the state and country’s formative years. Plan your trip using this Virginia Capital Trail interactive map.

Open: Daily

Cost: Free