Your Guide to Visiting Virginia in March

Spring returns to the Commonwealth in March, with temperatures gradually rising and colorful flowers beginning to peek out here and there. If you’re lucky enough to visit Virginia during this time, take advantage of everything from outdoor activities like biking and hiking to basking in the sun at a picturesque winery. 

With most Spring Breaks happening throughout March, it’s also the perfect time to plan a family getaway to Virginia. Attractions like Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens reopen in March, and indoor water parks at family-friendly destinations like Great Wolf Lodge and Massanutten Resort allow your kids to splash through Spring Break even if temps are still a little chilly. 

The Newest Attractions for Family-Friendly Fun

This year, Kings Dominion will debut Rapterra, the world's tallest and longest launched wing coaster. The intense and twisting ride allows you to soar like a Jungle Hawk through a volcanic site. 

Where to Stay

Virginia has lots of family-friendly resorts for a Spring Break vacation, offering all sorts of activities for kids of all ages, from hands-on sailing classes on the Chesapeake Bay to horseback riding and ATV adventures along mountain trails. 

For families visiting Kings Dominion, use Richmond as a basecamp and stay at The Graduate. This family-friendly (and pet-friendly!) hotel is conveniently located in downtown Richmond close to the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, with tons of top-rated restaurants just a short walk or drive away.

It is also only a few miles from attractions like the Science Museum of Virginia, the Children’s Museum of Richmond, and Maymont, as well as outdoor sites like Belle Isle and Brown’s Island. In the spring, the Graduate’s rooftop bar, Byrdhouse, reopens, allowing guests to get expansive views of Richmond’s downtown area and the picturesque James River.

If coming with the whole family, opt for the family suite, which has connecting rooms, bathrooms in both rooms, and bunk beds for the kids. 

Families heading to Busch Gardens Williamsburg can stay at Great Wolf Lodge to spend some down time in the indoor water park. Other on-site entertainment includes duckpin bowling, laser tag, an arcade, MagiQuest Adventures that take you on a scavenger hunt of the property, an outdoor ropes course, “mining” for gems in Oliver’s Mining Sluice, and a Build-A-Bear Workshop that will give kids a chance to bring home a memorable keepsake from their Williamsburg Spring Break getaway.

Another kid-friendly option for the Williamsburg area is Kingsmill Resort, which has an indoor pool, bike rentals, a game room, and—for perhaps overworked parents—three golf courses and a relaxing spa. 

Where to Eat

There are dozens of dining options at both Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. 

Other fantastic family-friendly dining destinations for the Richmond area include Tarrant’s Cafe, which is within walking distance of the Graduate Hotel, Boulevard Burger and Brew (which recently reopened with a to-go milkshake window), and downtown Richmond’s Station 2, a burger restaurant in a renovated fire station.

If you’re driving back from Kings Dominion and want to eat on the way back to your hotel, stop by Islamorada Fish Company inside the Bass Pro Shop in Ashland, where kids will love peering into the huge freshwater fish tank. 

Williamsburg has an expansive dining scene that ranges from affordable takeout to upscale dining for those special nights out. If you’re visiting with family, a few recommended spots include the local favorite Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que and Colonial Williamsburg’s Kings Arms Tavern. The area is also home to more than a half dozen pancakes houses that serve up all the breakfast classics well past noon, such as Southern Pancake & Waffle House and Colonial Pancake House. 

What to Do

If you’re planning your family vacation to the Williamsburg area, add Colonial Williamsburg to the itinerary for a little educational entertainment. As the country’s largest outdoor educational living museum, Colonial Williamsburg has endless activities for the whole family, from 18th century demonstrations in trades like blacksmithing, book binding, and carpentry to stunning gardens, restored colonial buildings, and impressive art museums.

Single and multi-day tickets are available for Colonial Williamsburg, but if you’re looking to really dig into early American history with the kids, consider purchasing the America’s Historic Triangle tickets, which give you seven days of access to Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and Yorktown Battlefield. These passes also include complimentary shuttle service for the Colonial Williamsburg area, discounts on carriage rides, and interpreter-led tours of several historic sites within Colonial Williamsburg. 

For family field trips in the Richmond area, don’t miss the Science Museum of Virginia and the Children’s Museum of Richmond, two side-by-side museums on Broad Street that will wow the kids with hands-on fun. The Science Museum of Virginia has daily workshops, an art lab, and interactive exhibits like Speed, a motion-centric showcase that features the incredible SR-71 Blackbird supersonic jet and explores the connection between movement and time. Kids 0-8 will love the next-door Children’s Museum of Richmond, which includes a Little Farm, a Living Tree House, and an art studio. 

Wander through Maymont, a 100-acre historic estate and park in the heart of Richmond, to see spring flowers in the gardens, feed friendly goats at the Maymont Children’s Farm, and learn about the animals and plants that live in the James River at the Robins Nature Center. The suggested admission fee for the gardens, farm, and wildlife habitats is $5, while the Robins Nature Center is free for ages two and under, $6 ages 3-12 and 65+, and $8 ages 13-64.

More Virginia Vacation Ideas for March

• Take the family to Fredericksburg for an educational and fun deep dive into history. Several notable historic sites include George Washington’s childhood home Ferry Farm, the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Rising Sun Tavern Museum, the Mary Washington House, and Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park—but there are dozens of historic sites worth seeing, either by yourself or on a guided tour.

• Consider vacationing in Lynchburg this March, where you can hike or bike the Riverwalk Trail, give kids a chance to learn with hands-on activities at Amazement Square Children’s Museum, and stay at the pet-friendly Craddock Terry Hotel, where resident pup Penny Loafer will be waiting to greet you. Take a stroll through Lynchburg's new installation, Art Alley, to see beautiful artwork from Central Virginia artists.

• March is a great time to head to Virginia Beach, as off-season prices still allow you to get great deals and warmer days allow for soaking up the sun and relaxing in the sand (although dipping more than toes in the still-chilled Atlantic is probably not a good idea). Go for the luxurious Historic Cavalier Hotel or check out the sister hotel, Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, located across the street. Other oceanfront hotels in the area start from less than $100 in March, giving you a chance to enjoy prime views and locations during your coastal Virginia vacation. 
• March means maple syrup for Highland County, which will celebrate the 65th Annual Maple Festival for two weekends, March 8-9 and 15-16. Festivities will include arts and crafts, live music and performances, and plenty of pancakes. 
• Adults looking for a Virginia vacation in March should consider attending a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration, like Richmond’s annual Shamrock the Block (happening on March 15, 2025), the nearby Church Hill Irish Festival (March 15-16, 2025), or Norfolk's Saint Patrick's Day Parade (March 15, 2025). 

Get your vacation planning started now and experience all there is to LOVE about Virginia when you book a trip to one of these kid-friendly destinations.