Richmond Virginia Kid Friendly Activites and Information
M Stringer
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Home page: http://www.richmondforkids.com
Posts by M Stringer
The Chesterfield Berry Farm
0576 days
We have been trying to get to visit the Chesterfield Berry Farm for weeks to pick our pumpkins. We haven’t actually made it yet, but we are definitely going this weekend, and I wanted to share with you some of the things that we are looking forward to when we visit.
We have visited other area farms in the past for pumpkin picking, but this year we chose the CBF because it promises to have so many things for the kids to enjoy. Before we take the hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins, I want to check out a few other attractions. There is a corn maze, moon bounce, duck and pig races, haunted barn, pony rides (costs extra) and a toddler play area. On the weekends there is live entertainment and plenty of food to enjoy in their picnic area. Admission is $11.95 per person and children under 2 are free. The weather this weekend is supposed to be great so I am looking forward to getting outside and enjoying the farm with the kids. This Saturday and Sunday is Military and Public Servants Appreciation weekend, so if you bring your i.d., admission is free! And next weekend for Halloween they will be having costume contests and the kids can start their trick-or-treating right there.
The Chesterfield Berry Farm is located out 360 West in Moseley. Please visit their website for directions and hours, plus see all of the many other things that they currently have to offer and year round. Don’t forget to print your coupon for any 5 pumpkins from the patch for $19.95. I will be sure to post some pictures after our visit this weekend. www.chesterfieldberryfarm.com
Romp N’ Roll
1602 days
A few weeks ago I purchased some Open Gym passes for my boys from livingsocial.com. I was able to get several passes for each at ½ the regular price. Too good to pass up! Today we went to check out the Midlothian location for the first time, just back from the corner of Midlothian and Huguenot. It’s basically a large, colorful room full of padded equipment for kids to climb, jump on, hang from, tumble and run around like wild animals.
We were the only people there at first and it was nice to have the run of the place. They ran from thing to thing, sometimes stopping in route to dance to the music that plays at all times. They were able to be as loud as they wanted and I wasn’t worried about them falling and getting hurt. Like I said before…everything is padded. They spent lots of time shooting hoops, jumped on the trampoline, dangled from the monkey bars (I didn’t even know they could do that at this age), went down the slide countless times and climbed on top of everything that was stationary. When they tripped and fell they bounced right back up off of the padded floors. I don’t think that one tear was shed in the hour that we were there, which is a huge accomplishment for two clumsy boys.
Our passes are for the designated Open Gym times, but there are also several different class options for varying ages 
and interests. Our boys enjoy music so much that I am most likely going to sign them up for the class called Tumble Tunes. They also offer art classes, adventure classes and summer camp for children between the ages of 2 and 6. And like most places geared towards young children, you can even rent the space for birthday parties. There are several locations in the Richmond area, and you can try any class for free. I know that we will be going more frequently once it’s too cold to play outside. http://www.rompnroll.com/
The Weinstein Jewish Community Center
0610 days
My husband and I have wanted to join a gym for some time and recently began looking in to options for our family. We have several friends that belong to the JCC and rave about so we decided to check it out. The most important thing for me is finding a gym that also offers babysitting to include young babies. Not only does the JCC fulfill these needs, but it also offers so much more and is very affordable, in my opinion. 
Babysitting services are available to members each day starting at 6 weeks of age up to 7 years. This is perfect for me as I will likely be cleared to start exercising again once baby #3 is that old. You must make a reservation to ensure a space for your child or children which I think is fantastic. You never have to worry about getting there only to find out that they are full. I love to plan ahead anyway! The babysitting facility is very clean and bright and full of fun things for young kids to do while their parents work out. And when your work out is over you can grab the kids and head on over to the indoor pool which is open all year. Now that our community pool is closed this is a perfect alternative.
I was excited to learn about all of the other programs and activities offered for kids of all ages at the JCC. I am especially interested in the Great Beginnings class for newborns. It seems like a good place to take our littlest to socialize with other babies. Once your child is 2 they can enroll in the preschool. In the summer there are so many 
different camps for all ages that I cannot even list them here. And don’t forget about the swim team. I also recall looking in to swim lessons over the summer for our older boys. We were never able to fit that in but I look forward to signing them up as soon as we can. And if you are looking for a place to host your child’s next birthday party, they offer several themes including sports, dance and pool parties. I also know that we will utilize the guitar and piano lessons once our kids are in Kindergarten.
I have only scratched the surface when it comes to all of the things that the JCC has to offer kids and their families. Hopefully this will entice you to explore it further. Most (if not all) of the things that I talked briefly about above are available to members and non-members alike, although they will always be less expensive for members. Be sure to visit their website and schedule a tour if you think you might be interested. http://www.weinsteinjcc.org/
Our Visit to the Metro Richmond Zoo
1617 days
I have wanted to visit the Richmond Zoo for years and this week we finally went. I guess I was always a little put off by the fact that it seemed so far away and that you have to pay for admission. Being from Northern VA, I am used to visiting the National Zoo for free, so it just seems strange to have to pay. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it is and am so glad that we went. We have all been a little cooped up for the last few weeks with the new baby, so it was nice to be out in the fresh air getting some exercise.
Since our kids are all under the age of 2, we only had to pay admission for my husband and myself. If you have older kids, be sure to use the coupon for 1 free child admission in the Entertainment book. We went during the middle of the week and it was not at all crowded now that school is back in session. I love that you can get so up close and personal to so many of the animals. Our first stop was in the bird enclosure. In this area the birds (lots of ducks and flamingos) literally roam freely with the visitors. We decided that it was best to keep the boys in the stroller so they were not tempted to try and get any closer than we already were. As we moved on past the prairie dogs, various monkeys, lemurs, and tiger cubs, we came to the giraffes. This was our favorite by far. They came right over and ate treats out of my hand. Sure, it was a little gross at first, but I can honestly say that I have never hand-fed a giraffe before. Those are the kinds of things that you want your kids to experience, and I look forward to taking them back when they are older so they can feed the giraffes themselves. 
Just beyond the giraffe exhibit is another area for petting and feeding various other animals. I was happy to see that the zoo has plenty of hand-sanitizing stations to hold you over until you can get to a restroom to wash. Some other highlights of our visit were the big cats, rhinos and penguins. There were also lots of other animals that we had never seen or heard of before. We never made it to the otter house so we will definitely have to go back for that. Some other things that we missed out on this trip were the African Safari train ride, the Jungle Carousel and the Safari Sky Ride. We didn’t stay for lunch, but there are several snack bars and plenty places to have a picnic. I will gladly pay to go again and more often now that I see how nice the zoo is and that the animals are so well cared for. I really look forward to going back soon. Please visit their website and plan a trip for your family. http://www.metrorichmondzoo.com/index.shtml
