Richmond Virginia Kid Friendly Activites and Information
Richmond Shopping Malls
Santa and the Snow Globes at Regency Square
0440 days
This year we took the kids to see Santa at Regency Square Mall. The Polar Express is one of my holiday movie favorites and I was excited to share some of it with them, since they wont actually sit through the movie yet. It is set up so you walk through different areas and scenes and can watch the movie as you wait. I’m not sure that the boys even noticed any of the globes depicting familiar parts from the movie but I certainly enjoyed it. They did however seem to enjoy the snow falling in the forest. Then we went around the corner to see Santa. I was worried that putting them in Santa’s lap could cause a few tears, but we got away with it for the second year in a row. This Santa was great and not at all scary. They were even more excited when we posed for a family photo in front of the Polar Express. Probably more so that we were all in the photo and not so much because they realized that we were in front of the train. Either way, the trip was successful.
I do have a few suggestions if you plan to take your kids to visit Santa and the Snow Globes this year. We went during the week of Thanksgiving so we did not have to wait. You may want to go during the week, and before schools let out for break. I can only assume that the line will get longer as it gets closer to Christmas. We also got there at dinner time so that could have helped as well. They have several photo package options available. Some of them also come with free photo gifts that you can order online. And don’t forget to get a copy of the images on disk. We were able to use our photos on our holiday cards this year. Happy Holidays!
Water Play at Stony Point Mall
3615 days
Like most busy moms, I strive to take care of my daily to-do list with as few stops as possible, and make sure that
everyone is happy. I knew it was going to be hot today and I needed to do some shopping for Father’s Day, so I loaded everyone up and headed over to Stony Point Mall in Richmond Virginia. If you have ever been to Stony Point during the summer you have surely noticed the fountain that attracts parents and young kids to this shopping center. It is located just outside of Chipotle and is usually full of squealing kids in swimsuits. Today was no exception.
After we finished up my errands I took the boys over and their eyes were wide with excitement. They couldn’t wait to get out of the stroller and join the fun. Although I was a little nervous since this was our first experience with the fountain, I set them down and they ran right in to the middle of it. They looked a little surprised when they first felt the water and I’m still not sure that they understood that it was coming out of the ground. They didn’t seem to care though. Along with all of the other kids there today, they screamed with excitement and joy each time it shot up in to the air, and tried over and over in vain to grasp it with their hands. They were so busy chasing the water that they failed to notice that the area is not enclosed. Normally they are off and running in two different directions making life very difficult for their pregnant mother. I will have to take them again to see if they are actually turning over a new leaf or if they were just too preoccupied to run.
If you have not ever taken you kids to play in the fountain at Stony Point you now know that it is not enclosed. You should also know that there is not any cover or shade so come prepared with plenty of sunscreen, hats and protective clothing. As long as your children do not mind getting wet, they should have a blast. Please visit the mall website for hours and merchant information. http://www.shopstonypoint.com/
Rainy Day Play in Richmond
0644 days
With all of the rain in the last few days I haven’t been able to take the boys outside to play and work off some of their energy. So, earlier this week we headed to the mall for some retail therapy for me, and play time for them. In Chesterfield Towne Center there are two play areas for kids. I chose the larger area this time, called the River Romp. It was quite busy that afternoon with kids ranging in age from baby to maybe 5 or 6. There is a rule that children must be less than a certain height to play, not that I know who would enforce it, but I didn’t see any kids that looked too tall or old to be there.
I immediately noticed how clean the play area was. It helps that the kids must remove their shoes and no food or drinks are allowed. The mall staff comes several times throughout the day to clean and disinfect, and during these cleanings everyone must leave the area. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that everything inside is padded, including the floor. This was very reassuring since my guys are frequently tripping over their own feet and often fall down face first. In here they seem to bounce right back up!
There were plenty of bugs to climb up and over, tree stumps to crawl through and slides coming out of a tree. At times the boys were happy to walk around and watch the other kids. I was very happy to be able to sit and watch them. Don’t let yourself get too comfortable though. I must warn you that the doorway is completely open. At one point one of my boys wandered out while I was on the other side of the play area and he was out of my sight. Luckily another parent grabbed him before he got very far. Lesson learned! The next time we visit I will be sure to position myself right by the entrance to prevent any attempts to escape.
Please visit their website for additional mall information. www.chesterfieldcenter.com
