Richmond For Kids
Richmond Virginia Kid Friendly Activites and Information
Our Visit to the Metro Richmond Zoo
1514 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
Where Kids Eat for Free
1523 days
During the last few weeks we have been eating out quite a bit because I was very pregnant and did not feel like cooking. I am always looking for places to where kids eat for free and was delighted to find two in the last week. Since lately it seems that most of what I attempt to feed my kids intentionally winds up on the floor, I don’t feel too bad about it when it comes free with my own meal.
Kids eat free at Qdoba every Sunday. I have wanted to try Qdoba for some time and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Chipotle will always be my absolute favorite, but Qdoba actually has a much larger menu and it was very tasty. With the purchase of each adult meal on Sundays kids have a choice of naked burritos, chicken or cheese quesadillas or tacos. Each meal comes with juice, milk or a fountain drink, and the sides are vegetarian beans, applesauce or tortilla chips. My kids not only loved the chicken quesadilla that we got for them, they also decided that this was the day that they would start using forks to eat their meals. It was a very exciting dinner out for all of us. You can view their menu and find the closest location to you here http://www.qdoba.com/.
I was also excited to discover that kids can eat for free at Great Wraps every single day of the week. We used to eat their all of the time before we had kids and just recently went back for the first time in months to discover the Kids Eat Free sign on the door. With the purchase of each adult meal you kids have a choice of chicken tenders, grilled cheese and one other item that escapes me at the moment. You also have a choice of french fries or chips and a drink. There aren’t as many choices as I’ve seen at other places, but the few items they do offer are usually big hits with kids. They happened to be out of the chicken tenders that we wanted to order, and offered up grilled chicken for the boys instead. I was pleased that they were so accommodating and the boys were happy. Since their website (http://www.greatwraps.com/) does not actually show a kid’s menu, you may want to check with your local Great Wraps ahead of time. Or just head down to the location just off Broad Street near VCU.
A Great Neighborhood Park
0535 days
With just a week to go before the arrival of baby #3, the boys and I have been trying to stay close to home. So this week I finally took them to a park that I have literally driven past hundreds of times. It’s actually attached to the Westover Hills Methodist Church, and they are gracious enough to allow the public to use it. What a great find it was for us. It is nicely shaded, completely fenced in and FULL of toys and fun things.
When we first arrived the boys literally stood in place for what felt like 5 minutes taking it all in. I am not sure they knew where to start. There are 4-5 jungle gyms with slides and swings for all ages. There are several play houses, a wooden fire truck to climb in and on, and a large covered sand box. My personal favorite was the see-saw which is sturdy enough to hold a parent and child on each end. They loved it! Did I mention the toys? My boys are at the stage where they love toys that can be pushed around. I lost count of how many lawn mowers, vacuums and ride-in cars they found. It was a dream come true for two very happy one year olds. It was great for me because I could sit on one of the many benches or tables and see them, and not feel like I had to constantly run after them. There were also plenty of child-sized picnic tables which would be great if I decide to pack a lunch and bring it with us next time. 
Whether you live in this area or just happen to be passing by, this park is located on the corner of Westover Hills Blvd and New Kent, just over the Nickel Bridge from Maymont. Both times that we have been it was full of very friendly parents and kids. Now I only wish that we lived close enough to walk. If you ever decide to stop by, I will most likely be the only one there with the 3 boys under the age of 2.
Why We Love CMoR, Part II
0542 days
It took us several months, but we finally made it out to the new Children’s Museum in Short Pump this week. If you haven’t been, it is located right next to Whole Foods on the first floor of one of the many new buildings in the area. I didn’t notice any parking designated for the museum but we easily found a spot on the street nearby. It was already quite busy when we were arrived and the boys were anxious to get out of the stroller and explore. I am thankful that my new mother’s helper/babysitter, found on Sitter City, was along to help because as soon as we put them down they were off in different directions.
Unlike the downtown location, CMoR Short Pump is mostly just one long room filled with exhibits. There is a very small enclosed area for babies and young toddlers, but if your kids are able to climb they can easily get out, so be prepared to get some exercise following them around. We spent a good bit of time playing in the Dig Pit looking for buried treasure. I’m not quite sure what it was filled with but it was not sand and the boys did not like the way that it tasted. Lesson learned. There were lots of new things for them to explore, but their favorites seemed to be the veggie garden, the Merry Berry Bush and the Magic Beanstalk Climber. They really wanted to get in on the Water Play, but the tables were a bit too high for them to do more than reach over and get their hands wet. They also loved the large fish tank near the entrance. And don’t let me forget the Wild Safari Train in the middle of the room. It looked like fun and I assumed that they would love it. They seemed to until a loud lion’s roar scared them to tears. Maybe they are a little too young for the train and they were definitely exhausted at this point. All of the other kids really seemed to love it so we will have to give it another try. I know that my boys enjoyed the visit overall because we had to drag them out of there kicking and screaming. 
I was very pleased with our first visit to the Short Pump CMoR. It was very clean and the exhibits were fun. There were some things that we didn’t even get a chance to explore because we ran out of time, so we will definitely go back again soon. If you already have a membership like we do, you don’t have to pay extra to visit the new location. It’s well worth it if you visit either one as much as we do. Please visit their website and plan a trip soon. www.ChildrensMuseumOfRichmond.org
