Richmond Virginia Kid Friendly Activites and Information
Posts tagged Children
Cartwheels & Coffee in Carytown
1673 days
After having been cooped up with two sick boys for the last week or so, I was looking for plenty of fun things for us to 
get out and do. I’ve been wanting to visit Cartwheels & Coffee for some time, so I called some friends and off we went. It is located on Cary Street about two blocks up from the Boulevard. Since it was a little after ten o’clock on a weekday I was able to park right on the street in front. We parked our stroller out front with the rest of them and went inside to play.
I must say that it was a bit smaller than I expected. It is basically one large room separated by a 3-4 foot wall. The front is lined with tables, a coffee bar and a small enclosed area for small babies to play. The baby play area is free. The coffee bar is set up right next to the entrance to the larger play area. This is also where you pay for your older kids. If I remember correctly it was $4 for the first child and $3 for each additional child. It was pretty busy that morning and a little chaotic at first, but it didn’t take long for my boys to jump right it. There were lots of padded things to climb on, toys to bounce on, a rocking seesaw-like boat, a small stage area with some costumes, a toy kitchen area and a jungle gym for more climbing and sliding. My boys wanted mostly to climb and slide. It was a little nerve-racking for me but good for their development and stair practice. I assume that if your kids are a little older than mine you could probably safely sit in the front area with a beverage while they played. I will get there one day.
Since you do have to pay to play it probably isn’t something that I would do every week, but I will definitely go back again. The smaller play area was actually nice for me because the boys didn’t have as much room to run in separate directions. It was very easy to keep a close eye on them both. I think their setup is perfect for kids under the age of 5. In addition to the everyday play, they also have a free storytime every Friday morning, camps during the summer, various classes and they do birthday parties as well. Please visit their website for a complete list of their services, prices and monthly calendar. http://www.cartwheelsandcoffee.com/cartwheels/home.html
Kids Eat Free at Chipotle
3680 days
I was excited to learn that Chipotle is introducing a kid’s menu in the Richmond area this month. Every Sunday beginning July 11th through August 1st, you will receive one free kid’s meal with each purchase of a burrito, burrito bowl, salad or tacos. The new kid’s menu will feature child-friendly items like quesadillas and single tacos as well as a build-your-own taco kit. The kit allows kids to choose any 3 ingredients in either crispy or soft taco shells. These meals come with a small bag of chips and a choice of organic plain milk, organic chocolate milk, apple juice or soda. And they are all priced under $5!
If I could I would eat at Chipotle several times a week. I am so happy to know that they will now not only have a kids menu but my kids can eat for free each Sunday for a month. I know where we are headed this Sunday! If you have never been to Chipotle, this is the perfect time to try it. You can find their menu and locations here http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/Default.aspx?type=default. The promotion is regional which may be why I wasn’t able to find anything about it on their website. I noticed a sign in the Willow Lawn location and asked an employee about it. Just in case, you may want to call your local Chipotle to confirm this before you head out with the kids. Enjoy!
Pigtails & Crewcuts
0687 days
I tried to put it off for as long as possible, but I knew it was time for their first haircut when women kept asking me if I had a girl and a boy. They really didn’t need much more than a trim to get it out of their eyes and off their ears, but I still wanted to do something special to commemorate this first cut, and I certainly didn’t trust myself to do it. So I started asking around and was told to take them to a little place called Pigtails and Crewcuts. They not only cater to kids but also have a special first haircut package. Perfect!
I called ahead to find out if walk-ins were welcome and was told that they only accept walk-ins. Keep that in mind. We went after lunch on a Thursday afternoon and were the only customers. I have to assume that they are much busier after work and on weekends. The salon was painted in bright colors and full of things to occupy children of all ages. There were several train tables set up in the waiting area which was great for our guys even though we didn’t have to wait. I also noticed several racks of dress-up clothes. Perhaps those were for kids who had no interest in the trains or other toys available for everyone to enjoy. Instead of typical salon chairs there were vintage cars that were turned in to chairs on lifts for the kids to sit in. On the walls in front of the car chairs were televisions playing cartoons. They seemed to have a little something for everyone.
They wasted no time getting our little guys in to the chairs. With the first cut package you get a picture of the cut and a 
lock of their hair all put neatly in a dated card for their baby books. While the stylists were trimming another employee was working hard to get a good picture of the event for each. Getting them to sit still is never easy and I was pleased with the photos that she took. The stylists made sure that they did exactly what we wanted and I was happy with the end result. After it was all said in done, we were out of there in about 15 minutes without any meltdowns. Major triumph for Mom and Dad!
Although we visited the salon in the West End, it turns out there is also a salon in Midlothian. You can find the addresses and a list of their services and prices here: https://www.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/locations.aspx. I definitely think that we will go back for future trims.
Water Play at Stony Point Mall
3701 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/
