Summer Fun in the City

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With summer right around the corner, there are so many amazing and low-cost options for the whole family to enjoy during this season. Here is a list of some of my faves in and around the city. 

1. Outdoor Water Parks

There are two great outdoor water playgrounds for kids – Cobblestone Park in Hanover County and Pochantas State Park Aquatic Recreation Center in Chesterfield County. Both options are relatively inexpensive considering you can stay pretty much stay the whole day if you wanted to. Cobblestone Park offers a 38,000-square-foot pool with a range of slides for little and big kids. Pocahontas State Park’s Aquatic Recreation Center features a fountain wet deck, leisure pools, a kiddie pool, and an activity pool with 2 water slides. Prices for Pocahontas’ water park range from $5-$8/person with kids under 2 free. Cobblestone Park’s fees are $15/person with kids under 32 inches free.

2. Pick Your Own Fruit

Another great family activity during the warm summer months is to pick your own blueberries and peaches. These fruits reach their peak during the summer months with both fruits available for picking mid/late June through the end of August. We love picking blueberries at the Swift Creek Berry Farm out in Mosely (outside of Midlothian). There is a small picnic area so you can pack a lunch for the family. The great part about this farm is their blueberries are not sprayed so you can safely enjoy without any worry! We also love picking juicy ripe peaches and enjoy visiting the Hanover Peach Farm to do just that. There is a covered picnic area here as well with beautifully maintained grounds. We used to hike up to Charlottesville for peach picking but now we can save a lot of time on driving as this orchard is just 20 minutes outside the city in Mechanicsville. 

3. Popsicle Playdate with the Family

If you haven’t had a King of Pops popsicle you MUST try one this summer. You will find their tiny pushcart set up at many different events across town throughout the year but this summer be sure to check out their small shop downtown in Scott’s Addition. Their pick-up widow and patio seating area make for a fun summer playdate with the family. With offerings like Cookies and Cream, Banana Puddin’, and Chocolate Sea Salt your family is sure to enjoy. So beat the heat this summer and grab a pop!

4. Live Music

There are several different options for listening to some live music this summer. You can catch an outdoor concert at Short Pump and Stony Point malls and in Westchester Commons in Midlothian. There are probably more options but these are some I’m familiar.  Nothing says summer like a good outdoor concert!

5. Daytrip to the Beach

There are several beaches just a short drive away from Richmond that will provide hours of fun in the sun for the entire family. While Virginia Beach is a great option it is slightly far due to lots of traffic and is often super crowded.  Here are some options not as far and with no waves!  Our family favorite is Yorktown Beach. Situated on the York River with a sandy beachfront and a little over an hour from Richmond the whole family will have a blast here. Check out the boardwalk full of great restaurants and cute shops and take a free trolley ride around Yorktown too.  If you end up visiting on a Saturday they have a great farmer’s market set up right near the boardwalk.  If you have a sweet tooth while there grab a piece of carrot cake from Carrot Tree Kitchen (drool-worthy)! Other great options include Jamestown Beach Event Park, Colonial Beach, and Buckaroe Beach (the shells are great here).

This is just a short list of some of my family’s favorite activities during the warm summer months but there are so many more. Bottom line, there isn’t a shortage of fun for the entire family this summer around the city! Stay cool everyone and happy almost summer! Summer fun in the city for the whole family!

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Meg
Meg grew up in Midlothian, Virginia after her family moved here when she was 7 years old. After graduating from Longwood University with a teaching degree, Meg taught elementary school for 5 years and then transitioned over to Capital One as a project manager. Her daughter was born in 2016 and Meg decided to stay at home with her and is savoring all the precious time she gets to spend with her girl. Her husband is from India so Meg has visited India 3 times and has already taken her daughter twice. She loves Indian food and has really fallen in love with the culture. She loves watching movies, traveling to new places, cooking, rooting on the Carolina Tarheels basketball team and spending time with her family and friends.