Summer Fun in Virginia

Since we have several different age groups of children visiting this summer, I did some scouting around for fun places ...

Richmond, The Science Museum of Virginia "From bugs to space and what's inside human bodies ... explore!" They also have the largest planetarium in Virginia. Good for all ages. Very interactive. And don't miss the Children's Museum of Richmond is for toddlers-12 and was voted 11th Best Children's Museum in America by Child magazine! See the Waterplay exhibit as well as explore a cave, climb to an eagle's nest and tinker in an inventor's lab.

Williamsburg is loaded with choices for every age! There's Colonial Williamsburg where kids can wear colonial costumes while they visit the authentic 1700s village. (The whole historic triangle -- Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg is worth visiting often!). Move on to Busch Gardens for amusement part fun, or the Water Park Treehouse. The Pottery Factory has been a huge outlet center for all the years I've been in the area (a looong time!). And for the older kids Water Country USA boasts the most get-wet action. Check out the twistin', turnin', spit-you-out river rafting adventure, along with 415-foot flumes propelling you to a pretty quick 25 mph!

Norfolk has the Nauticus National Maritime Center with more than 150 interactive exhibits. Also in Norfolk is the Virginia Zoological Park, which boasts more than 350 animals, such as elephants, Siberian tigers, monkeys, reptiles and birds. There's also great shopping at McArthur Mall downtown!

While in Hampton, be sure to visit the Air and Space Center where children can experience flight controls and wing walking, ride in a World War II bomber and become an air traffic controller. Very cool place to spend some time with kids!

Newport News - The Virginia Living Museum is the place to go if you're wild about wildlife. See the combination native wildlife park, science museum, aquarium, botanical preserve and planetarium!

The Children's Museum of Virginia, in Portsmouth, is the largest children's museum in the commonwealth. The most popular exhibit here is the antique toy and model train collection, one of the largest on the East Coast. And don't miss the Bubble Exhibit! While in Portsmouth, visit the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. Full of simulators and interactive courts to test your skillz, the museum showcases 20 sports and more than 200 Virginia athletes, coaches and other influential sports figures.

And you can't visit the Hampton Roads area without a visit to the fabulous oceanfront where beaches stretch for several miles and the water is fine! Take an excursion into the Atlatic Ocean with a Dolphin or Whale Watching cruise from the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. While you're there, check out the six-story-high IMAX® Theater! Spend the day in the museum with exhibits and activities for all ages. The Ocean Water Park is right next door when everyone is ready for more action! If you're visiting in late August, do not miss the 47th East Coast Surfing Championship between 2nd and 9th streets on the oceanfront!