The beach, the zoo, a historic site, the mountains or a family-friendly resort are all possibilities for a last blast Labor Day family getaway. Living in Central Virginia means you're never far away from all of these getaway possibilities. A long weekend offers the family a chance to relax and reconnect while enjoying time together.
Plan a Beach Getaway
There's nothing like a beach weekend to put an official end to summer. Three of the most popular East Coast beaches are located within several hours of Lynchburg.
Head to Virginia Beach and spend a weekend riding waves, building sandcastles, walking or biking on the Boardwalk, and enjoying live music at the American Music Festival. Whether your kids are toddlers or teens, Virginia Beach offers family fun for all ages.
Myrtle Beach is one of the most popular East Coast beaches. Located in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach is packed with family activities including: water parks, amusement parks, miniature golf, Ripley's Aquarium, go cart tracks, museums, the popular SkyWheel, beautiful beaches, and more. Many hotels offer both indoor and outdoor pools with lazy rivers too.
The Outer Banks in North Carolina is the perfect beach getaway for many families. It's quieter and less crowded than Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach, but there's still plenty to do. Climb to the top of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, visit the Wright Brothers Memorial, head to Roanoke Island Aquarium, or explore Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
See the Animals at the Zoo
Mill Mountain Zoo is located in Downtown Roanoke, atop Mill Mountain. Open daily from 10-5, Mill Mountain Zoo can be accessed from I-81/581, downtown Roanoke and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This small zoo has a wonderful variety of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Kids ages 2 and under are free. While you're on Mill Mountain, check out the Mill Mountain Star. You've seen it from a distance, but it looks much bigger close-up.
Virginia Safari Park is located in Natural Bridge and is Virginia's only drive-thru safari adventure. Summer hours are from 9 AM to 6:30 PM daily; however, the gates close at 5 PM. Your admission fees include both the safari drive-thru adventure and and the Safari Village walk-thru adventure. The kids will have a blast seeing the animals close-up. You can even feed the animals through the car windows.
Maymont Park is located at 1700 Hampton Street in Richmond. The 100-acre Victorian estate of Maymont was gifted to the city of Richmond by James and Sallie Dooley to be preserved for new generations. Maymont Park is open daily from 10-7. The Farm, Wildlife Habitats, and Nature Center are open daily from 10-5. Admission to Maymont Park is free; however, donations are suggested and appreciated. There is an entrance fee for the Nature Center and Maymont Mansion. Pack a lunch to enjoy on the grounds, stroll through the gardens and enjoy a day of fun.
Richmond Metro Zoo is located at 8300 Beaver Bridge Road in Moseley, near Richmond. Get up close and personal with the animals at Richmond Metro Zoo. Feed the animals, attend Keeper talks to learn more about the animals, ride the Safari Train or Safari Skylift, eat in the cafe or bring a picnic lunch (coolers welcome), and enjoy your day! There's also a Treetop Zoofari Course if you're feeling adventurous! Richmond Metro Zoo is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM - 5 PM year round, closed Sundays and major holidays.
Enjoy a Historic Getaway
Take a trip to Washington, DC and visit the monuments, museums and memorials. Let the kids help plan what to see and where to go while you're there. With lots of memorials and museums from which to choose, there's something that will please everyone in the family. When kids see these famous memorials for the first time, the looks on their faces are priceless. The Lincoln Memorial is a favorite of many children. The words of the Gettysburg Address and other famous speeches are engraved on the inner walls of the memorial. Everyone in the family will want to pose in front of the statue of President Lincoln. Favorite kids' museums include the Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum. The newest Smithsonian museum is the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in September 2016. The Metro is the best way to get around in Washington DC. Your kids will quickly learn to follow the stops using metro guide maps.
Explore Colonial Williamsburg, the world's largest living history museum with your family. Enjoy hands-on activities, guided tours of historic buildings, carriage rides, guided or self-guided tours, special events, and more. As you walk through the history of Virginia, your kids will learn a lot about the past.
Gather the family and head to Historic Jamestown. Although it's only a few hours from Lynchburg, you'll feel you've stepped back in time when you arrive. Explore the history of the Jamestown Settlement and learn about early America with your family. There are lots of hands-on learning activities for kids. Jamestown was founded in 1607. Your kids will love boarding replicas of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia. You can also explore in the life-size recreations of the colonists' fort and a Powhatan village. Historic Virginia comes to live at Jamestown.
Learn about our country's history at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Appomattox. A 30-minute drive takes you back in history to the place where the Civil War ended on April 9, 1865. Your kids can see how families lived and participate in the Junior Ranger program too.
The National D-Day Memorial was established in Bedford to honor those who died on D-Day, June 6, 1944, on the beach at Normandy. France. By the end of the day, the small town of Bedford suffered the loss of 19 soldiers. Additional soldiers died later in the Normandy campaign. Proportionally, Bedford suffered the nation’s severest D-Day losses.
Virginia Museum of Natural History is located at 21 Starling Avenue in Martinsville. Exhibits include The Science of Flight, Hall of Ancient Life, Uncovering Virginia, Ice Age, and more, including and the Discovery Reef play area for younger children. Kids under age 3 are admitted free.
Ride All the Rides
Plan for a day or weekend of family fun at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. With over 40 kid-friendly rides, shows, and attractions, you can't go wrong. Bigger kids will love the adventurous rides: Alpengeist, Apollo's Chariot, Griffon, Invadr, Loch Ness Monster, Roman Rapids, and many others.
Water Country USA is also located in Williamsburg and it's your place to go for water slides, lazy rivers, a wave pool, and kid-friendly play areas. Water County is Virginia's biggest water park and was voted one of the best water parks in the country. Enjoy water slides with thrilling drops, a peaceful float on the lazy river, take on the current in the wave pool, or join the kids in the splash playgrounds.
Kings Dominion is located in Doswell, about 30 minutes north of Richmond. The park opens at 10:30 AM daily. Closing hours vary throughout the season, so check the calendar before you leave home. Enjoy the thrills of roller coasters, including Twisted Timbers, new in 2018. Planet Snoopy offers lots of rides for the little ones, family-friendly entertainment, and you can visit with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. Soak City Water Park, located inside Kings Dominion, opens for the season on May 26. Enjoy wave pools, waterslides, a lazy river, and a fun splash pad for the kids.
Get Out in Nature
Virginia State Parks are among some of the best in the nation. The 41 parks offer outdoor fun at family-friendly prices. From the Eastern Shore to the mountains of Southwest Virginia, there's a park that's just right for your family's adventures. If you want to stay close to home, check out Smith Mountain Lake or Holliday Lake State Park, two of the parks closest to Lynchburg. Both offer swimming beaches, boat rentals, camping, and more.
Spend the weekend camping. Check out our Lynchburg Area Campground Guide and find the perfect outdoor adventure for your family. From campgrounds in national and state parks to KOA and other public campgrounds, our guide contains information about some of the most popular family camping sites in our area.
Head to the Mountains
If you kids like hiking in the woods, head to the Appalachian Trail for an exciting family adventure. Hiking a short section of the 2,190 mile AT will bring you face-to-face with nature. The AT stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. With nearly one-quarter of the AT's miles located in Virginia, there are many AT access points within an hour's drive. Some of our favorite spots to jump on the AT are: James River Foot Bridge off Route 501 near Big Island, Tye River parking lot on Route 56 in Montebello, Thunder Ridge Overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and multiple parking areas on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive.
Go for a hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Guide will help you choose the perfect family hike. Families with young children will love the Mountain Farm Trail at the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center at MP 5.9, Indian Gap at MP 47.5, and Otter Lake at MP 63.1 -- all easy hikes with lots to see. Teens and 'tweens will be challenged by Humpback Rocks Trail at MP 6.0, Apple Orchard Falls Trail at MP 78.4, or Sharp Top Trail at MP 86.0 -- one of the most popular hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out more family favorites in our guide.
Head to Gatlinburg TN for a Great Smoky Mountains getaway. With many places to stay within a short walk of the tourist area, there's a lot to see and do. You’ll find an excellent aquarium, mini golf and mountain coasters, museums and arcades, and many other attractions for families to enjoy, right on the Parkway. If you enjoy heights and views, plan a visit to Gatlinburg Skylift Park while you're there. The Gatlinburg SkyBridge is 680 feet long and the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America.
Lynchburg Area Staycation Fun
Staying close to home? Here's some fun events in the Lynchburg and Roanoke area over the long Labor Day weekend, including two parades!
Sept. 1 - First Fridays at Academy Center of the Arts from 5 PM - 8 PM
Sept 1 - First Fridays in Lynchburg at Lynchburg Art Club and Art Galleries from 5 PM - 8 PM
Sept. 1 - First Friday at Vector Space from 5 PM - 8 PM
Sept. 1 - First Fridays at Riverviews Artspace from 5 PM - 8 PM
Sept. 2 - Tree of Life Ministries Tree Market from 8 AM - 1 PM
Sept. 2-3 - Labor Day Celebration at the Frontier Culture Museum from 9 AM - 5 PM
Sept. 2 - Flame Thrower Day at AAF Tank Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Sept. 2 - Sedalia Country Fair and Gathering at Sedalia Center from 10 AM - 4 PM
Sept. 2-11 - Poppy Peace Garden Display at National D-Day Memorial from 10 AM - 5 PM daily
Sept. 2 - Roanoke Labor Day Parade in Downtown Roanoke at 12 PM
Sept. 2 - 12th Annual Labor Day Wine & Music Fest at Rebec Vineyards from 12 PM - 6 PM
Sept. 4 - 52nd Annual Labor Day Parade and Festival in Buena Vista from 8 AM - 9:30 PM (parade at 9:30 AM)
Sept. 4 - Summer Pool Party Series at Holiday Lake 4-H Center from 11 AM - 4 PM
Sept. 4 - Labor Day Cheap Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 9 PM
Day Tripping Fun
If a big trip doesn't work with your family's schedule, consider a few of the day trips below over the weekend.
Summer Day Tripping: Mill Creek Lake in Amherst County
Summer Day Tripping: Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Summer Day Tripping: Maury River Fun at Ben Salem Wayside in Lexington
Summer Day Tripping: Crabtree Falls
Summer Day Tripping: Otter Creek on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Summer Day Tripping: Rockfish Valley Trails and Spruce Creek Park
Summer Day Tripping: Escape to Splash Valley
Summer Day Tripping: Douthat State Park
Summer Day Tripping: English Park in Altavista
Summer Day Tripping: Wayside Park in Hurt
Summer Day Tripping: Holliday Lake State Park
5 Water Holes in the Lynchburg Area for Kids to Splash In!
Visit the Blue Ridge Parkway with Your Family
Plan a cookout and check out our 25 Free and Cheap Ways to Enjoy Summer in the Lynchburg area.
Start planning for fall! Here's some of our favorite fall festivals, family fun, and activities to enjoy!
12 Lynchburg and Virginia Fall Festivals You Don't Want to Miss
Get Ready for Fall Running in Lynchburg
Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes for 2023 in Central Virginia
Lynchburg and Central Virginia Apple and Fruit Orchards Guide
Find a Little Free Library in Lynchburg VA
Lynchburg and Central Virginia Fall Festivals and Fun: September 2023
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Labor Day is just around the corner. Plan ahead now and enjoy one last blast of summertime family fun for the long holiday weekend! Let Lynchburg Macaroni Kid help you Find Your Family Fun® all year long!
