The beach, the zoo, a historic site, the mountains, or a family-friendly resort are all possibilities for a spring break family getaway. Living in Central Virginia means you're never far away from all of these getaway possibilities. Whether you go away for the entire week or just a long weekend, your family will love having a chance to relax and reconnect while enjoying time together.
There are also several spring break camps you may want to check out for your child, noted at the bottom of the article. If you're staying close to home, check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar for lots of fun events and activities.
For fun around town during spring break, check out 25 Things to Do with Kids in Lynchburg and our Lynchburg Area Parks Guide on our website. Here are our top picks for close to home and road trips for spring break, as well as spring break camps.
Close to Home Trips
Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke and Natural Bridge Zoo in Natural Bridge are both about an hour away. Visit the animals and let the kids see nature close-up.
Learn about our country's history at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Appomattox or the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. If you want to stay closer to home, take a walking or driving tour of historic sites in Lynchburg.
Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a day trip to the Peaks of Otter near Bedford. Take a stroll around the lake on the Lake Trail or head across the road and take a short hike to Johnson's Farm.
Drive to Crabtree Falls in Nelson County and hike up to the waterfalls. A short hike from the parking area brings you to the first viewing area. Allow a couple of hours or more if you plan to hike the entire 2.5-mile loop.
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.
Center in the Square, located at One Market Square SE in downtown Roanoke, houses four museums and a theatre within a single building. The museums include: Roanoke Pinball Museum, Harrison Museum of African American Culture, History Museum of Western Virginia/O Winston Link Museum, Kids Square, and the Science Museum of Western Virginia with butterfly garden. Most of the museums are closed on Mondays and open 10-5 Tuesday through Saturday, except Roanoke Pinball Museum which opens at 11. Some museums also offer Sunday hours. Visit one museum or purchase Center Passes to enjoy the entire Center in the Square experience. Check the website for ticket pricing.
Visit Natural Bridge State Park, located about an hour from Lynchburg at 6477 South Lee Highway in Natural Bridge. The 215-foot tall Natural Bridge was once owned by Thomas Jefferson and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are six miles of hiking trails in the park, including the accessible Cedar Creek Trail that leads from the bridge to the Monacan Indian Village and Lace Falls with its 30-foot cascade.
If your family enjoys biking on the Blackwater Creek Bikeway, you'll really love High Bridge Trail State Park. The former rail bed is 31 miles long and is wide, level and mostly flat -- perfect for kids of all ages. Kids will love the High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 125 feet above the Appomattox River. It's the longest recreational bridge in Virginia and is among the longest in the United States. High Bridge, a Virginia Historic Landmark, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Check the Virginia State Parks website link above for parking information.
The Frontier Culture Museum, located in Staunton, is open daily from 9-5 with "living history" interpreters to bring history to life for your family. Exhibits include: a 1600s English Farm, 1700s German Farm, 1700s Irish Forge, 1700s Irish Farm, 1700s West African Farm, 1700s Ganatastwi (Native American exhibit), 1740s American Farm, 1820s American Farm, 1850s American Farm and Early American Schoolhouse. Kids under 6 years are free and school-age kids receive discounted admission. Kids and adults can learn a lot about the history of thousands of people who migrated to Colonial America at the Frontier Culture Museum.
Hit the Road Trips
Take a trip to Washington, DC and visit the monuments, museums and memorials. 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.
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.
Head to Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, or the Outer Banks for a beach getaway week or long weekend. The sun, the waves, the memories! Take a morning walk on the beach gathering seashells. Watch the sunrise each morning. Bring bikes and go exploring. Be sure to pick up souvenirs for your landlocked friends.
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is the ultimate spring break vacation for some families. From Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, from a stroll down Main Street to the beauty of Cinderella's Castle, you'll enjoy the shows and the rides. You'll feel like a little kid yourself as you enjoy the perfect world that is Disney. Enjoy favorite classics like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It's a Small World, the Mad Tea Party and Space Mountain. And of course, no trip to Disney is complete without enjoying the Main Street Electric Light Parade. Is it any wonder that Disney World is among America's favorite vacation destinations?
Spring Break Camps
Lynchburg Humane Society Spring Break Camp Happiness is back! April 15-19 from 8am-5pm drop your kids (ages 5-12) off for a day or the entire week. This is going to be a good time full of special guests (the human kind & animal kind), lessons on pet care, games, crafts, snacks & more! Included in our list of special guests are a Veterinarian Assistant, Certified Dog Trainer, Yoga Instructor, & a dog that will literally jump through your arms! $50/day or $200 for the week Click the link above to reserve a spot for your happy camper. You can pre-register for the entire week, or sign up for just a day of camp!
Amazement Square is offering a pair of WonderCamps for campers ages 5-10. The first camp is during Lynchburg City School's break days on March 6-8. The second is during spring break from April 15-19. Register your child at either or both camps at the link above. Here's more information about both camps:
Winter WonderCamp: Master Chef Jr. during Lynchburg City School's upcoming break days from 8:45 AM – 3:30 PM on Wednesday, March 6 through Friday, March 8 with aftercare available. Campers ages 5-10 will measure, pour, and mix delicious combinations in this tasty camp! Campers can discover food and cooking in a whole new way and make their own unique creations with daily challenges! Cost is $120.00 per child for non-members and $108.00 per child for members with an additional fee for after care.
Spring WonderCamp: Robotics takes place during spring break from 8:45 AM - 3:30 PM on Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 19 with aftercare available. Campers ages 5-10 will tinker, build, and code their way through robotic challenges and mazes as they explore the world of robotics! Cost is $200.00 per child for non-members and $180.00 per child for members with an additional fee for after care.
Central Virginia United Soccer Spring Break Camp offers the best practices from all over the world that we integrate into our camp program and this allows us to build up players' skills in a fun and relaxed environment that encourages development. Stay active during the holidays and join us for an action-packed break from school! Camp dates are April 15 through April 19 at the CVU Soccer Complex, located at 5635 Campbell Highway. Campers ages 3-5 can participate in the Tiny Tykes Camp from 8 AM - 9 AM. Campers ages 6-14 may choose the Half Day Program from 9 AM - 12 PM. Campers ages 8-16 can participate in the Full Day Program from 9 AM - 4 PM.
Imagination Station Spring Break Camp offers campers ages 5-17 creative fun learning about and painting Picasso's Self Portraits and Cubism Art, Pointillism art, a splash of Bob Ross and Mix Media. In addition, we will also be working on several wood crafts, ceramics and much more. For the full week Monday-Friday 10 am - 1pm, tickets are only $90 or $20 per day if they can't join in the fun the full week (You may pay for the day when dropped off). 5 years and older can be dropped off, younger children are welcome, but parents must remain with them. Pick the week of your Spring Break. March 11-15 or April 15-19.
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation Spring Break Series offers campers a little bit of everything. Sign up for one day or all week. Camp dates are April 15 through April 19 from 9 AM - 12 PM each day. Ages vary for each day and you can register for one or all of the dates at the link above. Cost is $20 per day for Lynchburg city residents or $25 per day for non-residents. Here's the line-up:
Cupcake Decorating 101 takes place on Monday April 15 from 9-12. Campers ages 10–15 will learn a few tips and tricks from Magnolia Foods very own Pastry Chef! Each participant will get to learn and practice their new skills before putting them to the test on cupcakes. Register by April 11.
Love Lynchburg takes place on Tuesday, April 16 from 9-12. Campers ages 8–12 will hear some of the stories that helped create Lynchburg and then hop on our green machine and visit one of many historical sights our city has to offer. Register by noon on 4/12.
Critter Crazy takes place on Wednesday, April 17 from 9-12. Campers ages 5–9 will take a field trip to the Humane Society to learn more about what it takes to help keep our pets happy and things to consider when we are getting pets. Register by 4/14.
Pizza From the Ground Up takes place on Thursday, April 18 from 9-12. Campers ages 9–13 will work with Virginia Cooperative Extension to understand how to grow fresh herbs and each participant will go home with a plant to start their fresh herb garden for the summer. Once we get the dirt off our hands we are heading to the kitchen to make some pizza with fresh basil. Supplies provided. Register by 4/15.
Eggstravaganza! takes place on Friday, April 19 from 9-12. Campers ages 7–12 will start with a massive papier mache egg and then while that is drying we will explore the art of decorating eggs. Each participant will go home with a dozen eggs uniquely decorated. Supplies provided. Register by 4/16.
Spring Break is just around the corner. Plan ahead now and be sure to have an indoor backup plan in case it rains.
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