Whether your littles are toddlers or preschoolers, there are lots of places to Find Your Family Fun® in Lynchburg and throughout Central Virginia all year long!
Lynchburg offers an excellent park system for people of all ages to explore and enjoy. There are also wonderful parks in the surrounding counties. In addition, there are many play places that offer indoor fun in any season for your littles.
Here's some favorite indoor fun places for the littles.
Indoor Fun with Toddlers
There are so many places to play indoors in Lynchburg! Check out the Lynchburg VA Guide to Indoor Family Fun for a complete listing!
Here's a few FREE ideas:
Kids Cove, 1 Mountain View Road, is a free ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church with indoor play areas for children up to age 10.
Lynchburg Museum, 901 Court Street, has over 25,000 objects ranging from antique toys to quilts and from Civil War artifacts to thousands of historic photographs. Open Thursday through Monday, admission is free.
The Nature Zone, 301 Grove Street, is operated by Lynchburg Parks and Recreation and located on the first floor of the Miller Center. Open Fridays and Saturdays, admission is free.
River Ridge Mall, 3405 Candlers Mountain Road has a free Children's Play Area with a sea theme in the center of the mall, near J.C. Penney.
Other favorite indoor play areas for toddlers include:
Amazement Square, 27 Ninth Street, is Lynchburg's children's museum and offers hands-on fun and learning for all ages. Amazement Square offers fun for all ages, including a special play area for toddlers.
Bounce About of Lynchburg, 3405 Candlers Mountain Road, offers indoor fun with a variety of inflatables for kids ages 12 and under. Bounce About also has a special play area for toddlers.
Dynamic Gymnastics, 117 Greystone Drive in Lynchburg, offers preschool open gym on Wednesday and Friday mornings during the school year for kids ages ages walking to 4 years. In addition, Dynamic Gymnastics offers gymnastics classes for potty trained children ages 3 and older.
FunQuest Family Entertainment Center, 327 Graves Mill Road, offers roller skating, inline skating, laser tag, arcade and video games and PlayQuest - an indoor playground for kids ages 10 and under. FunQuest offers special themed playdays for toddlers every month during the school year.
Get Air Lynchburg Trampoline Park, 3700 Candlers Mountain Road Get Air Lynchburg is an indoor trampoline park open to all ages. Get Air Lynchburg offers special toddler play times every week and Kiddie Court, a special area for jumpers under 46 inches tall.
SeaQuest Lynchburg, 3405 Candlers Mountain Road, is Lynchburg's only aquarium. Toddlers especially love hands-on interactions with the animals.
Preschool Play Groups
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation hosts a free preschool play group at Daniel’s Hill Neighborhood Center, 317 Norwood Street, on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 AM - 11:30 AM following the Lynchburg City Schools calendar. The Preschool Community Play Group is co-sponsored with Lynchburg City Schools. The play group, for pre-registered children from birth to age five and their parents or caregivers, includes storytime, play time, snack, outdoor play, and socializing for children and parents. A parent or caretaker must attend with each child. For more information, visit the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation website.
Lynchburg Parks and Recreation also hosts a free Preschool Play Group at Yoder Center, 109 Jackson Street, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM - 11:30 AM. The play group, for pre-registered children from birth to age five and their parents or caregivers, includes storytime, play time, snack, outdoor play, and socializing for children and parents. A parent or caretaker must attend with each child. You can learn more about these playgroups at the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation website.
Toddler Storytimes and Events at Lynchburg Area Public Libraries
Many story times and other family-friendly library events for the Lynchburg Public Library and other area public libraries are included on the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar of events.
Lynchburg Public Library had two branches: the main branch at 2315 Memorial Avenue and the downtown branch at 900 Church Street. There are toddler storytimes at the main branch throughout the year with short breaks between each season. There are special family events at both branches periodically. You'll find all of these events on the LPL website.
Amherst County Public Library has two branches: the Amherst branch at 382 S. Main Street in Amherst and the Madison Heights branch at 200 River James Shopping Center in Madison Heights. Both branches offer story times throughout the year with short breaks between each session. You'll find these events on the ACPL website.
Bedford County Public Library has six branches: Bedford Central Library at 321 N. Bridge Street in Bedford, Big Island Library at 1111 Schooldays Road in Big Island, Forest Library at 15583 Forest Road in Forest, Moneta/ SML Library at 13641 Moneta Road in Moneta, Montvale Library at 11575 W. Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike in Montvale, and Stewartsville Library at 45 Cascade Drive in Vinton. All of the branches offer story times through the year with short breaks between each session. You'll find all events on the BCPL website.
Campbell County Public Library has four branches: the main branch at 684 Village Highway in Rustburg, Timbrook branch at 18891 Leesville Road in Lynchburg, Staunton River branch at 500 Washington Street in Altavista, and Patrick Henry branch at 204 Lynchburg Avenue in Brookneal. There are a variety of story times and other events at all of the branches throughout the year. You'll find all these events on the CCPL website.
Here's a short rundown of the best features for families with littles at the area's parks.
Outdoor Fun with Toddlers
Check out the Lynchburg Virginia Parks Guide for complete information about parks in Lynchburg and the surrounding counties.
Lynchburg City Parks
Riverside Park, located at 2238 Rivermont Avenue, is the second oldest park in Lynchburg and one of the most popular park for area families. The popular train-themed Play Core Playground and the Sprayground water play area are favorites for families with littles. Sprayground is open seasonally from May through September. There are also walking and hiking trails; an older playground area; a train locomotive, tender, and caboose; tennis and basketball courts; picnic areas; a scenic overlook; and bathrooms.
Peaks View Park, located at 170 Ivy Creek Lane, is the second largest park in Lynchburg and is also very popular with area families. The playground at the top of the park (Wiggington Road entrance) is more suited to older kids, while the littles will enjoy the playground at the bottom of the park (Ardmore Drive entrance). There's also a fitness course; walking and mountain bike trails; a disc golf course; tennis and basketball courts; multi-purpose fields; a new bicycle pump track; and bathrooms.
Miller Park, located in Midtown Lynchburg at 2100 Park Avenue, is the oldest park in Lynchburg. Families enjoy visiting Miller Park Pool in season. There are also walking trails, basketball courts, playgrounds, and bathrooms.
Ivy Creek Park, located at 118 Clemmons Lake Place, the city's newest park, is a great place to enjoy nature. There's a small nature-themed play area near the parking lot, a fishing lake with pier, walking trails, and wooded trails. Canoe and kayak rentals are available on summer weekends. Lynchburg Parks and Recreation hosts various nature-themed events throughout the year at Ivy Creek Park.
Riverfront Park, located at 1100 Jefferson Street, includes a large open field, walking trails, a zero-depth fountain which is open seasonally, and trail connections to Riverwalk and Percival’s Island Trails. Construction is scheduled to start in early summer 2023 on park improvements, including an amphitheater, playground, public restrooms, fencing, lighting and more.
Hollins Mill Park, located at 521 Hollins Mill Road, is a fun place to visit with littles. Picnic tables and grills make this park a popular weekend site. There's also a launch site for canoes and kayaks, and trail connections to the Blackwater Creek Bikeway. The Hollins Mill Tunnel is a family favorite spot for bike riding.
Amherst County Parks
Riveredge Park, located at 150 Rocky Hill Road in Madison Heights, offers an awesome children's playground, a covered picnic pavillion, paved walking and biking trail, seasonal kayak and canoe rentals, and a boat ramp.
Coolwell Park, located at 646 N. Coolwell Road in Amherst, offers a children's play area, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, nature trail, grills, and restrooms.
Monacan Park, located at 1159 Monacan Park Road in Madison Heights, is located on the James River. The park offers a playground, boat ramp, a covered picnic pavilion, and restrooms.
Mill Creek Lake, located at 238 Mill Creek Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 190 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, playground, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. Enjoy swimming seasonally too. The swimming area is roped off separately from the rest of the lake and has a sandy beach. There's also a swing on the dock across from the swimming section. Swing out over the lake, then jump in.
Stonehouse Lake Park, located at 294 Stonehouse Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 41 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, playground, covered picnic pavilion, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms.
Thrashers Lake Park, located at 223 Thrashers Lake Road in the Temperance area of Amherst, offers a 36 acre fishing lake, boat ramp, playground, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms.
You can find additional information about Amherst County Parks at the county's website.
Appomattox County Parks
Appomattox Town Park, located on Hunter Street near Appomattox County High School, offers a playground, an original caboose, walking trail, and picnic pavilion.
Bedford County Parks
Forest Rotary Park, located behind the Forest Public Library at 15583 Forest Road in Forest, was gifted to the Forest community by the Rotary Club of Forest. Phase one of the all-inclusive playground project, which includes the main slide and climb module, was completed in September 2022. Swings, musical and sensory pieces, and spinners have also been added. This ongoing project will be installed in phases over the next several years. The ADA compliant equipment and educational activities allow children of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to play and learn together.
Falling Creek Park, located at 1257 County Farm Road in Bedford, offers playgrounds, BMX bike course, 36-hole disc golf course, picnic shelters, skateboard park, trails, and restrooms.
Edmund Street Park, located at 516 Edmund Street in the Town of Bedford, offers a playground, basketball and tennis courts, soccer field, picnic tables and areas, a covered pavilion, and restrooms.
Liberty Lake Park, located at 939 Burks Hill Road in the Town of Bedford, offers a fishing lake (license required), playgrounds, picnic areas, picnic shelters, walking trails, skateboard area, tennis court, volleyball area, baseball fields, and restrooms.
Greenwood Park, located at 804 Greenwood Street in the Town of Bedford, offers a playground, basketball court, and picnic tables.
Reynolds Park, located at 1110 East Main Street in the Town of Bedford, offers walking trails, picnic areas, and picnic shelters.
Campbell County Parks
Timbrook Park, located at 19040 Leesville Road in Lynchburg, is located beside the Campbell County Timbrook Branch Public Library. The park offers a handicap accessible playground, baseball/softball fields, volleyball court, grilling and picnic facilities, and walking trails.
English Park, is located at 206 Pittsylvania Avenue in Altavista, beside the Staunton River. English Park offers playgrounds, athletic fields, walking and biking trails, grilling and picnic facilities, restrooms, and river access, including a boat ramp for canoes and kayaks. There's also a seasonal sprayground, open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Brookneal Recreation Park, located at 299 Caroline Avenue in Brookneal, offers a playground, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and trails.
25 Places in the Lynchburg Area to Walk or Hike - Get outdoors and take a walk or hike together!
25 Crafts to Enjoy Anytime - Whatever the occasion, there's a fun craft to enjoy with your littles -- and not so littles!
23 Ways to Find Your Family Fun® in 2023 - Enjoy connecting with your family and have a happy healthy 2023!
You’ll find lots of local events perfect for toddlers and preschoolers in the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar of events on our website.
Events are added to our calendar on a continuing basis. If your organization is planning any free or inexpensive family-friendly events, please submit to our calendar of events HERE.
Follow us on Facebook for lots of shared local events, subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter to be first to know what's happening around town, and check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid website anytime to Find Your Family Fun® in every season in Lynchburg and throughout Central Virginia!
