There are many things to consider when planning your family’s vacation. One of the biggies is making sure that your choices are suitable for the whole family. I speak as the youngest of our family, both siblings and cousins. There is nothing worse than getting to your destination to realizing that not everyone in your family can participate in the activities.

Virginia State Parks makes it an easy task to accomplish. Here are some fun adventures for those under 10.

Make learning fun

What is waiting for you to find under the water?

Did you know that every park has programs suitable for young children throughout the summer months? Many parks offer programs such as Jr. Rangers that are geared toward the abilities and interests of our younger visitors. Programs such as Critter Crawl at Hungry Mother gives the opportunity to get outside, get their feet wet and learn more about the environment. These are also programs to begin understanding our responsibility to take care of our environment.

Campfire programs are offered at many parks and are an opportunity to hear about programs that will happen while you are at the park, meet staff, and sometimes enjoy a s'more. 

Check out parks program schedules online.

Trails of all kinds

Kids will never forget the adventures you share

Rail trail parks, such as New River Trail and High Bridge Trail, 57-miles and 31- miles, respectively, offer trails built along old and unused rail beds. That means the trail's grade is so slight that it appears to be nearly flat. These trails are easier for young legs to hike and bike, but it also offers parents the ability to give the child a little more freedom and explore while still keeping them within view. Both Wilderness Road and Staunton River Battlefield have shorter rail trails.

TRACK Trails are another type of trail designed with children in mind. Each TRACK Trail features self-guided brochures and signs that turn your visit into a fun and exciting experience outdoors. Best of all, you can earn prizes for tracking your adventures through Kids in Parks. Claytor Lake, Grayson Highlands, and Hungry Mother are just a few parks that host TRACK Trails.

Natural play spaces

Could you make it from stump to stump and never touch the ground?

Our nature play areas go by different names depending on the park, but all are designed with the same idea in mind. The areas are created with all-natural materials to provide a play area with games, activities and a place for our younger guests to let their imagination go wild. It is a perfect spot for the family to come during their trip. Sky Meadows and James River both have Discovery Areas. At James River’s Discovery Area, activities include getting creative at the caveman wall by making a chalk drawing on the slate rock wall, testing your balance at the stump garden to see if you can hop like a frog across all the stumps, stop by the bowling alley and roll the stone "ball" to see if you can knock over all the wooden pins for a winning strike, or put a twist on family game time with other activities like the adventure tunnel slide, ring toss and tic-tac-toe.

Each park with a natural play area has unique characteristics and elements that connect the area to the park’s theme.

At Wilderness Road, the shady area offers a place for children to play in a fort or teepee made of items found in nature. Picnic tables are located close by for family members so the kids can have time just to be kids. Hungry Mother will be opening the newest nature play area in May 2019.

Time in the Water

Are you ready for this water battle?

You cannot forget about the water. In the summer of 2018, Occoneechee opened the system's first splash park. It is equipped with different types of water sprayers. Buckets fill with water until they are so full that they dump the water on anyone standing underneath, large swivel sprayers that allow for an epic water battle, and the water spewing frogs. Several parks have swimming available either in a lake or bay area, and Pocahontas State Park has an Aquatic Recreation Center.

The lakes have the shallow areas roped off. But of course, adults are ultimately responsible for the child's safety in these areas.

Play!

Outdoor play does a body good.

Physicians are now writing prescriptions for kids to play outside. As simple as it sounds, going outdoors is an adventure and experience that young children will remember. Research has proven that children of all ages gain health benefits from being outdoors: depression is lowered, attention span is enhanced, obesity is decreased, social skills improve, problem-solving skills are sharpened, and the list goes on. And yet, kids don’t play outside as much as they once did. So health officials are making outdoor play an actual prescription to ensure that it becomes part of a healthy regime.

There are power and benefits to outdoor play.

Have I piqued your interest yet? Click here if you want to see what programs are available for kids of all ages in Virginia State Parks or if you want to search parks by the amenities, click here.

No matter what you want out of your vacation, I think you will find it at one of our Virginia State Parks.