5 Nearby Indoor Spaces to Visit With Your Kiddos During Crummy Weather
Kids bouncing off the walls? If your family is anything like mine, you always need indoor spaces to visit when you can’t play outside. Here are five places in Richmond and its surrounding areas for you to try with your littles ones, no matter what the weather forecast looks like. Give your kids the opportunity to move around and explore — and enjoy some family bonding while you’re at it!
— by Megan Ariail, Contributing Writer (and the brains behind The West End Mom. Follow her @thewestendmom!)
Peak Experiences
Peak Experiences is a climbing gym — with locations in the city and in Midlothian — that offers drop-in climbing daily and yoga siz days a week. It also offers the largest adaptive climbing program in Virginia, and the spot even has a class for beginners that’s perfect for children. The 3 Peaks Climbing Sampler package comes with three guided climbs and is a perfect intro to climbing because your kiddos get an instructor who will coach them through their climb.
Why we love it: This climbing gym is great for thrill-seekers and kiddos who love to climb, and for team building. While there is no age requirement, I’d recommend it for children 4 years old and above. By the way: Parents don’t have to climb with their kids, but they need to stay with the instructor.
Location: 1375 Overbrook Rd (Scott’s Addition)
Hours: Found here
Cost: $25/student
WeeWheel
Brand new to RVA, WeeWheel teaches children ages 2.5 years to 8 years old how to ride a bike. Depending on ability, your kid(s) will start on a balance bike and then add pedals as they become more comfortable. The org also offers the option to join the pee-wee cycling team. And WeeWheel’s facility has an indoor skills park — the only one in RVA!
Why we love it: This is a safe way for kids to learn how to ride a bike and develop their love for cycling. The indoor course is a controlled environment that doesn’t have the hazards that a neighborhood street or sidewalk might. While coaches lead the sessions, parents are encouraged to stay and cheer on their kiddos.
Location: 8910 Quioccasin Rd (West End)
Hours: Vary — you’ll sign up for a session that fits your needs and schedule; weekly classes offered at different times
Cost: Starts at $99/program
KidStrong West End
KidStrong West End is a children’s gym that helps kiddos learn new skills and build strong minds through physical activity. With programs for little walkers to 11-year-olds, families can find a program that fits their family’s age group(s). The weekly classes meet for 45 minutes, and students work through a curriculum created by in-house child development experts for their age.
Why we love it: I love that KidStrong invites local experts, like occupational therapists and professional educators, into the gym to help teach their classes. The gym doesn’t just focus on the athlete or the physical skills; KidStrong helps children develop their whole self — mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Location: 1312 Gaskins Rd (Henrico’s West End)
Hours: Vary — you’ll sign up for a session that fits your needs and schedule; weekly classes offered at different times
Cost: Starts at $109/month (one class/week)
Whole Heart Space
This private yoga studio is dedicated to the whole parenting journey. You will find yoga classes and programs that help you plan for children, from prenatal to postnatal to new parenthood life. Whole Heart Space also offers caregiver-and-me classes, like Music for Littles, Yoga & Swim with Your Mobile Baby, and Tots Yoga.
Why we love it: I love that Whole Heart Space creates a space for every stage of parenting, and you can also find additional support in parenting meetups, talks with lactation specialists, and birth classes. Here, all bodies are welcome — this yoga studio is not just for expert yogis.
Location: 9726 Gayton Rd (West End)
Hours: Vary; learn more at the link below
Cost: $15 - $25
Sunshine Cafe and Play
Located at Stony Point Fashion Park, Sunshine Cafe and Play is RVA’s first boutique toy shop with an indoor play space. Your children can try out any toy before you buy it, and you can enjoy them playing in the play space while you drink your coffee. The spot is designed for children ages 0 to 5 years old, with a special area for children 1 year old and younger.
Why we love it: This indoor play space is the perfect indoor playground for little kids. Children have space for physical play, activities with STEM-focused play, and opportunities for creative play.
Location: 9200 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 158b (Stony Point)
Hours: Found here (reservations required)
Cost: $20/two-hour timeslot (+$10/sibling)
More things to do with the fam:
