5 Outdoor Activities To Do With The Kids This Winter
While Richmond went into a deep, dark freeze over the holidays, glimpses of warmth seem to peek out each week. Soaking in just a few moments of much-need sunshine during the winter can go a long way in maintaining sanity, and it becomes increasingly important to capitalize on these bright spots by finding creative ways to get outside with the kids. From embarking on an urban trout adventure to rolling through a skatepark, embracing a round of kid-friendly golf, building a tree fortress in the woods, and walking around Stony Point Fashion Park, this guide will help you immerse in the outdoors for those days when it’s not teeth-chattering cold. Cheers to more sunny winter days in 2023!
— by Andrew Knight (@rvajamesriverfishreport), Contributing Writer
Image: Andrew Knight
Trout Fishing at Shields Lake
Who says you have to fly out west to Montana or Wyoming to find pristine waters full of brightly colored rainbow and brown trout? While unbeknownst to many Richmonders, Shields Lake, located in Byrd Park, is actually stocked with trout from November through March by the Department of Wildlife Resources. What makes this fishing opportunity exceptionally ripe for kids is the accessibility of the lake by a trail that borders the entire shoreline. Picnic tables and grassy fields surround the 7-acre lake, and while you toss a line or cast a fly out for a hungry trout, you can also fly a kite or have a picnic.
For parents new to the trout fishing scene, my best advice is to purchase a small spin fishing reel and tie on a white mister twister jig. Tell your kids to slowly cast the jig out and retrieve the artificial lure. When you feel a tap…tap…tap…pull up on the rod, and feel the tug of a trout! When fishing at Shields Lake, you must purchase a Virginia Fishing License and Trout Stamp, which can be purchased online. A secret tip for success is to visit Shields Lake shortly after it is stocked. DWR updates its website with recent stockings every day, so be on the lookout for when our local lake becomes freshly filled with hungry trout.
Location: 2201 Shields Lake Dr (Byrd Park)
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Skateboarding, biking, scootering or any type of rolling at an RVA Skatepark
Gone are the days of skateparks being ruled by teenage punks. When it comes to rolling around at one of Richmond’s local skateparks, there’s something for all ages and a community that welcomes new “skaters.” On a typical Saturday morning at one of our city’s cement playgrounds, you can expect to see young kids learning how to push a skateboard — or cruising around on a scooter — teenagers doing all types of fancy tricks, and many older adults still shredding the park on boards and sometimes even bikes. While there are a handful of parks available in the area, including Carter Jones and Southside Community Skate Park, my favorite is RVA’s newest creation, Treasure Island Community Skatepark. With a name like that, it’s no surprise that this park is a hidden gem nestled next to the North Bank Trail and RVA’s number one shoreline: Texas Beach.
Treasure Island is a total DIY community project that came to fruition when a group of local skaters began gathering around an old, unused stretch of concrete in the Maymont neighborhood. After working with city officials, the local skaters raised money and expanded the deserted piece of concrete to become a smooth park full of ramps and features for different styles of skateboarding, biking, rollerblading, and scootering. Today, the park is a welcoming destination for kids, especially in the early morning. Grab a board, scooter, or bike, bring a helmet, and take the kids for a new excursion in Richmond this winter!
Location: 1907 Texas Ave (Downtown)
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Kid friendly golf
Kids and golf don’t always mix well, but when you are dealing with the First Tee of Greater Richmond, you will find a refreshing perspective of the golf experience specifically designed with children in-mind. There’s nothing worse than trying to convince your kids to get on a golf course on a scorching hot summer day. Golf isn’t easy, and it always seems that the frustration of hitting the ball well kind of doubles its annoyance when your kids are in that cranky-heat exhaustion mode. Lucky for you, Richmond is home to an organization focused on introducing youth to golf, and the First Tee has a variety of par-3 and traditional courses made for kids. With locations at Belmont, Chester and downtown RVA, each location provides a unique offering. Some highlights include Belmont’s 12 “A.W. Tillinghast” holes, Chester’s very approachable 18-hole course, and the downtown location’s beautiful driving range with the city skyline dazzling on the horizon.
Growing up, I frequently played the par-3 course in Chester with my three younger brothers, but after I moved to the city, I discovered the downtown par-3 course, a city dweller's perfect escape. What makes this driving range and par-3 course particularly kid-friendly is the helpful staff and creative design of the facility that accommodates all skill levels. Take a swing this winter, and get the kids hooked on a new sport.
Location: 400 School St (Northside)
Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm; Saturday and Sunday: 9am-6pm
Build a fort in one of RVA’s lesser-known parks
While the summer can be a great time for outdoor activities, exploring the woods is often challenging. There’s poison ivy, thick shrubs, and a forest that is alive. Now that all the leaves have fallen off the trees, the woods have become a friendly place to explore far and wide, with less itching later and thorny bushes to navigate. Growing up in Bon Air, my brothers and I often ventured over to Larus Park to build forts with branches and fallen trees. The neighborhood park is tucked away behind Stony Point Shopping Center and is home to over 106 acres of wooded trails and a 2.6-mile loop. What makes Larus Park special is the lack of people and many side trails that offer solitude and ample space to build lean-tos and stick shelters. There are even a handful of small creeks located in the middle of the park that provide another fun space to bring the kids to explore.
This hidden gem is also great for walking dogs, as the lack of people provides an excellent opportunity to take a stroll without having to deal with other pups along the way. If you’re bringing the kids out to Larus, be on the lookout for Adventure Walkers, a community organization that takes young kids outside to discover nature. Larus Park is one of the organization’s favorite outdoor spaces, so you know it has some special features to discover. There are three different places to enter the park, but I prefer the south entrance right off of Huguenot Road. See below for all the locations, and enjoy your time out in nature!
Another less popular park to bring the kids to explore is located at the Wetlands. Pony Pasture always draws crowds, but this side park (which is actually connected to Pony Pasture) is much quieter and has plenty of forests to build forts and get dirty. To access my favorite part of this park, walk a half-mile down the trail and turn right when you reach a big field. Follow the trail all the way to the creek, and you will discover a dense forest bordering a beautiful stream.
Location: Larus Park entrances—
South: 300 Hayden Hill Ln
West: 3409 Stony Point Rd
North: Wukong's Path
Wetlands: 3309 Landria Dr (Southside)
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Stroll through Stony Point & warm up in the heated seats
Despite the reduced number of shopping options available at Stony Point Fashion Park these days, the mall still provides an accessible outdoor space for parents and families looking for a quiet afternoon getaway. While the ice skating rink has closed for the season, the dog park is always open and buzzing with furry friends. There are also some incredibly cozy heated seats that help make the bitter days more tolerable. For folks looking to check off more walks in the new year, VCU Health Massey Cancer Center Integrative Health Program offers a free walking class on the third Saturday of every month from 8:30 - 10 am.
For those of you still attempting to teach your kids how to play chess, probably stemming from the popular Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit, there is actually a massive outdoor chess set available for kids and adults alike to indulge in on a mild winter day. Lastly, another convenient feature about Stony Point Fashion Park is its access to Larus Park. After you shop for clothes or grab a delicious bite to eat, head up the road to the park to wrap up your outdoor experience!
Location: 9200 Stony Point Pkwy (Southside)
Hours: Hours vary by the store
For more family-friendly fun:
