Lexington, Virginia: Family-friendly Itinerary

Photo credit: Lexington, Virginia and the Rockbridge Area Tourism

With two colleges, historical connections and a charming downtown, Lexington, Virginia has much to offer.

Just over two hours from Richmond, Lexington makes an ideal destination for RVA families.

Recently, our family spent three days in Lexington, taking in the beauty and attractions was a phenomenal experience.

Day 1

Knowing our kids would be full of energy after the drive, we started our trip at Dinosaur Kingdom II. Advertised as bizarre, this experience certainly was unlike any attraction we’ve seen.

The kingdom takes visitors through a wooded walk that includes a maze, dino dig pit, a dino village and more. The historical aspect of the kingdom was strange! Abraham Lincoln lassoed by a pteranodon; definitely something we never thought we would see!

Our kids, ages 4 and 7, had an absolute blast, especially during the water gun fights with Big Foot, which are scheduled every hour and a half.

My children loved investigating the intriguing displays at the Dinosaur Kingdom in Lexington, Virginia. Photo credit: Lindsay Garrison

After a delicious lunch at Pink Cadillac, about 5 minutes from Dinosaur Kingdom II, we drove about 10 minutes to Natural Bridge State Park.

This park is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. Seeing the bridge was a bucket list item and it did not disappoint.

The 215 foot tall limestone gorge is absolutely breathtaking.

What surprised us was how much the park had to offer in addition to the bridge: 7 miles of trails, an interactive learning area for children, a Monacan Village living history interpretation. Hiking the Cedar Creek Trail took us straight to the bridge and eventually a waterfall.

Natural Bridge is located a short drive south of Lexington, Virginia. Photo credit: Lindsay Garrison

We finished our day with homemade ice cream at Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe in downtown Lexington. Not only is the ice cream delicious, the waffle cones are hand rolled!

Day 2

Our second day in Lexington brought more firsts for our family. We headed first to Virginia Safari Park where we hungry animals ate right from our hands and food buckets while we rode through in our vehicle. Prior to our experience, I wasn’t quite sure about this place.

Typically, our kids like to run through the zoo and take it all in…would they be bored and restless? Nope! We were all completely engaged throughout the 3 mile trail where we fed emus, llamas, zebras and elk!

Can you believe you can reach out to a zebra from the car at the Virginia Safari Park?! Photo credit: Lindsay Garrison

Drive-Thru Safari Tips:

Arrive early so animals are hungry and more likely to come to your vehicle. Have an adult help each child with the bucket, as some animals will try to take your food buckets. Do not feed the first animals at the gate. As an employee shared, these animals will take all your food and your bucket.

After a picnic lunch at the Safari Park, we explored the Village Walk-Thru Zoo, which is included in admission.

The animal feeding continued as we gave romaine lettuce to giraffes! We spent nearly 4 hours playing, watching and feeding the animals! The Safari Park is one that requires allocating lots of time to fully enjoy.

Children will love to feed the giraffes at the Virginia Safari Park located in Lexington, Virginia. Photo credit: Lindsay Garrison

Continuing with the animal theme, our next stop was The Virginia Horse Center where we watched the Firecracker Classic, a horse competition that riders travel from many states to participate in.

Our first horse show, we were amazed by the discipline of both the horses and the riders. The Virginia Horse Center has free admission and during shows has concessions.

Photo credit: The Virginia Horse Center Firecracker Classic / Facebook

We finished our outdoor excursions at Boxerwood Gardens, where we spent all of our time exploring the Play Trail, a collection of whimsical area designed for children under 8 to explore nature and engage in unstructured free play. Oh, how I wish we could duplicate this and plant it in Richmond!

The kids had a blast in the treehouse, canoe and mud kitchen! Just what they needed after a day full of stimulation.

We wrapped up the day with dinner and shopping in downtown Lexington. The Palms has delicious pizza and salads! Our favorite shop was Just Games, filled with every board game to make a successful family game night.

Day 3

To conclude our trip, we drove just outside of Lexington to Tantivy Farm, an enchanting lavender farm, complete with themed gardens, a gift shop filled with lavender products, a trail and a secluded waterfall.

With over 900 lavender plants and 20 varieties of lavender, immediately upon arrival, we were transported straight to the lavender fields of Provence. The heavenly smell was relaxing as was our hike and time playing in the creek. The serenity of the farm put us all at ease before beginning our trek home.

Lavender field at Tantivy Farm. Photo credit: Lindsay Garrison

Thanks to Lexington, VA, for this unforgettable family vacation. Richmond families, be sure to add Lexington to your list of desirable vacation destinations!

— By Lindsay Garrison

Richmond on the Cheap contributor Lindsay Garrison is a Richmond, Virginia based mom to two young children. A graduate from Chesterfield Schools and Randolph-Macon College, Lindsay is proud to call Richmond home. In the years prior to planning activities and outings with her own children, she was a French teacher. During her tenure she earned accolades for her creative teaching style and ability to connect with her students. Lindsay now applies the skills she learned when she was planning student trips to France, to her own family adventures. She can’t wait to take her own children to France one day! Follow the Garrison’s family adventures on Instagram: @rva.familyfun

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