Fun in Central VA - Family Fun

Albemarle   County Parks and Recreation
Offers classes in all kinds of dancing, fitness, self defense, woodworking, beekeeping, and more, as well as organized sports. Nine parks offering over 2,000 acres. Check out website for details.
401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville
434-296-5844
www.albemarle.org/parks
   
Boys & Girls Club
      302 E. Main, Waynesboro
      540-949-4516

    Carter’s Mountain Apple Orchard
      Fruit picking July through October; open through mid-December on the weekends. Apple Harvest Festival first two weekends of October. Free hay rides, picnic areas. Pre-picked fruit, pumpkins, cider, apple fritters for sale.1435 Carters Mountain Trail
      Charlottesville
      434-977-1833
      www.cartermountainorchard.com

    Central Virginia Sporting Clays
      Fluvanna   County
      703-405-2110

    Charlottesville   Parks & Recreation
      Providing exceptional and creative programs, services and facilities while preserving natural and cultural environments.
      1300 Pen Park Road, Charlottesville
      434-970-3589
      www.charlottesville.org

    Charlottesville Swimming Pools
      All hours vary by season. Please call for specific recreational times.
      Crow Pool (indoor),
      1700 Rose Hill Drive, 434-977-1362
      Smith Pool (indoor),
      1000 Cherry Ave., 434-977-1960
      Washington Park Pool (outdoor),
      1001 Preston Ave., 434-970-3589

    Charlottesville   Ice Park
      Located on Charlottesville’s historic Downtown Mall, the Ice   Park is open year-round.  Call for daily recorded schedule of programs
      230 West Main Street, Charlottesville
      434-817-1423
      www.icepark.com

    Charlottesville Performing Arts Center
      Season tickets (4 shows) are available for $30 (plus $1 for shipping and handling) or $10-$12 for individual performances (depending on show).
      Grove Road next to Charlottesville
      High School.
      434-961-7862
      www.cvillecct.org

    Chiles Peach Orchard & Farm Market
      The market is surrounded by peach and cherry trees, and a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Early May through Labor Day (call for hours).
      1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet
      434-823-1583
      http://www.cartermountainorchard.com/html/chilesPeach.htm

    Curry (UVa   Education School)  Summer & Saturday Enrichment Programs
      Programs for gifted and talented students currently enrolled in grades 4-10 or 9-11. The Saturday Enrichment Program is a program for gifted and/or high-ability students in K- 5. Programs are offered in Charlottesville,  Orange County,  and Fauquier County.
      405 Emmet St. S., Charlottesville
      434-924-3182
     

    Fastrax Go Carts
      1110 Red Top Orchard Rd.,
      Waynesboro
      540-949-5278

    Fluvanna   County Parks & Recreation
      Provides programs, classes, athletic opportunities, and more for residents of Fluvanna   County. Contact the department for more information. 
      434-842-3150 
      www.co.fluvanna.va.us/parksrec/parksrec.htm

    The Glass Palette
      Explore the limitless possibilities of creating with glass.
      110 5th Street NE, Charlottesville
      434-977-9009
      www.theglasspalette.net

    The Little Gym
      Motor Skill Development made Fun builds Confidence that leads to a lifetime of Success. For over 25 years, The Little Gym has done just that.
      907 Gardens Blvd., Charlottesville
      434-975-5437
      www.tlgcharlottesvilleva.com

    McCormick Observatory
      One of the two observatories is open on the first and third Friday night of each month for about 2 hours. Located on the western edge of the UVa grounds.
      434-924-7494
      www.astro.virginia.edu/pubnite

    McIntire   Skateboard Park
      Equipment consists of Skatelite ramps, jumps & boxes.  Safety equipment and liability waivers are required. Hours vary with seasons
      826 Mcintire   Road, Charlottesville
      434-244-0166
      www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=762

    McGuffey   Arts Center
      Classes for children and adults vary each season, but may include painting, calligraphy, bookmaking, Chinese art, stained-glass mosaics,  modern dance and African dance. Call or look online for the seasonal schedule.
      434-295-7973
      201 2nd Street, NW, Charlottesville
      www.mcguffeyartcenter.com

    Michaels
      Michaels offers many craft classes that both kids and their parents would enjoy, ranging from beading to card making.
      Barracks   Rd. Shopping   Center
      1035 Emmet St. N., Charlottesville
      434-971-1072
      www.michaels.com

    Trolley Rides
      Free trolley service between Downtown, The Corner and UVA Grounds. Every 15 minutes, Mon.-Sat., operating from 6:30 a.m.-midnight.
      Charlottesville
      434-296-7433
      www.pursuecharlottesville.com/php-bin/resource.php?id=548

    UVa Aquatic and Fitness   Center
      UVa students can enjoy the indoor Aquatic and Fitness Center, with Olympic-sized pool and children’s pool, for free. Student’s family members may join for a fee.
      450 Whitehead Rd., Charlottesville 
      434-924-3791
      www.virginia.edu/ims/aquatics
     
      YMCA
      YMCA members, nonmembers, and their children have access to a variety of classes, little league sports teams, and other leisure activities.  Weekly rates. Also offers day care (full- and part-time) for children ages 2-5.No pool.
      442 Westfield Road, Charlottesville
      434-974-9622
      www.piedmontymca.org

    Children’s Activities: Story Time
      Jefferson-Madison Regional Library
      Preschoolers’ story time every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. for 3-5-year-olds. Toddler’s story time is every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for 2-year-olds. Mother Goose Time is a program of short stories, rhymes, and songs for children aged 6-24 months with a caregiver on Mondays—at 10 a.m. for pre-walkers and at 11 a.m. for walkers. Other programs are available.
      434-979-7151

    Central Library
      201 East Market St., Charlottesville
      jmrl.org/br-central.htm

    Gordon Avenue Library
      Offers drop-in story time on Saturdays at 11 a.m., Monday Movies at 4 p.m., and a different Wednesday program every week at 4 p.m. for children of any age. Registration is required for story times for toddlers (2-3 year olds) on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. and for pre-schoolers (3-5 year olds) on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. The Annual Book Sale in March or April has special days for children’s books. Summer reading program.
      1500 Gordon Ave., off Rugby Rd., Charlottesville
      434-296-5544
      jmrl.org/br-gordon.htm

    Northside Library
      Offers Wednesday and Thursday morning preschool story time for 3-5 year olds and “Twos and Threes Together,” a 30-minute program of stories, songs and finger plays for 2-3 year olds with a caregiver. Call or go to the web site for exact times. An after-school program for kindergarten and up two Thursdays a month. Family Fun follows a different theme each month, with crafts, stories, and songs for the whole family one Saturday a month at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required for all programs. Check the Web site for more fun programs.
      Albemarle Square Shopping Center,  Charlottesville
      434-973-7893
      jmrl.org/br-northside.htm

    Barnes & Noble Bookstore 
      Children’s story hour on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for preschoolers. Elementary-age children may participate in a Young Readers Book Club. The bookstore
      also offers special children’s events on some Saturdays.
      Barracks Road Shopping Center Charlottesville
      434-984-0461
      www.barnesandnoble.com

    Finn & Thatcher Children’s Emporium
      Children’s story time on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., free. They also offer crafts on Saturdays from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. for a small fee.
      4405 Ivy   Commons
      (Rt 250 West, next to Duners), Charlottesville 
      434 293-3004
      www.finnandthatcher.com
   
Fun with Animals
     
      All Things Pawssible
      Variety of training classes to dog owners. Four week classes; a discounted rate for shelter dogs. Also offer a doggy daycare.
      706 Henry Ave., Charlottesville
      434-972-7297
      www.allthingspawssible.com

    Azalea   Park Dog   Park
      Old Lynchburg   Road.
      Charlottesville
      www.charlottesville.org

    Darden   Towe Park   Dog Park
      Once at park, follow signs to off-leash area.
      Elk Drive, Charlottesville
      www.albemarle.org

    Pampered Pets Boutique
      They “trim, train, and entertain” your pets. Offer the K9 Fun Center for rental,  a large area where you can host a training class or birthday party for your dog. Variety of boarding, grooming and training options.
      601 Concord Ave., Charlottesville
      434-293-7387
      www.pamperedpetsinc.net

    Windy Knoll Alpacas
      Beautiful and serene farm with many alpacas. The farm breeds and raises alpacas, as well as offers wholesale of Alpacas fiber.
      1382 Hermitage Road, Waynesboro
      540-248-0234