Your family weekend getaway doesn’t have to break the bank! Plan a family vacation to Harrisonburg, VA, just two hours from Richmond and Washington, D.C. Whether your family is seeking a getaway to be active and playful, adventurous and curious, or silly and competitive, Harrisonburg’s engaging local attractions, kid-friendly restaurants, and inviting green spaces make it a place where you can come together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Stay in one of Harrisonburg’s many hotels or Airbnbs, featuring cozy accommodations and fun features. Splash and play in the pool, lounge together watching one of your favorite movies, or hang out by BBQ grills. When it’s time to settle in for after a long day of learning, playing and exploring, enjoy a meal at one of Harrisonburg’s many family-friendly restaurants.
Interactive Learning & Family Fun
- Engage your children’s sense of curiosity at the Explore More Discovery Museum, with interactive educational exhibits from a science lab to full sized airplane.
- Explore the night sky at the John C. Wells Planetarium at James Madison University, offering stunning night sky projections and full dome movies that will wow the whole family.
- Explore the history of US Route 11 through artifacts, maps, and stunning dioramas at the Valley Turnpike Museum.
- Learn about the lived experience of families who settled into the area at the Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center’s historic buildings, including a one room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, forge, and more.
Active Play
- Jump and tumble through 18,000 square feet of trampolines, swings, foam pits and obstacle courses at Valley Jump Trampoline Park.
- Bounce, tumble and explore on colorful play mats, tiny rock walls and balance beams at Inspire.
- Battle it out with a round of Bubble Soccer, Combat Archery, or Nerf Wars, or engage in all three at Elevation Sports. Pair multiple activities to save big.
- Climb high at Horizons Edge Sports Campus, where the facility’s Clip ‘n Climb climbing wall provides a challenging experience with over a dozen different ascents.
Great Outdoors
- Rent a bike from Shenandoah Bicycle Company to traverse local trails with ease.
- Traverse ancient trails to waterfalls and stunning overlooks in the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park.
- Take a dip in a shallow swimming hole at Riven Rock Park.
- Walk through up to three miles of trails at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. Check out a backpack full of themed games and activities to explore the birds, plants and trees at the arboretum.
Parks and Picnics
- Watch your kids smile from ear to ear when they come to A Dream Come True Playground, an accessible park featuring beautiful rainbow arches, shade structures, hammock swings, a drawing wall, and a wheelchair accessible swing called the “Liberty Swing.”
- Walk, bike or picnic at one of Harrisonburg’s 11 public parks and trails.
Fun and Games
- Try your hand at duckpin bowling, pool, ping pong, darts, foosball, shuffleboard, or arcade games at Ruby’s Arcade, or gather ‘round the table and break out one of your favorite board games.
- Bowl under neon lights, disco balls, and glow-in-the-dark wall art at Valley Lanes, a family-owned and operated bowling center.
- Play over 3,500 classic and new arcade games on one of seven multicades at Mashita, a Korean-inspired restaurant.
Kid-Friendly Favorites
- Harrisonburg is home to over 200 restaurants, many of which are family-friendly!
- Classic and creative versions of your favorite comfort food are paired with delicious dipping sauces and hearty tomato soup at Grilled Cheese Mania. Try your grilled cheese on a glazed donut or between two slices of garlic bread. Outside of the restaurant’s charming yellow interior, picnic tables with brightly colored umbrellas and twinkling string lights create an inviting atmosphere.
- Benny Sorentino’s giant pizzas and colossal cookies are the size of a dinner table and can feed a family of four at just under $10 per person.
- Breakfast is served late into the afternoon at The Little Grill. From favorites like French toast and omelets to more inventive dishes like potato boats and blue monkey pancakes.
- Kid-friendly favorites are served with a twist at Billy Jack’s Shack, where boxes of sticky nuggs, house made chips, and fried mac and cheese can be taken to go and enjoyed at one of Harrisonburg’s many City parks.