5 Stroller-Friendly Ways to Get Out & About with Your Little One(s), Pt. 1
Ready to get out of the house and explore with your little one(s) in tow? I’ve got five stroller-friendly walks around the city to try with your baby, toddler, or fur baby. And don’t worry, the walk’s just the beginning of the adventure — I’ve also included the closest dining spot or family-friendly attraction to each, so you can make the most of your outing.
— by Megan Ariail, Contributing Writer (and the brains behind The West End Mom. Follow her @thewestendmom!)
The Claiborne & Lora Robins Sculpture Garden
Located in the Museum District, the Claiborne & Lora Robins Sculpture Garden at the VMFA and the sidewalks around it are some of the best places to stroll in Richmond. The garden itself encompasses just under three acres of space, and it’s part of the Richmond Garden Trail! Here, you’ve got greenery, blooms, waterfalls, and paved pathways. If you want to extend your walk, add the sidewalks surrounding the VMFA Campus, too. You’ll pass by classic Richmond row homes and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
Why we love it: This free garden is incredibly peaceful, and there is plenty of space for kids to run around after a stroll. The VMFA is also free to visit, so you can view the indoor galleries or attend family-friendly events on Wednesday & Friday evenings.
Hours: Found here
Shade?: Partial
Restrooms?: Yes
Nearby: The Best Café is on the property. If you visit on Wednesdays between 6 and 8 pm, you can enjoy the Dominion Energy Jazz Café, too — a free, indoor concert series.
Location: 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd (Museum District)
Maymont
With over 100 acres of space, Maymont is the perfect place to explore with children. You can feed animals in the Maymont Farm, picnic on or roll down the hills, and explore the many gardens. Most of the property has paved paths (but FYI: Portions of the Japanese Garden aren’t quite stroller-friendly).
Why we love it: No matter your kiddo’s age, this park has everything you need for a fun family day. My children love seeing and feeding the animals and exploring the Japanese Garden and seeing the koi fish. With all of the steep inclines, it’s one of the best stroller-friendly workout trails in RVA, too.
Hours: Found here
Shade?: Partial
Restrooms?: Yes
Nearby: Boulevard Burger & Brew is a 10-minute drive away.
Location: 1001 Spottswood Rd (Carillon)
Bryan Park
Dedicated as a park in 1909, Bryan Park sits between the City of Richmond and Henrico. It’s a gorgeous space with rolling hills, ponds, streams, and trails through the woods. The 17-acre azalea garden is a family-friendly spot to see blooms in the spring, and RVA Big Market is a fun event for families all year.
Why we love it: This park is one of the best to visit on Saturdays because of the farmer’s market — you can play on the playground, stroll the paths, and enjoy the sights and eats of RVA Big Market all in one morning. My kids also love watching the youth sporting events on the athletic fields, walking by the ponds, and exploring the pollinator gardens and trails.
Hours: Daily from dawn to dusk
Shade?: The playground has full sun, and the trails have partial shade.
Restrooms?: The fuller service bathrooms have been locked on our visits, but there are portable toilets on site.
Nearby: SB’s Lakeside Love Shack is about a three-minute drive away, and if you visit Bryan Park on a Saturday morning, you can enjoy RVA Big Market between 8 am and noon.
Location: 4308 Hermitage Rd (Northside)
Hollywood Cemetery
While it’s a fully operational cemetery, the historic Hollywood Cemetery is also an outdoor museum of Virginia history. Presidents Circle is the final resting place of James Monroe and John Tyler. This garden cemetery also has hills, valets, and river views. Its 135 acres are incredibly peaceful to explore, and it has plenty of stroller-friendly paths.
Why we love it: The garden atmosphere is very peaceful to visit with children, and the sculptures and monuments are as fun for children to see as they are interesting for adults to learn about. We also love visiting Palmer Chapel — it has some of the best river views in the city.
Hours: Found here
Shade?: The paths are mostly full sun.
Restrooms?: Restrooms are at the entrance of the cemetery.
Nearby: The Pit and the Peel is about a five-minute drive away.
Location: 1412 S Cherry St (Oregon Hill)
T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge
Completed in 2016, this pedestrian and cycling bridge connects Brown’s Island to Manchester. It’s 1,600 feet long with gorgeous views of the city and the river. This is one of our favorite stroller-friendly places to walk because of the views and the other nearby places to explore, like Brown’s Island and the Canal Walk.
Why we love it: This stroller-friendly walk has everything — history, wildlife, city view,s and river views. You’ll have as much to see as your little one. I also like how you can run around or picnic in the green space on Brown’s Island.
Hours: Daily from dawn to dusk
Shade?: Full sun
Restrooms?: The NPS has bathrooms (Wednesday - Sunday from 10 am - 4 pm), and there are usually portable toilets on Brown’s Island during the summer.
Nearby: Legend Brewing Co. is about a 30-minute (or one-mile) walk using the bridge and trail.
Location: 470 Tredegar St (Gambles Hill)
For more family-friendly fun:
