5 Fun Places to Spend the Day with Grandchildren Around Charlottesville During the Winter

Are you looking for things to do when spending the day with grandchildren? The Charlottesville, Virginia area has no shortage of kid-friendly places to go and interesting things to do and see. In the winter though, several of the normal hot spots for field trips with kids such as the Carter Mountain Orchard, Chiles Peach Orchard, The Gypsy Express, Putt Putt Golf Course and The Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center in Darden Park are closed for a season. There's still plenty of fun places for grandparents to take the grandkids around Charlottesville in winter.

Kegler's Bowling Lanes

Address: 2000 Seminole Trail

Hours: Kegler's is open varied hours seven days a week. Call 434- 978- 3999

Prices: Bowling before 5pm is $5.10 and after 5 pm and weekends prices are $6.35 plus shoe rental is $4.73.

What makes Kegler's Bowling Lanes kid-friendly?

Kegler's offers bumpers so that all ages of little bowlers can be successful. There's also an updated arcade and seven billiard tables older kids will enjoy. There's a snack bar and you know bowling will make the grandchildren hungry.

Virginia Discovery Museum and Holiday House special events

The Virginia Discovery Museum is a fun place to take grandchildren ages preschool to about eight years of age any time of year but during the holidays there are also some special Holiday House dates where kids can decorate and trim a pre-assembled holiday house kit.

Address: East Main Street, Downtown Mall

Price for Holiday House dates: Cost is $10.00 for museum members and $14.00 for non-members.

Tip:

Be sure to check out the latest featured special exhibit, The Tibetan Way.

The Paramount Theatre

Address: East Main Street, Downtown Mall

Dates and Prices: vary

The Paramount Theatre has some spectacular shows that would be perfect for a grandparent and grandchild day or evening together. Here's a few upcoming examples for winter 2010: It's A Wonderful Life, Holiday Family Classics, The Virginia Glee Club, The Nutcracker and more.

Frontier Culture Museum

Directions: exit 222 from I-81in Staunton

Winter hours: 10 am to 4 pm

Ticket prices: 6 & under free, adults $10.00, ages 6 to 12 $6.00

The Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia has a lot to offer for spending the day with grandchildren. There's plenty of learning and plenty of room for little wigglers to run around.

What is the Frontier Culture Museum all about?

The Frontier Culture Museum is a Virginia treasure featuring authentic, working farms and costume-laden interpreters. Visit farms of immigrant ancestors from Germany, Northern Ireland, England, the Shenandoah Valley and Africa.

Tips:

Be sure to watch the short film in the visitor center. It does a great job of explaining to adults and children the background on the historical farms they'll see.

Much of the tour will be outside so dress accordingly.

There are beautiful picnic spots available but no food for sale on site so be sure to bring your own picnic or snacks.

Lazy Daisy Ceramics

Lazy Daisy Ceramic was established in 1977. It's a super fun place to spend the day with creative kids.

Address: 1709 Monticello Road

Hours: 10 to 4 Monday through Saturday

Studio Fees for the Paintin' Pottery Place: Kids five and under paint free with a paying adult. Adult paints are $11.00 and kids six and up are $9.00 plus price of pottery. You're welcome to stay and paint as long as you'd like.

Is Lazy Daisy Ceramics kid-friendly?

You bet. In fact Lazy Daisy was an Albemarle Family Favorite Award Winner for 2010.

Tip:

Lazy Daisy Ceramics has Pottery-to-go-Kits too.