In fall Virginia’s farms become family playgrounds full of “U Pick” fun – apple orchards, pumpkin patches and corn mazes where loved ones can enjoy time together out in the fresh air in the beautiful Virginia countryside.

September 22 – In Bristow, your family will enjoy learning about butter making, 19th century log home building, candle dipping, ice cream making and so much more at the Prince William Farm Tour. 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Culpeper Farm Tour

September 29 and 30 – Pair your farm visits with some Civil War history during the 4th Annual Rappahannock County Farm Tour. Nearly 20 participants representing farms, wineries, orchards and farm-to-table initiatives will make it two fun-filled days for all ages. A living history encampment and artillery demonstrations will offer insight about the Civil War as it affected Rappahannock County and Virginia. 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. $5 per person 16 and older. Purchase Tickets

October 6 and 7 – The Annual Culpeper Harvest Days Farm Tour offers families the chance to meet llamas, cattle, buffalo and horses. Check out everything from mushrooms to moonshine and wine from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day at nearly 20 locations. Download the Farm Tour Passport

Polyface Farms in Swoope has an open-gate policy, inviting anyone to tour on their own at any time (except Sundays, please). If you’d rather hear the scoop from the farmer’s mouth instead of wandering about, register now (limited to first 100 participants) for the Lunatic Tours. $15 per person ages 13 and up (13 is the minimum rider age). Only available September 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. and October 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. The Lunatic Tours are unscripted visits to the pastured animals via hay wagon. The farmer says it’s “more fun than a theme park roller coaster ride,” and we’d be willing to bet the farm that he’s right. Book Now

In Danville you’ll find Owen Farm. Stop in on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or Sundays between 2 and 6 p.m. to visit with the animals, churn some butter or even pick your own fresh produce. Now that fall is near, the corn maze is about to open and the pumpkin patch is nearly ready for the hunt. Beginning September 15 the farm extends their hours to include Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $8/child and $6/adult with a child’s ticket. Combo tickets are available to include hayrides, pony rides and more.

Find more Virginia farms to visit for the day or check out the schedule of festivals to round out your family’s fall fun calendar.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
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Moms and dads, we have a new way to help you keep the kids entertained while on the road. It’s a free resource at Virginia’s Welcome Centers – a coloring book called “The Vacation Adventures of Trip Heartmann – the Loveable Heart who LOVEs Virginia”.

The book follows Trip Heartmann on adventures in every region of the state – from surfing to dancing, to camping, sight-seeing and canoeing. Kids can read along about Trip’s adventures, get creative with the story and learn more about how exciting travel can be.

The Vacation Adventures of Trip Heartmann will be available for free at Virginia Welcome Centers starting today, August 31 or by request when ordering a free, Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide at www.Virginia.org.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.

An annual event that occurs only in Virginia is the Chincoteague Pony Swim – a family friendly experience that creates memories for a lifetime.

On the last Wednesday of July (July 25 this year) the wild ponies from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island make the annual swim over to Chincoteague as part of the small town’s annual Chincoteague Pony Swim festival and fundraiser. A team of volunteer firemen round-up the ponies and herd them across the channel during “slack tide” (between 7:30 and 10 a.m.). When the ponies emerge from the water, they graze and rest before parading down Main Street to the carnival grounds. The first foal to emerge from the water is named King or Queen Neptune and will be given away via raffle at the carnival that night.

On Thursday the annual auction is held to sell the current years’ foals. In 2011 the average cost of the 69 ponies sold was $1,442.02. The ponies have been cleared by a veterinarian and may be transported via approved horse trailer anywhere in the United States. Arrive as early as 8 a.m. to position yourself for bidding.

On Friday the remaining pony herd will swim back to Assateague Island.

If any of this sounds familiar, perhaps you read Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague as a child. Henry traveled from her midwest home to attend the annual pony penning where she was inspired to write the book, based on a real pony named Misty. Misty of Chincoteague was published in 1947, and Misty the pony found a new home with Henry.

Today you’ll find Misty’s ancestors at the Chincoteague Pony Centre. The Centre is the oldest established breeder of Misty family ponies. The kids will enjoy a pony ride while you browse the gift shop.

> Download the Chincoteague Island Map
> Nearby Dining
> Nearby Lodging

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
Request your free Virginia Travel Guide. 

The great outdoors bring families to Virginia to unplug, unwind and just be together. Take advantage of the remaining summer weekends – or plan a fall weekend – to escape to one of Virginia’s campgrounds or a Virginia State Park.

Lake Shore Campground, Abingdon

Virginia offers all types of camping in various climates and terrains. Beach and lake-based campgrounds are especially popular this time of year and often have great family attractions nearby.

• First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach is Virginia’s most visited State Park. The beach you’ll find there is actually on the Chesapeake Bay, not the Atlantic, so it’s much calmer water for little swimmers.
• Holiday Trav-L-Park is the closest campground to the Virginia Beach oceanfront. You can bicycle to the sand or there is designated free parking for campers.
• North Landing Beach Campground & RV Resort in Virginia Beach is located on the North Landing River and offers a variety of camp sites, even primitive beach tent camping.
• Cherrystone Family Camping Resort in Cheriton on the Eastern Shore is 300 acres on the waterfront of the Chesapeake Bay where you can, indeed, see a beach sunset in Virginia.
• Bethpage Camp-Resort in Urbanna boasts over 1,000 camp sites and an abundance of those are located on a peninsula in Robinson’s Creek – a tributary of the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay. Also find a large lake, multiple pools and a waterpark here.
• Christopher Run Campground in Mineral is located on Lake Anna – Virginia’s third largest lake. Families will enjoy the beach area, as well as marina and boat rentals.
• Lake Shore Campground in Abingdon is situated on the South Holston River. You won’t find a long list of activities and amenities but you will find great fishing, a beach for relaxation, and a quiet, comfortable place to completly connect.
• More Virginia Campgrounds

If you need more inspiration or want a ‘best of the best’ list, see our post from 2010 that includes 12 Virginia campgrounds that made the cut for ReserveAmerica’s Top 100 Family Campgrounds.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
Order a free copy of the 2012 Virginia Travel Guide. 

When the temps get too hot to handle, find your family fun indoors at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.

T-Rex, a part of the Dinosaurs! exhibit at Virginia Living Museum

Their latest exhibit, Dinosaurs!, features a roaring robotic T-Rex who reinforces his dominance while a Corythorsaurus tends her nest of eggs and a Pteranodon soars above. With the Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Mosasaurus and Elasmosaurus nearby, you’ll likely feel like you’ve stepped into The Land of the Lost.

Add more dinos to your Cretaceous fun with a trip to the Abbitt Planetarium where you can experience four different dinosaur digs from around the world in Dinosaur Prophecy (recommended for ages 10 and older).

Dinosaurs! exhibit is available from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily through September 3, 2012. Dinosaur Prophecy is available at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily through September 3, 2012.

Albino American alligator at the Virginia Living Museum through September 3, 2012.

While you’re at the VLM, check out the albino Alligator – a resident this summer only! The gator comes from Alligator Farm Zoological Park in St. Augustine, Florida, and is one of less than 100 known true albino American alligators, a species that numbers five million. If you believe in luck and legends, peer into his eyes for good luck.

If you care to spend some time with the American alligators after the Museum closes, check out Gator Bites - a 45-minute program that includes a pizza party, feeding of the alligators, photos, and the opportunity to touch a gator. Gator Bites is offered Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. and is limited to 15 people. Available through August 28, 2012.

VLM Admission

• $17 per adult
• $13 per child aged 3 to 12
• Free for children 2 and younger
• Abbitt Planetarium is an additional $4 per person.
• Gator Bites is an additional $25 per person and must be purchased in advance.

Hours

• Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LOVE is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Virginia is for Lovers.
Request a free Virginia Travel Guide.