No matter the age difference, Stafford has something fun for everyone. Are you looking to pack up the car with your parents, your spouse, and the kids? Stafford is one of Northern Virginia’s family-friendly communities with attractions for those ages two to 92!
What To Do
Walk the trails at Government Island and take a seat while the kids play on the rock formations! Learn about how the rock the kids are playing on is the same Aquia Sandstone used to build the US Capitol Building and the White House in Washington, DC.
Make your way to George Washington’s Boyhood Home at Ferry Farm for fun with the whole family. Tour the replica house built on the original foundation and see the archeological digs on the property where researchers are still finding artifacts of historical significance! Visit the museum and visitor’s center to peek into the archeological lab and learn more about life in George Washington’s day.
Engage in some family competition with a round of Disc Golf at one of our disc golf courses in the area at Curtis Park and Pratt Park.. Pack a lunch for a picnic surrounded by the sounds and sights of Stafford at the Stafford Civil War Park. After lunch, walk around the 41 acres that was home to thousands of Union soldiers as they marched to battle the Confederate army in Fredericksburg.
Take in a matinee at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts and enjoy a three-course meal before watching a Broadway quality performance with bright lights and big sounds. This theater is known around the community for its amazing musical performances and gourmet cuisine. Having 25 seasons of shows under their belt, Riverside is sure to dazzle people of all ages with the amazing talent, costumes, and sets in every production.
Enjoy some time at Chichester Park, the home of Stafford’s all-inclusive playground for kids of all ability levels. Bring a ball and have a family game of kick ball on the fields and then take a stroll on the park trails.
Walk the grounds at Chatham Manor’s gardens that overlook downtown and the Rappahannock River. Learn about the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Union’s headquarters and hospital at Chatham. Take a look into the state rooms that housed hospital beds after the battle’s end and where American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, poet and writer Walt Whitman, and Mary Walker, the only female in American history to receive the Medal of Honor, bandaged the wounds and cared for the sick following the battle of Fredericksburg.
Visit the Home and Studio of American painter Gari Melchers where he lived with his wife, Corrine, from 1916 until his death in 1932. Explore the home and see furnishings and rugs original to the home, china chosen by the couple, and multiple collections of artwork in the studio and house. This sensory-rich tour offers visitors the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the couple as they lived so peacefully in Stafford County, VA. Before you leave, make sure to stop by the Stafford County Visitor Center where you can learn more about the community and check out the Smart Stafford Tourism Kiosk.
Enjoy a night filled with fun at Family Escape Rooms. Whether you choose to do a traditional escape room or a Virtual Reality escape, the entire family will enjoy this activity. Family Escape Rooms is designed to be fun for people of all ages and you can give your kids an opportunity to put their brains to use as they solve puzzles as they race against the clock to escape!
Grab dinner at one of our local breweries in the community. Many of our breweries have the best of Stafford food truck on site or a full-service kitchen meaning you’ll never go hungry at a Stafford brewery. You can find family friendly game nights and events at each brewery on different nights of the week. No matter the age, your whole family will love the laid back atmosphere of each brewery. Many of them have music on the weekends and provide a family friendly ambiance comfortable for a multi-generational family.
Where To Stay
Do grandma and grandpa need some downtime? Are the kids’ feet tired? Many of Stafford’s hotels have a pool onsite where your kids can splash around while the grandparents can rest and enjoy some TV time. And with breakfast included with most room packages, you won’t have to worry about finding another restaurant for that morning meal. Then, after a full day of traveling around the community or relaxing at the hotel, sleep the night away in a comfortable bed.