Best Pet Friendly Places in the Blue Ridge

Shenandoah Valley fun isn’t just for families. Include your furbaby on your next Kids Trail adventure. Here’s a rundown of the best pet friendly places in the Blue Ridge, along with important travel and safety tips. And learn how traveling with your animal companion benefits both your pet and you! The Best Pet Friendly Places in the Blue Ridge With its wealth of hiking trails, you’ll find plenty of pet friendly places in the Blue Ridge. And while it’s great to follow the Adventures of Chase the Kampground Cat on Facebook, dogs rule the Blue R...

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13 Fun Free Family Things to Do

Whether it's a day trip or a weekend adventure, try some of these 13 fun free family things to do in the Shenandoah Valley. Enjoy scenic beauty and outdoor activity. Experience agricultural heritage and delicious locally sourced food. 13 Fun Free Family Things to Do According to Virginia Tourism Corporation, “top motivators for travel this year are disconnecting and taking a break from everyday life.” Let these 13 fun free family things inspire a break with the Valley’s outdoor lifestyle. #1 - The Shenandoah Valley’s scenery and abundance ...

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Cooking with Your Kids 9 Great Reasons

Cooking with your kids not only makes memories, it’s a great way to learn and grow. Check out these 9 important reasons to get into the kitchen as a family. Learn about age appropriate skills and try some easy, delicious recipes. Cooking with Your Kids - 9 Important Reasons From toddlers to teens, cooking does more than just provide a meal. Here are 9 great reasons why your kids should develop some culinary skills: #1 Good Nutrition Habits: Kids are more inclined to eat healthy when they have a hand in preparing a meal. Inspire that habit ...

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Explore the Family Fun Activities around Winchester, VA

The Heart of the Virginia Kids TrailThe Winchester area is the heart of the Kids Trail. In town, you’ll find walking tours and nature trails along with a terrific children’s museum. Once you’ve covered Winchester, take the family to nearby Clarke County. Or head down the interstate to Stephens City, Middletown, Front Royal, and Shenandoah County. I-81 makes area attractions minutes away.Stops to Make in WinchesterDowntown Winchester offers several historical walking tours. For instance, did you know George Washington had a surveyor’s office...

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5 Numbers for Good Health – 95210

Looking for an easy way to stay on track with family fitness goals? Think 95210 for good health. Learn how these 5 little numbers add up to a well balanced lifestyle. Think 95210 - 5 Numbers for Good Health The 95210 approach for good health started over a decade ago through a partnership between INOVA Health Systems and local school districts. Winchester’s Valley Health Wellness Services has been promoting the plan since 2012. Pre-Covid, Wellness Services spread the word through attending local health and resource fairs as well as its own We...

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Get Ready to Garden!

With increasing interest in sustainability and locally sourced food, now’s the time to get ready to garden. We have 3 great ways to garden, whether you’re contained to a terrace or have room to grow, along with suggested veggies and planting techniques. Read on to learn about the benefits of family gardening. Get Ready to Garden! As spring approaches, you may be thinking about last year’s grocery store shortages and how you can provide more sustainability to your family. A garden is the perfect answer. And it will provide more to your family...

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Make Learning Fun with Air and Space

Combine interactive online activities with a visit to the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and make learning fun! Get helpful tips on making the most of your museum experience and how to use the learning portal to supplement your visit as well as your child’s education. Make Learning Fun at the Museum Located next to the Dulles Airport, the Udvar-Hazy Center is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s annex. But with 3000 artifacts on display, there’s nothing subordinate about this museum’s collection. And if your child is fas...

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Halloween is Still Happening in the Valley

Halloween is still happening in the Shenandoah Valley. While larger events are cancelled, there are small town celebrations, family-friendly ghost tours, and other fun ways to enjoy all things spooky. Here are some events to put on your calendar, along with some helpful advice from Valley Health. Halloween is Still Happening in the Valley Admit it - there’s nothing cuter than seeing kids in Halloween costumes. And even though Halloween 2020 will be different because of COVID-19, families can still enjoy the spooky season. Local medical pr...

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Free Fall Family Fun Ideas

Fall family fun doesn’t need to be expensive! Let the Kids Trail gang show you some free (or nearly free) fall family fun ideas. Bucket knows the best places for day hikes, picnicking and biking. Fungi takes you to a PYO orchard then shares a baked apple recipe. Shenny has come up with some fun fall crafts that make beautiful holiday gifts. And Ridge shows us how to celebrate our natural heritage by gathering a future forest. Free Fall Family Fun Ideas Some would argue that there’s no better season than fall in the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah V...

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11 Great Garden Goodies for Picky Eaters

Entice the picky eaters in your family with these 11 great garden goodies. With unique textures, shapes, and tastes, they make healthy eating fun for kids. Take a tour with Kids Trail Mascot Fungi and see what’s in the garden. Great Garden Goodies Lydia’s Fields at Wheatlands in Purcellville has not only summer “classics” like cucumbers and eggplants. The farm also offers unique vegetables, fruits and herbs. Carrying on a 200 year old farming tradition, Lydia’s Fields grows an assortment of heirloom tomatoes as well as hybrid varieties. C...

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