Harrisonburg and Luray/ Page County Virginia is such a hidden gem! Harrisonburg and Luray are such a family-friendly cute towns. I’ve lived in the D.C. metro my whole life and I’m surprised that I’ve never been to Harrisonburg or Luray/Page before! They are the perfect stop if you are exploring the Shenandoah Valley or heading to Massanutten for a weekend of skiing.
Most people think of Harrisonburg VA as a college town, but there is so much to do for families. The kids had the BEST time. I would highly recommend a visit to Harrisonburg, VA with kids. Harrisonburg, VA is only about two hours away from the D.C. metro area, making it the perfect spot for a weekend trip. Below, check out our top recommendations for a two-day Shenandoah Valley trip exploring Luray Caverns and Harrisonburg, VA with kids.
DAY 1:
BLACK SHEEP COFFEE
- Address: 217 South Liberty Street (at the Ice House)
- Get a coffee and try the egg & cheese on a house-made biscuit
Start with a morning with breakfast at Black Sheep Coffee. It is in a really cute part of downtown Harrisonburg VA, in an old repurposed icehouse building with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. After grabbing your morning coffee, head to the Explore More Discovery Museum. The kids will absolutely love the play museum!
EXPLORE MORE DISCOVERY MUSEUM
The Explore More Discovery Museum is AMAZING for kids. The first two floors consist of interactive, multisensory learning experiences, while the third floor has summer camps and programming. The museum is based on the concept of play to learn. There are so many great exhibits, which the local community has helped donate and support.
There are a wide variety of exhibits from Kitchen & Farmer’s Market, Medical Center with a real ambulance, TV Studio, Science Laboratory, Theatre, Automobile Service Center, Dental and Medical Center. The first floor simulates a town, while the second floor explores careers such as aviation, construction, and money management.
We spent two hours exploring all the different exhibits, but honestly, my kids could have stayed here all day! Highly recommend especially if you have younger kiddos who love to engage in pretend play.
There are designated spaces for kids under 3 years old, which also includes a nursing room. Older kids, 8+ years, can participate in Maker City, where kids can design, invent, and create things using real tools. Kids can work in the studio workshop creating woodworking projects, computer-generated projects, and more.
- Address: 150 South Main Street, Harrisonburg VA 22801
- Open: Tuesdays-Saturdays
- Admission: $7.50 per person/visit, children under 1: FREE
- Advanced reservations highly recommended
- Mask Policy: Ages 3+ regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks
After spending 2+ hours at the play museum, head to lunch at the cutest restaurant, Magpie Diner.
MAGPIE DINER
Magpie Diner was a tire service station, which was transformed into a modern diner. This restaurant is very Instagram-worthy. The decor is gorgeous. Unfortunately, due to limited time and cranky kids, we didn’t get a chance to try this place, but we will definitely be back! The restaurant has a bakery and coffee shop next door. We headed to Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint close by and enjoyed one of their famous specialty burgers.
- Address: 80 W. Water Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
- Open: Tues-Friday
- No Reservations. No brunch take out.
BACK HOME ON THE FARM
The Back Home on the Farm has been owned by a local family since the 1950s. It’s open year-round with lots of different activities and events. The kids loved the homey vibe of the farm. The owners are the sweetest couple, who helped with running the farm including operating the carousel ride and cow train.
The property was huge. There were slides, obstacle course, tire swings, kiddie zipline, barnyard golf, tractor, wooden train, giant Jenga, basketball, bowling pins, farm animals to see, and so much more. Inside of their cute farm market, you can try one of their delicious cider slushies and browse a variety of locally made treats and items. In the fall, you can enjoy a fun corn maze, pumpkin patch, and reserve your own campfire and roast smores. Everything felt repurposed in a fun way at the farm. It was a very family-friendly place to visit. The kids enjoyed exploring the farm and there was plenty of space to explore!
- Address: 2915 Willow Run Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
- Open: Wednesday-Sundays
- Admission: $10/person, Under 2: Free, Grandparents with Grandchildren 1/2 price
After all the energy the kids used from running around the farm, head to Bella Luna Wood Fired Pizza for dinner. Don’t forget to get gelato at their sister shop across the street, Bella Gelato & Pastries.
BELLA LUNA WOOD FIRED PIZZA
- Address: 80 W. Water Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22901
- No reservations. Indoor Seating Available.
- Order the risotto fritters and any of the wood fired pizzas!
The kids loved the pizza at Bella Luna Wood Fired Pizza, and the gelato next door even more! Definitely recommend heading here for a meal and saving room for dessert!
BELLA LUNA GELATO & PASTRIES
- Address: 49 A W. Water Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22901
- Lots of flavors to choose from at Bella Luna Gelato & Pastries. Feel free to ask for some free samples if you are unsure!
STAY: MARRIOTT COURTYARD HARRISONBURG
We had a great stay at the Marriott Courtyard Harrisonburg. It was centrally located. Everything was within a 5-10 minute drive of the hotel. It is located right across from James Madison University. The hotel was clean and had a microwave and a refrigerator in the room, which is great for family stays.
If you have extra time, I would recommend checking out the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum located on the James Madison campus to enjoy some nature and a walk around the lake. Or if your kids need to run off more energy, check out A Dream Come True playground, which is very close to the hotel.
- Address: 1890 Evelyn Byrd Ave, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
- Address: 780 University Blvd, MSC 3705, Harrisonburg VA [James Madison University]
- Admission: Free to the Public
- Open: Dawn to Dusk, 365 days a year
- Also located on James Madison University: Free planetarium shows on Saturday at the John C. Wells Planetarium.
A Dream Come True Playground
- Address: 1050 Neff Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
- Admission: Free to the Public
Check out this video that we made of our time in Harrisonburg VA:
DAY 2
Start your day with breakfast at Heritage Bakery & Cafe. The waffle was super yummy! The food comes served on the cutest platters. The bakery is located in the Harrisonburg visitor center.
HERITAGE BAKERY & CAFE
- Address: 212 South Main Street, Harrisonbirg, VA 22801
- Open: Monday – Saturday
- Indoor & Outdoor Seating Available
Before heading back to D.C., we stopped by Luray Caverns. It was the kids’ first time. Cooper absolutely loved the caves! We had a great time checking out the area. There was so much to explore in the area as well. We stopped by the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, which is included in the ticket. You can also visit the Luray Garden Maze, Rope Adventure Park, and more in the area.
LURAY CAVERNS
- Address: 101 Cave Hill Road, Luray, VA 22835
- Open: Daily
- Admission: $32 adults, $16 age 6-12, free under age 6
- Ticket includes Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, Shenandoah Heritage Village, and Toy Town Junction
- Wheelchair Accessible & Stroller Friendly
The kids loved seeing and learning about the formation of stalactites. It’s been many years since I’ve been to Luray Caverns so it was great to see it through the kids’ eyes. Next time, the kids want to check out the Luray Garden Maze, and the other activities in the area.
I would recommend checking our Luray Caverns on a weekday if you can. We found that it wasn’t crowded and there was no line to get into the cavern when we got there on a Monday.
We had an amazing time checking out the Shenandoah Valley and exploring Harrisonburg VA with kids. It was the perfect weekend getaway that wasn’t too far from the D.C. area. We love exploring new places and I loved how family-friendly Harrisonburg VA is! There were cute coffee shops, good food, and lots of great things for the kids to do!
Thank you so much to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley for sponsoring this trip and putting together such a great family-friendly itinerary. Hope you guys enjoyed our itinerary on what to do in Harrisonburg VA with kids! Definitely give it a visit!
This trip was inspired by Escape D.C. for a Family-Friendly Weekend. Go check it out and take a look at all of their great guides for all sorts of weekend getaways from less traveled hiking trails, wineries, fishing, and more. Harrisonburg VA with kids is a great weekend adventure. There is so much to explore in the Shenandoah Valley!
1 Comment
Wow had no idea how fun this area would be for families! We’ve been in the area, but never really explored! Gotta spend a weekend here one day!
August 9, 2021 at 8:02 AM