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46 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • July 2016 family money WRITTEN BY NIKKI DUCAS Fun Family Adventures You Didn't Think Of Load up the kids and head out for a day trip or weekend getaway that the whole family can enjoy. Let the adventures begin: The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests stretch along the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and into parts of West Virginia and Kentucky. Take the kids for a hike and choose to set up camp at one of thousands of individual campsites spread throughout the forests. For more information about day hiking and camping visit: www.fs.usda.gov/gwj. At Luray Caverns, take a guided 1-hour tour along well- lighted, paved 1.25 mile walkways that lead visitors through cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10-stories high, towering stone formations, and natural wonders at every turn. The paved walkways are easy to walk with a stroller and the tour is kid-friendly and exciting for children of all ages. For location and pricing visit: http://luraycaverns.com/. First Landing State Park is located on Cape Henry at the north end of Virginia Beach. This 2,888 acre park offers a wide range of activities for families with children that want to escape the busier, more heavily developed areas of Virginia Beach yet still remain in close proximity to all that the local area has to offer. For pricing visit: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state- parks/first-landing. Become a Junior Ranger at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Parks. There are four booklets of activities available for kids. After completing each booklet, Junior Rangers receive a patch to mark their accomplishment. The booklets are free and highlight each major battlefield in the park. Pick them up on-site (ask at the information desk) or download and look it over before going to the park. For more information visit: www.nps.gov/frsp/learn/kidsyouth/. Planning on Visiting National Parks Often? Get the America the Beautiful - the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass at store.usgs.gov/pass/annual.html. Anyone 16 years or older may purchase the pass; children under 16 are always admitted free. Each Annual Pass can have up to two non-related "owners." Note: If you have a fourth grader it may behoove you to get them their Every Kid in a Park pass at www.everykidinapark.gov. This pass provides free access to national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and more through August 31! Fun Family Fun Family Fun Family Low-Cost Fun Family Adventures 5 Fun Family Adventures Fun Family Fun Family Low-Cost Fun Family BONUS TIP: Don't forget to ask for available discounts (AAA, military, loyalty cards) and check Certifikid, Groupon and Living Social sites before heading out. At take a guided 1-hour tour along well- lighted, paved 1.25 mile walkways that lead visitors through cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings At Virginia Safari Park, see animals run and frolic with abandon on this 180-acre property. Drive your vehicle over three miles of maintained gravel road while your children feed the animals through the windows! Located in the Shenandoah Valley, only minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and historic Lexington. For tickets and hours visit: http://www.virginiasafaripark.com/VisitorInfo/ TicketsandHours.aspx.