There's No Time Like Time Together in Page Valley

Your toddler has creative movement, your tween needs to get to cheer practice, and your teen wants to go hang out with friends.

These days, it may feel like an impossible, high-speed game of zone defense to coordinate an afternoon’s worth of activities, let alone a vacation that the whole family will agree on and even look forward to.

Here’s the straight slam dunk of family trips: Page Valley, Virginia. From toddlers to teens and all the kiddos in between, everyone will enjoy life together at a slower pace in our mountain towns with these ideas to add to your itinerary while you’re here.

FOR TODDLERS

Sometimes the littlest members of your family are the biggest deciding factors in how you plan your day. Here in Page Valley, we have plenty of activities that will entertain toddlers (and thereby the rest of your family). The small, family-owned Luray Zoo is a rescue effort featuring a petting zoo that’s been wildly popular with toddlers since 1957. They’ll enjoy having room to roam across three acres that are also home to more than 80 exhibits of reptiles and 20 exhibits of birds and mammals.

Take your explorations to a different dimension at Luray Caverns, otherwise known as Geology’s Hall of Fame. As the largest caverns in the eastern U.S., going underground will introduce your toddlers to a world they previously only thought existed during story time. Thanks to lighted paved walking paths, everyone in your crew can take in the stunning stones overhead among caves with 10- story high ceilings. It’ll take a while for the open-mouthed smiles to dissipate after a visit here! 

The best hobbies for your kids are ones that start in the early years and provide more challenge as they grow — and it’s a bonus if it’s in the fresh air. Shenandoah National Park offers more than 300 miles of protected natural wonder in the Blue Ridge Mountains, great for instilling a healthy hiking habit in your littles. While the Park has plenty of more strenuous options for recreation, toddler-friendly hikes (read: brief while also providing local wildlife and history education) like the fully accessible Limberlost Trail or the Story of the Forest Trail are just a short distance from the scenic Skyline Drive that runs through the Park.

FOR TWEENS

Choosing activities for your kiddos between the childhood and teenage years can be as tricky for you as it is for them to choose a lunch table at school. But in Page Valley, tweens will rediscover their youth-centric spark by either trying new things or doing “their thing” in their new favorite place. For water-faring tweens, deepen your bond by joining them on a leisurely canoe or kayak trip with local outfitters like Shenandoah River Outfitters or Shenandoah Adventures. 

While your toddlers are exploring Luray Caverns, your adrenaline-seeking tweens will love a stop by their Rope Adventure Park and Garden Maze. The rope course is an aerial thrill with two different levels of harnessed difficulty, while the Garden Maze is a ground-level, well-ornamented, 0.5-mile hedge with over 40 turning points. It’s the largest maze of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic! Regardless of which obstacle you choose, everyone will discover the area’s natural beauty from a fresh dimension.

Especially at this age, if your tween sees Dad playing golf, he or she is probably itching to get out with some clubs, too. The Caverns Country Club Resort is the ideal place for tweens to get in the game, right in the pocket of the Shenandoah River and Blue Ridge Mountains. Their 18-hole course provides enough challenge for you and your tween, with unique features like a cave hole in the middle of the first fairway.

Now that your not-quite-teenagers are refreshed, it’s an opportune time to reintroduce the mantra of “learning is fun for everyone” with a visit to the Shenandoah Heritage Village. Open your tweens’ eyes to the hyper-local but long-reaching history of the Shenandoah Valley with exhibits on Native American culture, the Civil War, and pioneer life including working blacksmiths. Admission to the seven-acre complex is included with each general admission ticket to Luray Caverns.

FOR TEENS

Once you hit the teenage years, you may be coming to the bittersweet realization that you only have only a few more family trips before they move on to college, out of the house, or to other endeavors. This time is fleeting, and Page Valley is the place to make the most out of it.

While your toddlers explore the beginner hikes of Shenandoah National Park with one grown-up, split off with your outdoor-loving teen for some one-on-one time as you take on more challenging hikes, like Old Rag Mountain, with sweeping views from the summit and rock scrambles (note that this popular SNP hike requires a day-use ticket in advance, in addition to a park entrance pass), or Whiteoak Canyon to cool off by a series of waterfalls. Hawksbill Summit is a moderate hike at the highest point of the Park, offering a picturesque spot for a “we did it” selfie. More leisurely, shorter walks with just as stunning views, like at Stony Man Summit, are also available if you need a lower heart rate for some deeper conversation.

If you can’t remember the last time you did something for the first time with your teen, a visit to Bear Mountain Ziplines will happily change that. Hop on their Mama Bear Zipline, seven lines that zip at up to 35 miles an hour, or their three-story Bear Scramble climbing wall, and you’re sure to leave with renewed “cool Mom” (or Dad) status.

For the teen who wants to explore our great outdoors with a bit of adrenaline-sponsored motor under their feet, Appalachian Adventures hosts ATV tours with plenty of twists and turns through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Don’t worry — the trails are safe and well-maintained so you can feel good about them getting behind the wheel too.

FOR ALL

No matter your budget or what you’re in the mood for, Page Valley’s Downtown Luray offers charming shops, galleries, and eateries for the whole family to explore. From pizza to patisserie and farm-to-table, we have the type of food that you’re craving with unmatched hospitality. Spots along Main Street often have live music too — a perfect backbeat for your toddlers to scurry around and teens to kick back.

After a day of adventure, a family movie night is just the way to wind down for the evening. The Page Theater is classically themed with five screens and the latest releases, plus plenty of all-important snacks to munch on during the feature.

FOR EATS & TREATS

When the question of “What’s for dinner?” comes up, you’ll be delighted to have plenty of delicious answers while you’re here. For down-home fixins’ in a casual, kid-inclusive atmosphere, head to Brookside Restaurant. From barbeque classics to daily buffets and a 30-item salad bar, even the pickiest eaters will find something to fill their plate. 

For breakfast, lunch, or a hearty snack, Gathering Grounds Patisserie & Café is a cozy spot for avocado toast, paninis, and smoothies. Mom and Dad can look forward to a refuel with their artisan coffee drinks as a much-needed pick-me-up in the midst of all the family fun. 

Mamma Mia's is Page Valley’s destination for Italian food with a warm and welcoming atmosphere in Shenandoah. This family-owned restaurant has a hearty menu of junior-sized Italian classics, all on a themed coloring page. Everyone around the table will enjoy their handmade pizzas (New York and Sicilian), calzones, and signature pastas.

Vacation and treats are practically synonymous. Main Street Bakery has pretty much any oven-made confection you could dream of, from scones and cakes to cookie bars. If someone’s more in the savory mood, the bakery also has daily soups and quiche on special. 

Isn’t it funny how no one ever complains about getting in the car for ice cream? For more than 36 flavors of ice cream ranging from classic to curious, as well as 10 different flavors of Dippin’ Dots and dairy/gluten free options, there’s something for the whole family to cool off with at Main Street Flavors.

FOR THE STAY

Page Valley is Virginia’s Cabin Capital, meaning that we have just the accommodations you’re looking for to keep your entire crew comfy while you’re here. For the family that enjoys RV life or camping, Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River has spacious sites with extras like a pool and playground, making it a great homebase for your getaway.

Your accommodations may just be part of your destination at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort in Luray. A splash pad, three swimming pools, water slides, an 18-hole mini golf course, and more are waiting to facilitate an epic getaway, whether you choose to stay in a cabin or bring your own tent or RV.

After a day of hiking and outdoor adventures, you may not have to go too far to hang your hats with a stay at the Skyland or Big Meadows Lodge at Shenandoah National Park. Stay where the outdoor wanderlust magic lives in one of their rustic retreats to enjoy scenic views from the moment you wake up to the moment your head hits the pillow.

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A MEMORABLE FAMILY ESCAPE

Family time calls a time-out on the mundane, hustle-bustle of everyday life to come together for bonding and rejuvenation. No matter who’s in your crew, there’s something for everyone in Page Valley, Virginia.