With the first official days of summer upon us, LYH is buzzing with endless family fun—right as the sun kicks in and school’s out! Whether you’re looking to splash in spraygrounds, pedal along shaded trails, or chase that perfect scoop of ice cream, Lynchburg’s got it all. From riverside picnics and historical discoveries to mini‑golf showdowns and museum explorations, here are some can’t-miss local activities to fill your summer days.
Take a Walk (or Bike!)
Blackwater Creek Trail comes to life in the summer months and is the perfect place to take a family walk. In addition to the health benefits of walking, taking a family walk along the trail is a great way to explore our city. While the whole trail may be a little too much to tackle at one time, there are smaller sections that are perfect for little ones.
Point of Honor Trail is a 1.5-mile loop that takes visitors past the iconic Point of Honor mansion. If you are up for a day of history, schedule a tour to coincide with your walk! The Kemper Station Trail begins and ends behind the Kemper Street Station, giving walkers a unique view of the train depot. Or, begin and end your walk at Percival’s Island, and snap a family photo with our Love Works sign.
Don’t forget about Peaks View Park, which also offers excellent walking and biking paved paths, mountain biking trails, tennis courts, recreational sports fields and much more.
To view a full overview of the trail, click here.
Promotional images for Lynchburg Tourism is photographed on April 30, 2022. (Photo by K. Jugar Photography)
Picnic in the Park
Lynchburg is home to some fantastic parks. Each one has its own unique highlights and features, but all of them are perfect places to spread out a blanket and have a picnic this summer! Bonus points if you make it to all of the parks before the summer ends!
Riverfront Park is home to a spray ground that is sure to provide endless entertainment for your children. After your picnic is done, stop by Maylynn’s Creamery Downtown for a sweet treat for the ride home! For families that enjoy sports, Peaks View Park is a great place to go walking or play a family game of kickball or soccer on one of the fields. Miller Park is home to a public pool, and Ivy Creek Park is a great place for everyone to go fishing.
Grab a sweet treat
There’s always an excuse to grab ice cream but especially during the summer! Luckily LYH has plenty of ice cream destinations across town that specialize in different types of ice cream.
- Maylynn’s Creamery specializes in soft-serve ice cream and rolled ice cream that you can mix with specialty toppings like their homemade cookie dough! Maylynn’s has two locations, one off of Jefferson Street in Downtown Lynchburg and one in Boonsboro at the Boonsboro shopping center.
- Klines Dairy Bar has an old-school vintage feel with a drive-through. Klines offers high-quality ingredients and an old-fashioned ice cream-making technique to make their custard smooth and creamy. Klines is located off of Wards Road.
- Rookies is home of the handcrafted Ice Cream Sandwich with homemade ice cream flavors like Black Raspberry Oreo and Vegan Toasted Coconut. They have several locations in Lynchburg like off of Rivermont Ave., inside River Ridge Mall, and in Forest at the Back Yard Food Truck lot.
- Outside the Cone makes homemade ice cream from natural ingredients. They have their classic flavors like toasted coconut chunk and buttered pecan, but also create unique ice creams that change weekly like their peanut butter S’mOreo and Taylor Swift inspired ice cream “Lover”. The shop is located in the Wyndhust neighborhood.
- Mister Goodies is one of Lynchburg’s most beloved treats, featuring soft-serve ice cream and hand-dipped cones. Mister Goodies is located off of Timberlake Rd.
Learn Our History
Did you know that Lynchburg has its very own museum? Located on Court Street at the top of the Monument Terrace steps, the Lynchburg Museum is home to a plethora of historic information on Lynchburg. The photography collection alone is made up of over 10,000 images that are currently being digitized. Other notable exhibits include local “Art & Artisans,” nationally recognized products made in Lynchburg, and “Seven Hills of History,” which explores the historic hills of the city. Are there really seven? You’ll have to visit the museum to find out. Join the museum for one of their guided walking tours is also an easy family summer activity. Explore places like the historic Point of Honor house and grounds, or experience some scenic views and neighborhood history at Riverside Park.
The museum is open Monday, Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.
Keep beating the heat and take a trip to Amazement Square Children’s Museum or Super Rad Arcade. Both attractions are located just steps away from each other in Downtown Lynchburg on Jefferson Street. The children’s museum is the perfect place for kids to take on interactive activities, sue their creativity, and learn something in the process! Super Rad is all you can play fun in a classic arcade game way!
Water Fun
Riverside Park is home to many things like tennis courts, gazebos, history displays, and even a train! It’s also home to Lynchburg’s Sprayground, a 1,900-square-foot area that is the perfect place for kids to go crazy in the summer months. (Parents, too, when the weather is hot enough!). And, it’s one of Lynchburg’s easy family summer activities. The spray-ground is open daily all summer long.
Miller Park Pool keeps the city cool in the summer with some wet and wild fun for everyone every day! Located in mid-town, the Olympic size pool also offers a children’s pool area, a twisting water slide, high dive, and a kiddie area with a mushroom waterfall. An ADA-accessible hydraulic lift chair allows those with special needs to enjoy the complex. And don’t forget the concessions stand for drinks and snacks–it operates during regular pool hours and closes approximately 30 minutes before the pool.
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, take a canoe or kayak down the James River. Launch off at River Edge Park (across from Downtown) and paddle around to the waterfall dam or take an 8-mile paddle and takeout at Joshua Falls.
Win a Game of Mini Golf
Lynchburg has two different mini golf spots perfect for the competitive ones in your life! Putt-Putt Fun Center has two courses to play on, and they have a full arcade room, bumper boats, go karts, and a batting cage. If you’re looking for a simpler spot and to just focus on that hole-in-one, try Tiny Town Golf. Opened in 1965, this classic mini golf spot is definitely on the list of easy family summer activities.
Putt-Putt Fun Center (photo credit: Putt-Putt Fun Center website)