Highlights
7 of the coolest activities for kids in Abingdon, Virginia
Updated June 2020
Make your family vacation memorable with these cool, kid-friendly activities in Abingdon. See live theatre, pet an alpaca, take a ghost tour, and explore the great outdoors. It's always play time in Abingdon, so browse our list of the best activities for kids and decide how you'll play today.
The Virginia Creeper Trail
The Virginia Creeper Trail is a bucket list trail, popular with families for its accessibility, scenery, and fascinating history. Bike rentals and shuttle service are available from the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop in Abingdon.
The gentle grade and easy access points make the Creeper Trail fun for all members of the family, young and old. Bicyclists feel the wind in their hair as they coast downhill from either of two starting points: taking in scenic vistas and trestle bridges from Abingdon to Alvarado Station, or coasting through Jefferson National Forest from Whitetop Station to Damascus, VA.
Take a guided hike
Abingdon is the perfect base camp to explore the unspoiled wilderness of Southwest Virginia. Within a short drive, you'll find pristine waterfalls, wild ponies, scenic vistas and abundant wildlife.
Create your own adventure with our list of 10 Best Day Hikes in Southwest Virginia. Remember, always "know before you go." Double check the official website, and have a backup plan in mind in case the parking lot is full.
One great option for families is a guided day hike with White Blaze Outdoors. Naturalist Justin Harris creates custom outdoor experiences, including ones that are suitable for young children! Choose from a half-day or full-day experience. White Blaze Outdoors will even provide shuttle service, gear, and snacks!
Watch an artist at work
Abingdon has a number of fun (and free) opportunities to explore the local art scene.
Visit the artist studios at The Arts Depot, and watch painters, potters and fabric artists at work, inside Abingdon's historic train depot.
Check out the rotating exhibits at William King Museum of Art, then visit the brand new Art Lab next door for more artist demonstrations.
Take a history tour - or a ghost tour!
Abingdon was founded in 1778, giving it plenty of time to accumulate interesting stories. Take a guided walking tour of Abingdon and learn our fascinating history!
History Alive Tours are conducted by living history enthusiasts who embody characters from Abingdon's rich past. Learn about Abingdon's role in the Revolutionary War from Charles Cummings, "The Fightin’ Parson," enjoy the area taverns and taprooms with Rufus Soule, tavern owner, or any number of other historical figures.
Abingdon Spirit Tours are led by the one and only Haint Mistress, Donnamarie Emmert. This tour is especially popular in the month of October, but it can be reserved throughout the year, weather permitting. It is a two hour walking tour of downtown Abingdon, where visitors are entertained with bits of Abingdon history as well as local ghost lore.
Get kissed by an alpaca!
Learn more about these friendly relatives of the llama at Dreamland Alpacas. The farm is open to the public, with a gift shop featuring products made from the cozy soft alpaca wool. Spring is an especially fun time to visit, as you might just get to meet a baby alpaca, or cria.
In Meadowview, VA, just 15 minutes from Abingdon.
Catch a live performance at the drive-in
In summer 2020, the famous Barter Theatre is offering something special for families. The theatre has leased Abingdon's historic Moonlite Drive-In (closed since 2013), to produce a series of live, socially distanced shows.
Pick up dinner at one of Abingdon’s restaurants, drive over to the Moonlite, and pull straight into your reserved parking spot. You’ll see the actors performing concert versions of the show from the stage situated in front of the big screen, and you’ll get a closer look at the action via a simulcast onto the big screen. The sound will be delivered through your vehicle’s stereos!
The experience is nostalgic fun for the whole family! Shows are between 60 and 90 minutes, perfect for kids.
SoHo Xcursions Aquapark
SoHo Xcursions is located at Sportsman's Marina on South Holston Lake. Open seasonally, recreational activities include pontoon boats, towables, kayaks, paddle boards, Jetblade, and the Aquapark.
