Children's Museum of Virginia

The Children's Museum of Virginia in Portsmouth's Olde Towne neighborhood is the kind of place that keeps toddlers and elementary-age kids completely absorbed for a full afternoon. It's an interactive, hands-on environment designed around the principle that children learn best by doing — and the exhibits deliver on that premise.

The museum spans multiple floors across a historic downtown building, which gives it a character that newer purpose-built children's museums sometimes lack. Exhibits rotate and evolve, but core areas tend to include a waterplay table section (always a crowd magnet for 2-6 year olds), building and construction zones with oversized foam blocks, science exploration areas, and creative play spaces.

The top floor housing vintage automobiles is one of the most distinctive offerings. These aren't roped-off display pieces — kids can actually open doors, sit in the driver's seat, and role-play. For parents and grandparents who grew up with these vehicles, it's a genuinely sweet shared-experience moment. For kids, it's just really fun to pretend to drive a 1957 Chevy.

The museum is located in Olde Towne Portsmouth, which deserves mention as a destination in itself. The waterfront area along the Elizabeth River is walkable from the museum and has charm beyond the museum visit — a nice bonus for parents who want more than just an indoor activity day.

Note the closure days: Monday and Tuesday the museum is closed. For families driving from Williamsburg (about 60-70 minutes), confirm hours before committing to the trip.