Sitting an easy 25 minutes from both downtown Richmond and Short Pump is kid-nirvana that serves up wild land and water rides. King’s Dominion opened back in the ‘70s with a few rickety rides and has since blossomed into a sparkling clean, destination theme park with well over a dozen dry thrill rides (including the Intimidator 305, considered one of the tallest coasters in the world), Planet Snoopy (rides for the little guys), and Soak City Waterpark, a phenomenal H20-park with a quarter-mile lazy river, a 650,000-gallon wave pool, mild and wild water coasters, and Soak City with a 40-foot high dump bucket.

Cedar Fair has ownership of King’s Dominion these days and keeps the park family-friendly with manicured lawns, fireworks in early July, and twinkling lights during the December holidays.

The one downer? Food prices are high. Word to the budget-conscious: a group of picnic tables sit under awnings in the parking lot to the left as you drive in. After a morning in the park, trek back to your car, grab your picnic and fill little tummies at a considerably cheaper price.

The park opens and closes at various hours depending on the day and month. Arrive early and enjoy the park in the morning before the wall of feet arrive.