Whether you’re planning for Father’s Day, a birthday, or simply a weekend with a family, one local Charlottesville father shares his perspective on the value of shared experiences over physical gifts.
Looking up with puppy dog eyes as bright as the sun, my daughter earnestly declares, “It is the only thing I’ve ever wanted and will ever want again!”
Every day for nearly a month, it seems she’s begged and pleaded for this special toy. I can appreciate her sincerity, and at one point, I was almost convinced. However, it seems awfully flimsy, and it is rather expensive, even for today’s toy standards. Honestly, with that price tag, it would almost need to be the last thing she’ll ever want or receive for a while.
The Challenge of Buying Gifts for Children
Well, she wore us down, and we purchased her this mystical, magical, majestic toy—the toy to end all toys. Wouldn’t you know it, my daughter played with it for about two days, and I haven’t seen her touch it since.
I touched it recently though and moved it down to the garage, adding it to the growing slush pile of dusty and forgotten, misfit toys. This is the last stop before donation.
As parents, once this pattern repeated itself a few times, we began to ask why we continue to purchase things that do not bring long-term value into our children’s lives. If my daughter is “over” that toy in a matter of two days, then perhaps it’s time to reboot our idea of what’s important for us as a family.
Giving Experiences Together: A Mindset Shift
If you’re experiencing something similar when it comes to presents and kids, you might benefit from the questions we began asking ourselves:
- Are we spending enough quality time with our children?
- Are we doing things with them that create timeless expressions and lasting impressions?
- Do we wish to choose presents or presence, extravagance or experience, great memories or material goods?
In our family, we decided to focus our efforts on the value of shared experiences, rather than material items, for our daughters and ourselves. We’ve since discovered that for us, shared experiences and memories are our most valuable family possessions!
4 Favorite Charlottesville Adventures for Days Out With Dad
Now, we make it a point to focus on giving experiences and planning shared family outings. Turns out, Charlottesville is a fantastic city for family adventures. You’ll find opportunities to enjoy the area’s natural beauty and atmospheres while learning, unwinding, and just having fun.
Here’s a list of places we’ve enjoyed for dad and kid adventures around Charlottesville and Central Virginia.
Virginia Safari Park (Natural Bridge)
Drive from Charlottesville: 1.5 hours
Admission: Ticketed
Zoo trips are always popular with my girls. Seeing pictures of giraffes and rhinos may be impressive, but nothing beats seeing the majestic creatures live and in-person.
The Virginia Safari Park is a 180-acre drive through many animal habitats from the comfort of your car. No more complaints from little ones about the heat or long walk. Plus, you can drive through the park as many times as you want.
The stretch of road you travel along is three miles long, but the length of your trip may vary depending on how the animals are feeling that day. You have the option to roll down your windows and feed the zoo’s deer, elk, and other animals a special grain-mixture that is available for purchase at the gift shop.
If you’d like to get out and stretch your legs, visit the petting zoo to meet farmyard animals like pigs, baby llamas and goats. You’ll also be able to feed giraffes or colorful birds called budgies. And check the daily schedule for events where you can meet rhinos, sloths, anteaters and penguins.
Hiking Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)
Drive from Charlottesville: 1.5 hours
Admission: Free
Our local Crabtree Falls boasts the highest vertical-drop waterfall east of the Mississippi River. it an awesome destination for outdoorsy types, lovers of natural beauty, and family who love exploring nature.
It’s important to remain on the path and not hop over the railings to take pictures. There are observation platforms at the base and at spots on the hike up to the top of Crabtree Falls that are perfect for all those family pictures we love to capture. We only made it to the platform at the top of the lower falls that day, but our adventure was still filled with laughs and a sense of adventure.
We’ve tried to nurture a love of nature in our girls; so, for the most part, hiking has become a popular activity for our family. We’ve hiked many of the more popular trails in the area, such as Humpback Rock and Ivy Creek Natural Area, and all of them are great with their own unique characteristics.
Nothing compares, though, to the magnitude of water that is Crabtree Falls gushing down a hillside, plunging to Earth like a giant natural waterspout. It’s a feast for the senses! Even though my daughters were armed with their usual complaints about the annoying bugs and excessive walking on the hiking trail, I heard few, if any, while at the falls.
White Oak Lavender Farm (Harrisonburg)
Drive from Charlottesville: 1.25 hours
Admission: Animal encounters, Discovery Area, and lavender picking priced separately
Picture a meadow of rolling green hills and vibrant bursts of purple, with sky-kissed mountains stretching above. This is what you’ll see while visiting White Oak Lavender Farm in the Shenandoah Valley. This family-owned farm grows several varieties of lavender and offers plenty of family-friendly activities.
Guests can visit the U-pick lavender gardens, scissors and instructions provided. In the Discovery Area, my girls enjoyed engaging with the variety of farm animals accessible for petting. They played a short game of chess on the life-size chessboard, then mindfully meandered the farm’s peaceful labyrinth path.
The splendidly manicured landscape provides a tranquil place to spend an afternoon. While I sat in a rocking chair taking in the scene, the girls tapped into their inner craftsperson using the large blocks that were provided to build inventive structures that suited their fancies. And of course, the day wouldn’t have been complete if they hadn’t sampled the delicious lavender ice cream. White oak Lavender Farm is great excursion for unwinding and appreciating nature at a calm pace.
Yoder’s Market (Madison)
Drive from Charlottesville: 45 minutes
Admission: Free
Yoder’s is not your typical grocery store or farm stand. This local farmer-run enterprise offers what’s known as the barnyard experience. In addition to the market filled with local delicacies, you’ll find a petting zoo with goats, sheep, alpaca, turkeys, pigs, ducks and rabbits, just to name a few.
The girls were thrilled to feed the goats and chickens. We plunked a few quarters into a feed dispenser to receive handfuls of dried corn, then held out our hands for the animals to have at it. Afterward, we sat rocking in chairs on the porch in front of the store while eating Yoder’s homemade ice cream. There is also a picnic and play area at Yoder’s Market, including a photo op board where kids can pose as farmers and sunflowers together.
In the market itself, you’ll find homemade pies, cakes, breads and cookies, plus all-natural meats from local farms, organic, and gluten-free products. The bulk goods are amazing, with specialty flours, spices, rice blends, and candy. And if you happen to work up an appetite, grab a fresh made hot or cold sandwich at the deli counter.
We left with our stomachs full, and felt fulfilled after a fun-filled outing that supported many local farmers.
The Value of Shared Experiences as a Family
Exposing our daughters to a variety of activities not only strengthens our family bond but also stimulates their minds, creating lifelong mental mementos. My wish is to continue to consciously plan activities that will create glowing memories my girls can carry as keepsakes, forever.
Find more fabulous experiences to share with your family, including art studios and art museums, family-friendly historical attractions, and experiences for kids who love dinosaurs. Don’t forget to visit the CharlottesvilleFamily calendar to discover what’s happening every week around town.
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is a husband, father of three daughters and the author of The Girl Who Carried Too Much Stuff, Dad is Acting Strange, and A Promise to Grow. Find out more about him at marcboston.com.