Tom Barbour, Esq.  

The Metro Richmond Zoo lets your kids get up close to the animals. They'll marvel at the towering beauty of the giraffes as they get a chance to actually pet them. They'll giggle uncontrollably when they hear the orangutan whistle or watch the monkeys monkey around with each other. The kids will have plenty to see as the zoo features more than 400 animals in their natural habitat attraction. It'll be a day full of wild fun, so be sure to stop at the zoo's gift shop to pick up a neat souvenir to commemorate your family's very own safari.

Maymont began as the 100-acre Victorian estate of Major James H. and Sallie May Dooley. The couple's mansion was complete in 1893 and over the next three decades they created lush garden scenery, picturesque landscapes and beautifully crafted outbuildings. Today, visitors can not only enjoy all of that natural allure, but there are such amenities as the Maymont House Museum, historic gardens, a carriage collection, nature center, wildlife exhibits and a children's farm to enjoy, as well. Still, there are several choice spots to enjoy an outdoor picnic on this inviting piece of historic land.