Look, if you can fry an egg on the sidewalk, it’s probably too hot to be doing much outside. Lucky for you, Waynesboro’s full of ways to chill – literally and figuratively. Wrangle the kids and read all about how to survive the summer in Waynesboro.

Hit the Movies

When it’s 97 degrees with 100% humidity, nothing hits quite like a dark room, a bucket of popcorn, and some AC. Good news: Waynesboro has options.

  • Zeus Digital Theater is a locally owned fully digital, eight screen theater with all the amenities (pro tip: they also have an arcade in case the kids need to burn off a little steam before or after the show).
  • Monday Movie at the Wayne shows a different classic movie every Monday with showing times at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm. They also have a concession stand with some really good theatre popcorn (pro tip for the adults: they also have adult bevs).
  • Summer Movie Series at the Wayne is just like Monday Movies at the Wayne but for kids! Catch a kid’s movie every Wednesday until the end of July with showtimes at 10:00 am & 1:00.

It’s Game On

Let’s be real, playgrounds are not it right now. But don’t fret, Waynesboro’s got lots of options for indoor play too.

  • Fastrax has laser tag, batting cages, and arcade games, all indoors. If you feel like walking on the wild side, hit the go-karts (yeah, they’re outside).
  • Basic City Beer Co. has a retro beer-cade. Grab some wood-fired pizza and a drink and go to town on some of your faves like skee ball.
  • Bottles is a game lover’s dream. They have tons of tabletop and arcade games as well as pool tables and unlimited play is included in the admission fee ($2-$5). All ages are welcome until 9:00 pm, and Sunday is family day with free entry for kids!

Waynesboro City Has Your Back

Like I always say, if you’re lucky enough to call Waynesboro home then you probably know about the services that the City of Waynesboro offers, but guess what? If you’re visiting you can partake also! We aren’t gatekeeping anything around here.

  • Waynesboro Public Library obviously has books, but they also have free programming almost everyday they’re open. Story time, Play & Learn, Chess Club, Nerf Battles (yep, you read that right. Our library is actually super cool…pun not intended?), Adult Craft Club, and tons more.
  • Rosenwald Community Center has free indoor gym play Monday – Thursday from 8:00 am – 6:30 pm and Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00pm. Let the kids wear themselves out!
  • Ridgeview Park Pool is only $3 for kids and $5 for adults, which is a small price to pay to hang out in the cool water all day. Also, did you know they have a splash pad now? That’s right, our Parks and Rec department is as cool as the library, they always know how to make things more fun.

Learn Stuff

School might be out, but that doesn’t mean you brain has to turn to mush. Waynesboro’s got plenty of spots where you can soak up some culture while enjoying the AC. No homework required.

  • Waynesboro Heritage Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday and is the place to learn about local history. It’s free, it’s kid friendly, and you’re definitely going to learn something surprising while you’re there. I’ve been like a dozen times and always learn something new.
  • The Russell Museum is open Thursday – Saturday and its part art gallery and part DIY art. Come look at amazing artwork – then make some of your own!
  • The Augusta County Railroad Museum is only open Saturdays for the moment (they’re new to downtown Waynesboro and we are super excited to have them, so they get a pass). If you’ve got a train lover in the family this is a no-brainer and if you don’t, it’s still worth the visit.
  • The Shenandoah Valley Art Center is also open from Tuesday – Saturday and after a stroll through the gallery you might just find an artist at work in one of the studios. (Bonus: Check out all their classes and workshops for kids and adults)
  • The Wayne Theatre Exhibit Gallery is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but they’re also open an hour before any programming, which means you can make a day out of it on Wednesdays for the Summer Movie Series.

Tunnel Vision: The Coolest Hike in Virginia

Can’t stay away from the great outdoors for long? The Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail is definitely the move. This historic train tunnel turned recreational trail is always around 50 degrees. Pro tips: Start from the East Trailhead on the hottest days. It’s only .6 miles to the tunnel entrance on mostly flat terrain. Bring a headlamp or a flashlight because it’s dark in there. Cool? Yes. Lit? No. And, for our last activity I’ll throw in a bonus too: Keep an eye out for salamanders. There is a whole ecosystem inside that tunnel and it’s super cool (pun…intended this time?).

 

Well, there you have it. Some fun things to do with the kids (or without) while you’re trying to stay cool this summer. Now go forth, stay cool, and, for the love of SPF 50, save the serious hiking until the temperature gets back into the 80s.