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By Lisa Puster
When summer arrives, my girls are always so happy to be out of school, sleep in, watch television, play on the computer, go to the neighborhood pool, and enjoy the relaxing, carefree days of summer – all for about the first month. And then it begins – the whining, the fussing, the fighting, THE BOREDOM. Ugh. Just the thought of it makes me want to run from my computer screaming!
I always vow after each summer to plan better entertainment for the following summer but being the procrastinator I am, I never get around to it. So, when my editor assigned me an article on Kids’ Summer Destinations, I was excited to actually have to find out about entertainment options for the kids this summer. I hope all you parents out there will benefit from my findings too.
 Kangaroo Jac’s is the ultimate children’s inflatables play space providing kids with the opportunity to exercise, play, climb, jump, and slide, regardless of weather. The kids will enjoy The Fortress, the steepest and tallest inflatable slide in Richmond, while parents can take advantage of the separate parent area that includes Wifi, TVs tuned to programs for parents, book selections, and a 1,250 square foot toddler area just for the little ones. 804-622-5000 or www.kangaroojacs.com/richmond.
 Fitwize 4 Kids offers exercise classes such as kickboxing, zumba (a Latin cardio–dance inspired class,) sports agility, total body conditioning, hip-hop, strength and stretching. Once a month, they have Kids Night Out. On a Saturday night from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., kids get together for a fitness party that includes a workout, a healthy meal, nutrition games and the parents get a few hours out on the town! “Fit-tastic” Summer Day Camps, Whole Body Cooking Classes, and a Healthy Fun Fair are among the special summertime activities. 332-5486 or www.fitwize4kids.com.
 Ben Franklin Crafts will be holding one-hour kids’ craft classes this summer. The Midlothian Turnpike location will offer classes at 1pm and 3pm Monday-Thursday (contact other locations for schedules). Crafts include: felt animal puppets, t-shirt art, sky flier kites, photo frames, and a special 2-hour scrapbook class. Prices range from $5-$12 and include all supplies and instruction. www.bf-crafts.com.
 Color Me Mine, a paint your own ceramics studio in Short Pump, offers over 400 pottery styles, 60 paint colors, and a studio fee of $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under, with no reservation required. Between July 1st and August 8th, enter the “Give a Dog a Bowl” contest, where you can purchase and paint a dog bowl and win a gift certificate to Color Me Mine, if your work is chosen. 804-364-0180 or www.richmond.colormemine.com.
 Great Wolf Lodge, a first-class year-found resort, offers a 79,000 square-foot indoor entertainment area, featuring a water park (there’s also a spacious outdoor pool for the summer months), two-themed family restaurants, a 100+ game arcade, a gift emporium, and an animated Great Clock Tower in the Grand Lobby. 300,000 gallons of fun for the entire family. 800-551-WOLF or www.greatwolf.com.
 Schoodio is a revolutionary art studio for children. Owned and operated by a mother and daughter team, who enjoy sharing their knowledge and love for the arts with children, Schoodio’s goal is to help children gain confidence and experience the joy of creative freedom. Art supplies range from basic paints and pastels to exotic saffron sprigs. On Thursdays from 3:00-4:00 and Saturdays from 1:00-3:00 come by for “open art”, where you may drop off your children or stay and watch them create in the studio. 804-502-1067 or www.schoodio.com.
 The Little Gym provides children from 4 months to 12 years with non-competitive, motor skill development programs, such as movement and music, gymnastics, sports skills, dance, cheerleading and karate, all taught by trained instructors in a fun, safe and nurturing environment. Specially themed summer and holiday camps are also available for ages 3-12. www.thelittlegym.com.
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