5 Reasons to Try Fit4Mom Southwest Chesapeake

I love Fit4mom. I found this group about a year after having my first child, and I always say that my first summer would have been so different if I had known about Strides then. It's an organization created by moms, for moms, to provide Strength In Motherhood. Within the organization, Fit4mom offers a variety of workouts, ranging from prenatal to postnatal, but here are some of my favorite reasons why you should try out a class.  

01. Meet other moms: Fit4mom offers moms a village. Personally, I've had a meal train created from this village when my dad died and when I had my second baby. I frantically found a see-through backpack when I needed one, gotten a variety of hand me down baby items, and found solace in venting to friends. 

02. Moms' Night Out: Part of being in the tribe is taking care of yourself and getting some time away. Fit4mom has monthly moms' night out, either at someone's house or around town. Fit4Mom Southwest Chesapeake has done things like meeting at Big Ugly Brewery, coming to a comedy show together, and we are about to brave canoeing and kayaking together at Northwest River Park. Next month they are visiting the Haunting at Greenbrier Farms, and you can join! 

03. Playgroups: Three days a week there are free playgroups after Strides class. These range from make and take crafts, sensory bins, games, and more. Let them do the work planning the activity, and bring your kiddo for some social fun. 

04. First Class Free: While the first class is always free, right now Fit4mom of Southwest Chesapeake is offering an entire free week of Stroller Strides. They are launching at new locations, and each Stroller Strides class has a playgroup after. 

05. A Great Workout: It doesn't matter if you're attending Stroller Strides or Stroller Barre with your kiddo, or Body Boost without your kid, you'll be getting a great workout with Fit4mom. All classes focus on strength, cardio, and core and will challenge, push, and empower you. Your new friends will help hold you accountable. 

Exciting news - This week Fit4mom is giving away a free whole week of Stroller Strides, with a daily playgroup. Stroller Strides is a mom and child workout, with a focus on strength, cardio, and core. Instructors will help engage the kiddos while you work out in between your strolls. 

September 23: Chesapeake City Park with a handprint fall playgroup-9:30

September 26: Mount Trashmore park with Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin Playgroup-9:30

September 27: City View Park with Apple Painting Playgroup-9:30

September 28: Western Branch Park with Bubbles Bonanza Playgroup-9:30

September 29: Deep Creek Park with Parachute Playgroup-9:30

September 30: Northwest River Park with Ring Toss Game Playgroup-9:30

Apple Picking at Cullipher Farms

Located in Pungo, Cullipher Farms is a family farm that is run by seventh generation farmers. In addition to the store, there is a play area and options for Upick fruits and vegetables. Right now you can pick apples, with no admission fee, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there is an admission fee of $5 per person to visit the farm. To pick apples it is $2.99 a pound. Throughout the farm they have several varieties of apples. Right now Enterprise, Evercrisp, Pink Lady, and Gold Rush are ready. The apple trees are smaller, which makes them a great height for kids to pick. Also ready on the property are grapes. 

At other times in the year, you can pick strawberries, blueberries, sunflowers, peaches, grapes, and pumpkins. The market is open everyday but Monday from 9:00-6:00. There is a free play area located behind the market and some animals to visit with. 

Higher Vision Studios

Located in the KempsRiver Shopping Center, Higher Vision Studios offers Ninja Warrior obstacle courses, martial arts, gymnastics, summer and schools out day camps, and birthday parties. Party options include glow in the dark Nerf wars/ snowball fights, and bounce house and obstacle course. The facility is 4,000 square feet and holds lots of kids, but their calendar does fill quickly. 

Higher Vision Studios is a local and family business, named in honor of their son's miraculous cancer survival. They run a foundation, Shine Time, which offers scholarships to Higher Vision Studios as well.

Classes begin at age 3 with Little Ninjas and range to teen and adult kickboxing. 

Week Long Itinerary

I've gotten questions this summer about how we afford everything that we do. Although we have the discount page, and I've written posts about free places to take kids, I still get the question a lot. I've written up a sample itinerary of a week for the stay at home parents, now that bigger kiddos are back in school. 

Monday: Head to Cova for Mini Monday. With your purchase of an adult drink, your kiddo will get a free mini muffin, lemonade, and a craft. Let them play outside, then head to one of the many parks in and around Ocean View and let them play for free. If you still have time, checkout Pretlow Library. 

Tuesday: Start the day at the Hermitage Museum. Pack a snack and walk the grounds overlooking the water. Walk inside and view the museum with the bribe of the playground afterward. Once you can't stand the heat, head to the Barry Art Museum on ODU's campus. 

Wednesday: Grab a dollar, and head to the Mariner's Museum in Newport News. For just a dollar per person you can soak up the A.C., look at tons of boats, and play at their nature site. Take a walk on the Noland trail. 

Thursday: Checkout Hike It Baby! Now free, joining Hike It Baby lets you access hikes led by members all over Hampton Roads. 

Friday: Head to Hampton's Bluebird Gap Farm. See animals, walk through the gardens, then play on the playground. Bring a picnic lunch and eat at the tables. Walk, bike, or drive over to Air Power Park to checkout the planes and space ships.

Saturday: Weekends at Hickory Ridge Farm have barrel train rides and food trucks, but the play area is always free. Grab a quick snack from the farm stand and eat it on your way to the close by Historic Greenbrier Farms.  Swing on the tire swing, jump on the bounce houses, and let kids pet the animals.

Sunday: Take the family out to Pungo and hit the Jerassic Park. Grab the scavenger hunt and find those dinosaurs.