Richmond (Virginia) Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Richmond is a city in Virginia, a state in the South of the United States of America.
Contents |
Districts
Richmond has been called a city of neighborhoods, each one with a distinct look, flavor, and identity. All are recognized by Richmonders as unique neighborhoods, almost as though the city were a collection of several small towns.
- Central The area includes The Fan, Carytown and the Museum District.
- Downtown Includes Shockoe (split into Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe Slip), Jackson Ward and Tobacco Row.
- West End
- Southside
- Northside
- Southwest
- East End
Understand
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was settled in 1607 by an English settler named Christopher Newport. The site previously inhabited by the Powhatan Indians. It was named Richmond after the London suburb of Richmond-upon-Thames. The settlement did not become a city until 1742, and in the 135 years in between served as little more than a trading post for furs, hides, and tobacco. In 1782 Richmond became the state capital of Virginia.
Richmond is one of the oldest American cities, and boasts history that even other cities on the east coast cannot claim. The Shockoe Bottom entertainment area is where slave rebellion leader Gabriel had his head hung from a pike. During the Civil War, it served as the capital of the Confederacy, and when the Northern Army invaded Richmond, most of the city burned when local residents started fires to burn records and the fires got out of control. The solders from the Union helped to put out the fires upon their arrival and the day after the city fell Abraham Lincoln made a visit to the city. Though much of its colonial past has disappeared, it is rich in Civil War history and lore. There is, among other things, a Civil War prison site on Belle Isle, the house Robert E. Lee lived in, the state Capitol (Which Thomas Jefferson said was inspired by the Maison Carrée at Nimes, France) which served as the Confederate Capitol during the war, a museum of the Confederacy, and a massive Civil War graveyard in the heart of the city. It has the most forged iron outside of New Orleans, and one of the first African American neighborhoods (Jackson Ward).
Get in
By car
Richmond is about two hours south of Washington (D.C.) by car, located directly on Interstate 95. Interstate 64 also crosses Richmond, where the two highways intersect. Access from Chesterfield and Midlothian is provided by VA 76, the Powhite (pronounced POW-hite) Parkway.
By train
Two Amtrak train stations serve Richmond. Main Street station is a recently renovated station, located in the heart of the downtown. Staples Mills station is a bit farther away, and a taxi will need to be taken to the city itself. Travellers should be warned that CSX's ACCA rail yard, a major freight hub, substantially slows rail traffic entering and exiting the city.
By plane
An international airport, RIC, is located in nearby Sandston, about an $18 taxi trip. Chesterfield Airport, to the south of the city, handles personal light aircraft.
By bus
Get around
The easiest way to get around Richmond is by car. Roadside parking spaces are relatively easy to find. The city is laid out on a grid system and is easy to navigate, however, many streets in the oldest parts of the city are very narrow and one-way.
The Greater Richmond Transit Company, or GRTC, operates a bus service across the city and partially into neighboring Henrico and Chesterfield Counties. The average fare is $1.25.
See
- Belle Isle. In the middle of the James River, this island includes a mountain-biking trail. Fans of the movies Cold Mountain, Hannibal, and The Jackel may recognize the area. It offers great views of the falls and the river, but be wary of copperheads, which abound on the island.
- The Historic Downtown. The cobblestoned Bottom area is rich in history, and well-worth the trip, if only to see one of the many Edgar Allen Poe houses in the Northeast. Though much of the area was washed out during Hurricanes Isabel and Gaston, the rebuilding continues.
- Maymont Park. A wealthy landowner donated his estate to the city, and Richmond turned it into one of the most beautiful urban parks in the nation. Fountains, italianate gardens, and a Japanese tea garden are a pleasure to walk through. The nature center here is all-encompassing and free, and its exhibits on Virginia Wildlife include two otters who are glad to show off for visitors. Gray foxes, red-tailed hawks, and other exhibits are located outside. Kids like the farm area, where sheep, lambs, chickens, and other sundry animals are exhibited.
- Monument Avenue Features monuments of the Civil War.
- Byrd Park. There's some fishing lakes, and it abutts Maymount, but be wary of crime.
- Carytown. If you like to shop, Carytown's a must. The prices are high, but the high-end clothing, art, and antiques are worth it. Check out the restaurants while you're there - some of the best eateries in Richmond, from the low-end Galaxy Diner to the Thai restaurants, make their homes in Carytown.
- Virginia Fine Arts Museum
- Virginia Science Museum
- The Children's Museum of Richmond
- Museum of the Confederacy
- Black History Museum
- State Cathedral
- The Landmark Theatre (formerly The Mosque)
- State Capitol
- Egyptian Building
- Lucky Strike Factory
- Hollywood Cemetery. It's in the middle of town, and Presidents Taylor, Tyler, and Monroe have their final resting places here. So does the locally renowned Jefferson Davis, and it's worth the trip through winding roads to see reverent Southerns laying flags on his grave. Laugh if you must, but the sobering lines of small headstones marking the mass graves of Confederate dead of sobering.
- Monument Avenue is a famous two lane street lined with monuments. Most of these are dedicated to southern heroes of the Civil War, such as Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson, but there are also people like Arthur Ashe, native of Richmond.
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Eat
Many of Richmond's fine restaurants may be found in the historic district downtown called Shockoe Bottom.
Budget
- Galaxy Diner, located in the heart of Carytown, is a throwback to the 50's with a funky Richmond twist. The theme is "B SciFi", but the food is "A-", that is, not great, but pretty good for the price. Burgers, shakes, and fries of course, but also some good veggie offerings (my favorite is the Portabella Burger) and their unique fried pickle. A fun place for the family, and convenient to the eclectic Carytown shopping district.
An alterante viewpoint of "Galaxy Diner" is that the service ranges anywhere from adequate to offensive. I would not bring my family here.
- Sidewalk Cafe, located on Main Street, just East of the Boulevard serves the best food in Richmond at a very reasonable price. The menu has a great deal of variety and daily specials are inventive. Because of its reputation, Sidewalk stays packed and a short wait may be nesecary. Don't feel railroaded into taking an uncomfortable table as the waitstaff will understand those who perfer a booth (trust me, you want a booth). For the ideal Richmond experience or simply for those who want to get their money's worth, Sidewalk is a must.
Mid-range
- Strawberry Street Cafe[1] 421 N. Strawberry St., Richmond. Wonderful.
Splurge
- Peking Chinese Restaurant[2] 1302 B Cary St., Richmond.
- The Tobacco Company[3]
Drink
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
- AmeriSuites Chester/Rivers Bend, 13148 Kingston Avenue, Tel: (804) 530-4600, [4].
- AmeriSuites Richmond/Aboretum, 201 Arboretum Place, Tel:(804) 560-1566, [5].
- AmeriSuites Richmond/Innsbrook, 4100 Cox Rd, Tel: (804) 747-9644, [6].
Splurge
Contact
Stay safe
Cope
Get out
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