Richmond Virginia About This Page:

[crystalloubear]

Dh and I are road tripping the first weekend in May to Richmond - seems there's a NASCAR race there Anyway, we've been to Richmond for the races once before and only really got to the race oriented stuff. This time we are staying downtown at the Jefferson Hotel. I was looking at Richmond's tourism website and it looks like there's lots to see. We'll only really have Thursday all day and maybe a couple hours Friday and Saturday. Anyone have any must sees? I saw a place called Maymont that looked interesting. DH saw that Wednesday night there's a Weird Al concert in town

[Chrissi]

Weird Al is playing in Stroudsburg in a few weeks, too. Sadly, I don't know much about Richmond other than we always stop there at a Sheetz gas station. Really tidy ladies room.

[JoanW]

Don't stop in Ashland (one of the exits on 95 before Richmond) to eat or get gas. They add a whopping 10% tourism tax on stuff plus the state tax of 4.5%. We ate at the Cracker Barrel there and they added an additonal 10% tax to our dinner and the junk we bought in the gift shop.

[Straitlover]

All I can tell you for sure about Richmond is it smells. Well, it did the times I've driven thorugh it. It was either the river or the cigarette factories. Either way, it stunk! It's not too far from Busch Gardens Williamsburg if you wnat to make a side trip!

Originally Posted by JoanW

Don't stop in Ashland

OT/useless trivia - my family lived in Ashland when I wss born in '65. I was actually born in Richmond (guess Ashand doesn't/didn't have a hospital??? I was still a baby when we moved). Remember the gas station in Ashland where the DC snipers killed someone? My mother said that was about a block from where we lived. And the big truck stop that's across the street from Kings Dominion in Doswell is where my mother worked (obviously KD wasn't there in '65 and the truck stop was smaller ).

[BeachBabyBongo]

I'm originally from Oregon, but have lived in Richmond for about 8 years. In the whole 8 years I have been a residence, I have never noticed a bad smell in or around the city??!! It's a pretty amazing place because of the rich history. The people are really very nice and being a Yankee, I find the southern culture charming.

Here's a little blurb from the website Learning More About Richmond:

"As the capital of Virginia and one of America's most historic cities, Richmond has been called the "perfect blend of old and new." Today, Richmond is a thriving cosmopolitan center, offering a wealth of cultural, business, entertainment and educational possibilities. Sightseers can set out on a leisurely cruise along the scenic James River. And history buffs can attend a re-enactment of Patrick Henry's ‘Give me liberty or give me death' speech at St. John's Church or venture back to the Civil War at Richmond National Battlefield Park, which draws in 200,000+ people annually. Other popular sites include Hollywood Cemetery, Monument Avenue and the Museum of the Confederacy. As for historic houses, Berkeley Plantation was home to Declaration of Independence signer (and Virginia Governor) Benjamin Harrison and his son, President William Henry Harrison; and Maymont is the only fully intact Victorian estate in the country. Just a short drive away you'll find Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Colonial Williamsburg." Richmond Travel Guide: Things to do in Richmond, VA - 10Best

I recommend - St. John's Church, Hollywood Cemetery, Monument Ave., Pamplin Park, and for more of a full day thing definitely Monticello.


Have a great trip!!

[Handyman]

The smell you are referring to is a water treatment plant on I-95 just south of Richmond. It also happens to be close to Philip Morris..

Maymont park is kinda cool, nothing like AK, but its a nice way to spend the afternoon.. There's also Lewis Genter botanical gardens.. But since you are staying downtown, you might look up the Civil War museum.. and there are a few battlefields around too..