This summer brought an unprecedented amount of travel for DG & me, but we were traveling separately for work. Â So, we decided to take a weekend trip to Richmond, Virginia for a change of scenery right before we head back into another school year. Â We picked Richmond because we heard great things about their food scene & it was a pretty short drive (around 2.45 hours). Â Neither of us went in with any real plans, other than our lodging & white water rafting reservations.
Now, I told you that I’d always keep it real here, so, here you go. Â Full disclosure. Â When we arrived, I wasn’t sure we were going to stay. Â We used Air BnB for lodging, and we were not pleased with the place we booked. Â Major kudos to Air BnB’s customer service for being so quick to help us and for providing us with a better than satisfactory solution. Â This, however, left us with lodging temporarily. Â We decided to give the Hotel Tonight app a try (use code MEGRANT3 for $25 off your first booking). Â I can’t say enough good things about our experience and we were able to stay in a historic inn. Â What started out as a rocky beginning, turned into a fun adventure, and a nice reminder for me not to take plans so seriously.
We stayed at the adorable Linden Row Inn which has the best courtyards & porches. Â It was a unique hotel and I highly recommend if you are visiting Richmond. Â DG & I did have to check out on Saturday morning because Linden Row Inn was booked solid, but when the inn got an opening, they called us and we stayed in an even cuter room with a gorgeous view of the courtyards. Â The customer service at Linden Row Inn was fantastic, and the location was great for the places we decided to explore.
And as for things to do, here’s a snapshot of what we did while visiting Richmond, Virginia.
Places to Eat
Kitchen on Cary We had pork rinds & pimiento cheese for an appetizer.  DG ordered the bacon wrapped meat loaf and crabcake sandwich.  Really great food!
Postbellum The soft pretzel with pub cheese is on point.  And I ordered another crabcake, but this time with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.  Oh, and truffle fries.  Remember, I do barre so I can eat all the calories.
Things to Do
Canal Boat Tour: This was a last minute decision and we’re both really glad we did this 40 minute tour. Â It was fun to see the city from a different perspective. Â Our tour guide was really knowledgeable and it was about ten degrees cooler out on the water.
Virginia State Capitol: I love that this building is from 1788 and designed by Thomas Jefferson. Â Even more interesting, it is oldest operating legislative building in the Western Hemisphere. Â So, you know my inner history nerd was geeking out. Â There are also some really cool statues to famous Virginians on the beautiful grounds. Â The Capitol is open to the public 7 days a week.
Maymont Park: I could spend an entire post talking about Maymont Park. Â There is so much to see on these grounds and we spent our afternoon here when we arrived. Â There are various animals on the grounds, like bald eagles, a black bear, and bison to name a few. Â The Gilded Age home is absolutely stunning and the Japanese and Italian gardens are also impressive. Â We really enjoyed our time here and would definitely recommend it. Â Definitely wear comfortable walking clothes and shoes, and bring water to stay hydrated.
White Water Rafting: We went with Riverside Outfitters on our trip and had the best time. Â We made friends with a couple who lived in Richmond and were white water rafting for their first time, too. Â Austin, our guide, was seriously awesome and so much fun! Â If you get a chance to go, use this company and ask for him as your guide. Â You won’t regret it! Â Hands down, this was our favorite part of the trip.
Historic St. John’s Church: This is the church where Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech. Â In the summer, there are re-enactments of the famous speech. Â See the website for a schedule of remaining events this summer.
Richmond is definitely a cute city with lots of things to offer; most noteworthy, white water rafting in the middle of a city!
xx
Linking up with Jenn & Jessi today for What’s Hap-pinning!
I have only passed through Richmond but have never spent any time there… looks like a great town to visit! And white water rafting is definitely on my bucket list!!
Ah how fun! You were only 30 minutes from me! 🙂 happy Wednesday friend! Xo
What a fun getaway (minus the bad start)! We tagged along on a work trip a year ago, but with kids we did the children’s museum (it was just a day’s visit). Maymont Park looks amazing!
Your pictures turned out so pretty. Looks like it was a beautiful day there. I have a friend who lives in Virgina that I really hope to see someday. I’ve talked about going up there to visit here eventually. White water rafting sounds like a blast. Would you recommend that location for begginers?