another awesome childrens museum - a lot of fun was had by all. loved the water area my kids were…read moreso happy to cool off. we were extra excited for the carousel. my 2 year old was initially terrified and didnt want to get on, but ended up loving it. we also loved the pain area where they kids painted glass and then helped it get washed off

This museum is part of Bank of America Museum On Us. You can enter for free at the first weekend of…read morethe month if you are a cardholder. Many make believe stations like hospital, news station, car shop etc. Also water play and an indoor carousel (separated tix, only 4 times per hour, disinfect afterwards). Definitely a great place for family and kids to explore. Easily to spend half of a day there. Parking is free (?) at their garage.

I had an incredible time at the Chesterfield County Fair last night! I went with my fiancé and a…read morefriend. We decided to do an engagement photoshoot at the fair for some unique photos. They allowed me to bring in my camera, but know that you can only bring in clear bags or small purses. Entry for adults was $12. We went on a Wednesday around 8pm. On weeknights they are open until 11pm. I had really low expectations and was pleasantly surprised, this fair was amazing! We stayed until closing. We caught the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack show which was a bit cheesy, but still fun. We then caught an incredible circus show with acrobats, stuntmen, and more. We were in awe after their performances. We got a lot of fun photos on the rides and at one of the games. We had fun riding the merry go round and the ferris wheel. In between rides we got a really yummy fried cheesecake. We played my favorite fair game, the water race. Everyone who worked the fair was extremely kind. It was such a nostalgic and fun evening. We closed our evening with some hot dogs and fried oreos. The fair is great fun for all ages! Like most fairs and carnivals, do know that it can get expensive with games, rides, and food, but it's a blast. Their is free parking right across the street from the main entrance. There were women and men restrooms in indoor spaces. They even had fair prize winners on display in certain rooms. I loved this fair and can't wait to go again next year.

As long as I've lived in Richmond, I can't believe this was my first time to the CCF…read more Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. Primarily because it's so small! Not a lot of rides. Not a lot of vendors. Not a lot of games. Not a lot of food options. Long, slow lines to get in. We two adults and three kids managed to have a fun time regardless. I liked the butterfly exhibit. Appreciated the clean bathrooms in the exhibit area. Convenient parking at L.C. Bird right across the street. If you're going to ride rides, find your wristband for half price ($12.50) online or... we got ours at a bank. It'll still cost you $10 (adults) to just get in. Doubtful I go again, but it does seem like a fun place to be if you live nearby. It felt like a small, community event.

This is a cute neighborhood celebration. There's a nice selection of local crafters, live music, a…read moreflea market inside Fox Elementary School and just a fun day of hanging out in the Fan. There's also some delicious strawberry shortcake for sale. This probably isn't an event where you'd spend the whole day, but it's a nice hour or two of fun. The last time I went I got some cool wall art from a local potter. There are also some kid-focused tents and activities.

The 31st Strawberry Street Festival kicks off in 2010 on May 8th from 12 noon to 4:30 pm. It is a…read moregathering to help raise funds for PTA funded programs such as grade level tutoring, Theatrix, Arts In Education, Spanish and Music. This elementary school is a classic and one of the best in the city. There is a Flea Market, Silent Auction, Raffle, Art Market, rides, food, and games. The vendors here are always amazing and I have always found something to buy. Prices are affordable and it is an amazing event for kids and adults alike. One of my favorite in Richmond events.

My 5 year old son is a train enthusiast, so we find random train museums to visit. Lots to learn…read morehere and price of admission is very fair (adults $10 and 6 and below free. I forgot the other prices). The staff was so knowledgeable and friendly. Lots of reading and learning. Train table for the kids. Great model train set up!

Great spot for some train history! The volunteers were super nice and informative. Nice way to…read morespend an hour.

Maymont decks the halls of the Dooley mansion during the Christmas holiday season, complete with…read moreVictorian decorations and a tree, as well as a faux feast that you might have been offered in the 19th century. There are some tour guides who aren't particularly child-friendly. I took my nephew, Joe, who is a very well-behaved teenager on the tour and the older man who was our guide, kept an eagle eye on him and kept saying "Don't touch anything" even though we were nowhere near anything to begin with. In addition to the holiday house tour, there are moonlight tours of the park, carriage rides, wreath-making workshops, and a St. Nick party for the kids with refreshments. There is a small charge for each special activity ($3-$5) but it's worth it.

I visited the Dooley mansion at Maymont for the first time during the holidays. I heard others…read morecomment that the mansion is less impressive when it is not decorated for Christmas. The house is certainly impressive with a lot of art work inside. I wish I had more time to linger in the dining room to see the menu of a typical Christmas day dinner. Our tour guide took us around the two floors over about 45 minutes and could answer questions to the best of her ability. Something are just unknown as most of the paper trail related to the mansion was burned to protect the family's privacy. Most impressive is the charity of the Dooley's. Suggested donation of $5. There is also a museum portion of the "downstairs" which many people commented was like Downton Abbey. Interesting for those who have a history bug. For others it may be a little boring.

Richmond's Pride may not be comparable to celebrations in San Francisco or D.C., but that's okay…read more VA PrideFest is a low-key, inclusive, family-friendly event celebrating love and openness that the whole community can enjoy. It's a breath of fresh air to have an event where everyone is so friendly and you know that you are accepted and that you belong. There's something incredibly powerful being surrounded by crowds of happy people who may not know you, but support you and who you are. Past Prides have included live music, drag and dance performances, awards presentations, speeches from local activists and community leaders, food trucks, full bars, vendors, and activities for kids and kids at heart. You can come just to enjoy the atmosphere and a bite to eat, as well as learn about the local LGBTQ scene and resources available to the community, from health services and STD testing, counseling and safe spaces, to social clubs and organizations to meet like-minded people. The one downside with holding the event in the city is that parking can be a nightmare, and it's not always the most accessible for those with mobility challenges. I strongly recommend carpooling or using a ride sharing service that can drop you off at the entrance (with the added bonus of having a designated driver!).

When your 17-year-old daughter requests your presence at an event, you must go, right?…read more Not that it's a burden. I'm a screaming liberal and believe in equality across the board. My empathy kicks in and I want everyone to feel welcomed, included and valued. I hadn't thought about going to PrideFest. I feel like id be a heterosexual crashing the party, but that wasn't my experience at all. I felt completely comfortable and welcomed. Thank you Richmond for being so inclusive. As a child of the 80s, I feel like we were on the verge of being really open and inclusive, but we weren't quite there. Thanks to my daughter's generation for taking it across the finish line. PrideFest was a wonderful celebration of humanity and acceptance. Thank you for being you and for allowing me to being me. Love and acceptance is what matters in this messed up world. Keep loving and fighting for each other, Richmond. That will make us the most proud in the long run. If you haven't gone to PrideFest, go. #noregrets #loveisbiggerthananythinginthisworld.

It's the end of 2020, and I'd say most of us need some extra cheer in our lives right about now…read more Fortunately, Lewis Ginter didn't cancel their annual holiday lightfest, but this year was certainly different than years' past with lots of pandemic precautions in place. I had visited once prior in 2017 and enjoyed the experience, but what I recall from that visit was that the garden was mobbed and the parking lot was insane. We had to park in a subdivision across the street and run across the street/try not to get hit by cars on Lakeside Ave. that year. And last year, I tried to bring my mom so she could experience it too. But we were stuck in an hour+ line at the Lakeside Ave. to make a left, and then as we got close, the police wouldn't let us turn left randomly. I was pretty upset to say the least and actually had an exchange with someone at Lewis Ginter after I direct messaged them about the incident, and they offered free tickets. I never took them up on it, though. Just went to the Norfolk lights instead the next night. This year was much more limited in terms of how many tickets were sold, plus there were staggered entry times. We were able to park right in the front row near the entrance, which is off to the left side this year. There's one entrance and one exit. We arrived within our half-hour window and showed the tickets to a clerk behind glass. Masks are rightfully required to be worn at all times while on their grounds, which I appreciated as a rule (though of course some people didn't listen - eye roll). We arrived at twilight (5 pm) and that turned out well for photos. I was able to get some in both twilight and total darkness. And with less people at the garden, it was easier to snap photos of the displays without others walking into view (though that did happen a few times). This year is all outdoors (so no big tree inside). The treehouse is also blocked off. They offer hot drinks and some food items, but I didn't buy any. With an hour-limit for the visit, we just made it through in the allotted time. Surprisingly, the gift shop was open. I was actually surprised by that, but I guess they need to boost their sales. Hand sanitizer was available upon entry. The tickets themselves were also pretty pricy for nonmembers like myself. And I attended on a value night, so I'm glad I visited when I did. Hopefully by next year, the pandemic will be a thing of the past, but I do see it being helpful if they continue with the timed entries, online ticket purchases, and limiting the amount of visitors to what the parking lot can hold.

Awesome fun event to do if you have small kids who enjoy lights my daughter is eight. She had a…read moreblast. Everything was mesmerizing.

A friend and I stumbled onto this church on a recent trip to the Church Hill neighborhood. Neither…read moreof us grew up in VA, and we were both surprised to learn that this was the famous "Give me liberty or give me death" church. We didn't take a tour, but we enjoyed walking the grounds and looking at all of the old tombstones. I'd definitely take a tour the next time I'm in the area.

The spark to the American Revolution and subsequent independence started here, with the immortal…read morewords of Patrick Henry, surrounded by George Washington Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and others. Great tour. They also do reenactments on the weekends. Although the church continues to run with a congregation, it is also home to the foundation that raises money to maintain it, run reenactments, and educate the public. Our tour guide, Betty, did an amazing job of explaining some of the history to us. We are also fortunate enough to meet the Foundation director, Who explained a bit of history as well. Well worth a visit.