I came to Richmond for the week for a work trip and had some free time so I wanted to check out…read moresome Civil War stuff. Richmond is an amazing city with a rich and vibrant history, so you should make your way here! I was too late to go inside but the exterior oozed history. I could picture the South's generals huddled inside trying to plan their next move. It's a bit weird to see this relic in the heart of the medic district but fitting for such A city.

I had no idea this was here until my friend indicated he wanted to come here, so quite a neat find!…read more While you will need the patience of a saint to get the parking down (park in the big hospital lot and get parking validation inside the museum), everything else about this visit was excellent. We had a great tour and a very personalized one since only three guests (including my friend and I) were on the tour. The white house of the confederacy is full of history and our guide provided a ton of background on Jefferson Davis and his family, which was particularly cool since I had recently gone with my parents to the historical naval base where he was held prisoner for several years after the end of the civil war. The furnishings were very beautiful and nicely maintained, amazing how often these estates of antiquity had to sell their things to make ends meet and then organizations have to chase them down later to bring everything back together. Still, very cool to be in the rooms where so much history was made. It's so unusual for such an important part of history to be surrounded by hospital buildings, though that is the nature of Richmond: a whole lot of stories in a relatively compact region. Lucky to have been able to learn a bit more about it here! Overall: 4.5 stars ----- Pros: - Excellent tour guide who clearly had made a study of the many features of the house and its former occupants. - White house and its furniture were in beautiful shape, clearly the organization is doing a great job keeping everything maintained. - Price for the tour wasn't too bad considering you get a personalized tour for it. Cons: - The parking situation here is a pain but doable if you plan ahead.

If you live in Richmond, Gather is a real hike. This combination art gallery, boutique and…read moreboxed-lunch spot is waaaay out in Midlothian. It's housed in an old general store that the owners fixed up for business. The atmosphere here is elegant meets shabby chic. It's one of the stores where the inventory is so cool and well displayed, it makes me want to buy something and take a little piece of the store's feeling home with me. You'll find cool plates and glasses, antiques, designer purses and other fun stuff. The owner also sells her landscape paintings here. It's worth planning the drive for some cool shopping. On one occasion I got my mom some really beautiful hand-blown juice glasses. Each one was different, but they made a lovely set. And I got about 6 glasses for something like $35. Not bad. Along with the store, there's a pretty patio and the owner sells boxed lunches. The menu is online. There's usually some sandwiches for sale, but you can also call and place a specific order by 4 p.m. the day before you want to go for lunch. I've never eaten here, I've only shopped, so I can't comment on the food either way. I can say I do love shopping in the store and will go back for gifts...be they for others or me!

I want to live here. The owner is an artist and her paintings are a focal point, but she has that…read morecreative eye that can combine traditional pieces, kitschy finds, shabby chic, and modern crafts and it all flows colorfully and seamlessly. When I try this at home, it looks like I'm having a yard sale in my living room. It's not really that far if you hop on the Powhite...I don't know why Richmonders think going to Midlothian is like traveling to another country. Of course, I spend a lot of time in that part of the city since I have family there. It's a great place for gifts, especially for somebody who already has everthing, because there are a lot of one-of-a-kind things to wear or home accessories. I love the colorful cowboy hats and always see dishes or glasses I would like to have, but I've put a moratorium on buying stuff like that until I can afford a big hutch or china cabinet. I haven't ever had lunch there, but there's a really cute patio area so it looks like it would be a fun place to take a break from a hard day of shopping (or hunter-gathering as I like to think of it). I wouldn't call this an inexpensive place...more mid-range or pricing like you would expect in a Carytown boutique.

I love this museum! The building itself is an architectural beauty which opened in 2018 with…read morenationwide recognitio.. Bright, open space with multiple floors to explore. The museum features contemporary art....very unique and thought provoking works. It is a noncollecting contemporary art museum, so note, the exhibits change multiple times a year It is relatively small, so depending on time to take to enjoy each piece, you could see the whole place in 1-2 hrs. There is a small Cafe and gift shop. Restrooms on multiple floors, with an elevator and stairs. Small rooftop garden too! Free admission. Some events require registration

I always enjoy a visit to ICA. I typically go during an event so I can also interact with other…read morelocal artists. There are 3 main floors, including an auditorium for speakers/viewings and a balcony. It's free, so worth a visit if you like contemporary art, or like to get lost in public local spaces (like me).

If you're into history and/or call Virginia home, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is worth…read morea visit. Open every day from 10am-5pm, tickets are between $8 and $12 with children five and under free. Located next to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is inside a historic building erected to commemorate the Confederacy. Now it's a museum honoring all Virginians, regardless of background. Here's why you should visit: 1) Entrance: There's a large parking lot near the main entrance. Walk inside and you'll see a well-designed cafe that serves local coffee and food, a bookstore with books and products from Virginia, restrooms, and the ticket area. Staff are helpful and the entire space is kept clean. 2) Exhibits: Start with the 15-minute film about the history of Virginia starting 16,000 years ago to today. It's worth the time. Then explore the exhibit halls where you can find art, artifacts like letters George Washington wrote, and more. One exhibit walks through history of Virginia from 16,000 to present day. Another honors all five regions of Virginia. Another talks about the original murals in the building and another showcases art of Virginia. Little rooms are filled with more exhibits displaying some of the 9,000,000 objects in their collection. There's even an area for kids to play in a little market, try on colonial clothes, and more. Interactive exhibits are part of every room. 3) Experience: It's not an overwhelming museum, but you can easily spend a few hours seeing most items and reading most displays. I learned a lot!

Not sure what I was expected, but I was sorely disappointed with this museum. The fee is $12 and I…read morefeel I spent about 12 minutes in there, so one dollar for every moment spent? Idk, I didn't feel that price tag was worth it. The history and culture wasn't presented in a way I thought captured my attention, nor made me want to retain said information or learn more. Save your $$$ and go to the VMFA which is right there, amazing, and free.

What a great experience it was visiting this center with my 96 year old mom today. Mom is Slovak…read moreand was enchanted by the Czech-Slovak displays especially. The highlight of our trip was a personally guided tour by Ms. Frye (not sure of that name). She was so knowledgeable and guided us through each of the exhibits enriching the experience with her own personal insights and pertinent facts. We have so much to thank her mom for too and it is worth the trip just to see her mom's watercolors and drawings as well as her extensive fossil collection. The Heritage Center is a hidden gem well worth a special trip.

This is such a beautiful amphitheater. I had never been to this part of Byrd Park until recently…read morewhen I saw Plunky and the Oneness play there. Dogwood Dell holds a free concert series during the summer and music genres of all kinds are on the itinerary. There is no charge to attend and it is a great way to spend a balmy summer night. Plunky is a RVA legend so the show was amazing and he packed the theater. It was one of the best live shows I had seen in awhile and it was free! The area is so nice and quite large. No dogs are allowed in Dogwood Dell so leave your fury friends at home. My friend had to take her dog home and come back. I would definitely recommend getting there early so you can have your pick of seats. You can be simple and bring a blanket or go all out and bring a romantic picnic. I brought a nice portable chair, blanket and a small cooler of refreshments. I got there early enough to get my pick of where I wanted to sit. Vendors set up around the area as well so you can purchase food and drinks if you did not bring your own. Be sure to bring bug spray! The bathrooms were under renovation so there were tons of port a potties on the premises when I went. I think normally there are regular restrooms. I would bring wipes or a roll of toilet paper just in case. I can't wait to come back to Dogwood Dell to enjoy a night under the stars listening to fantastic music!

The VA War Memorial at the Carillon was the Secret Location for this year's Diner en Blanc. It was…read morea lovely location for a joyous & community centered event.

If you like historical places you will love violet bank and I can't say enough about the niceness…read moreof the staff. Great place to visit!

We so enjoyed our visit to the Visitor's Center. Both staff members were great fun. Nona was…read moreknowledgable, witty, and had lots of valuable information about the history of the area. We took a walk inside the building to view Confederate money, an old vault for the bank, and a printing press. What we took away form the experience was a deep appreciation for learning more about the surrounding area. We talked about local breweries, museums, and fun destinations throughout Petersburg and Richmond. This is a good destination for newbies, but be aware that there is another sign for a Visitor's center which isn't at the current address. The physical address you want is 19 Bollingbrook St.