I'm rating the PARK and Visitor's Center. We have been here a couple of times and we have had such a great experience at the park. Entering via the Robins Nature Center is easy peasy. Now walking the park is not necessarily for the faint of heart. Some of the walking is steep and some paths are stone or natural and one must take a modicum of care. That said there are definitely ways to get to the Japanese Garden via a longer and relatively flat pathway that is paved with blacktop. The trails are beautiful and other than an occasional train one can forget about being in the middle of the city. We are interacted with the staff at the nature center who were very friendly and helpful. Overall this is a beautiful place to spend a few hours, even bring a picnic lunch (please throw trash in the park bins not on the ground). Not being judgmental just reminding as we had to pick up some wayward things. I know not our job. Great place! read more

Absolutely beautiful gardens and cute farm petting area. There are other things to do there like visit the mansion and other wildlife centers but we did not have enough time that day. Definitely want to bring some decent walking shoes. Will definitely do again! read more

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Maymont is a special place for the city of Richmond. This park is over 100 acres and has so much to explore. The property was originally an estate owned by James Dooley and his wife. It was gifted to the city upon their death and has since remained a public space for the people of Richmond to enjoy. The park is not maintained by the city and relies on donations to operate. The suggested donation amount is $5. It's a great price considering how much tMaymont has to offer. There are plenty of trails to walk, multiple gardens, a nature center, a farm, and wildlife exhibits to see. You can also see the original Victorian Mansion that was built on the estate, but there is an additional charge to tour it. This is probably the most beautiful and well-maintained park to see in Richmond. I love grabbing food and hanging out here for a picnic after walking the trails. read more

Maymont - Italian Garden at Maymont - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We came here on a Saturday and parked at the nature center parking lot. Plenty of parking here, nice little hike to the other side where the coy pond and the mansion is. I just love this place, it is a nice place for a relaxing walk and has open spaces for a picnic, to get some Vitamin D while you are walking around. So peaceful read more

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Living My Best Life...is about doing the things I enjoy, with the people I love, and creating beautiful moments that bring a lifetime of memories! Last weekend, I had the opportunity to spend quality time with my family aka "the squad" sightseeing. One of the places we checked out was the Maymont, a Victorian estate and park in Richmond, VA that contains the Maymont Mansion. We had a great time running around the park, giggling, and taking pictures. I will definitely be back because the Maymont Mansion closed early; so, we were unable to tour it. Also, the park is picturesque and a great spot for picnics in the spring. Note: The Maymont Mansion has an exhibit in the basement I want to check out called, In Service and Beyond dedicated to the African Americans that staffed the home. Also, a docudrama was released last year sharing their experiences called, "Stooping to Stand: Stories of the African American Staff of the Dooley Mansion." read more

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The family wound up here looking for something new and family-oriented in Richmond while we were down there to pick up some beer from Hardywood. This place was pretty much just the ticket with the only problem being that it was pretty hot when not sitting still in the shade. We brought a picnic lunch we picked up at a local sandwich place, then we walked in until we found a nice bench with view of the stream running through the center of the park below us and at while we watched a few Canada geese graze nearby. Then we walked along a little path by the stream and up the other side of the hill to the petting zoo, where we saw cows, sheep, goats, and ponies that made the kids happy. We also got a few moments of rest in the shade while the kids played on the (small) playground in the middd of the petting zoo. We walked back over the stream visiting a little tree with a hollow near the ground on the stream that was big enough for the kids to sit inside and a bridge worth a photo op before heading back up toward the house for a stop at the flavor-ice truck that was set up to give some respite from the heat. We sat near the elegant fountain and ate the flavor ice with an occasional breeze blowing some fountain spray on us. read more

Lovely green space with room to roam, be surrounded by nature, and meet some critters. read more

Maymont - Petting zoo - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Maymont is an absolute must-see stop while in Richmond! It is very easy to spend all day here with so much to do. I brought my 9 month old along so we did not get to see everything, but what we did see, we both really enjoyed! We started in the gardens which is free admission (donations suggested) and open from 10am-5pm. There was actually a wedding in the Italian Gardens during our visit. On a side note, what a beautiful place for a wedding! We didn't spend much time there due to the wedding so we made our way down to the Japanese Gardens. We left our stroller at the top of the hill-DEFINETELY do this because there are so many steps and a stroller is just not practical. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because there are a lot of options for climbing on rocks to get closer to the waterfalls. This garden is gorgeous and should not be missed. This would also be a nice spot for a picnic. We left for lunch as there is nowhere to eat unless you bring a picnic. We returned for the farm area. There were not a ton of animals but there were chickens, cows, donkeys, sheep, pigs, goats, and horses. We then moved onto the nature center which had lots of fish, otters, alligators, and reptiles. Don't miss the bison nearby. The animal encounters-like the bear- are far way so we skipped that as it was a lot of walking and it was 100 degrees outside. Also in the nature center is a fun kid area they can play in. The nature center has a small fee for admission. We unfortunately did not make it to the mansion or the carriage house. There is always next time because I would definitely visit again when in Richmond. read more

Maymont - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The estate and grounds are probably akin to visiting the grounds of our Gilded Age titans, Musk, Gates, Bezos, et al... That said, gorgeous views and tranquil ambiance are to be had at this historic site. A picnic would be ideal, but the solitary act of reading a book on one of the many benches also qualifies as perfection. The Japanese Gardens are surreal and quite possibly the perfect remedy for escaping the omnipresent omens of greed and racism rampant in this era, and ours. Easy parking. Enjoy. read more

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Was short on time, but was able to spend about 1-2 hours here, and got to check out the Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and walk around a bit. Didn't get to check out the zoo, unfortunately. The Maymont is huge, so clean and so beautiful. Most of all, I can't believe it's FREE! The Maymont is a true Richmond treasure. read more

Great activity for all ages! The park is huge and has a Japanese garden, lots of walking paths, animals and more. There was parking available and it was easy to find. read more

Maymont - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I came to Maymont Park's Garden Glow on 10.31.2021. My husband and I booked our tickets online for 7 P.M. We just recently moved to the area so I wasn't familiar with parking or how to get there. Google Maps provided good directions to the historic entrance. Though the parking lot was full, there was plenty of street parking available and we didn't have to walk very far at all. The lights were beautiful and the music playing was soothing. It felt like a nice break from the day to day activities. There were a couple food trucks available and there were alcoholic beverages available as well if you purchased drink tickets. Fire pits were available with seating, too. I took off one star from what was otherwise a perfect evening only because I do not think expectations were set on the difficulty of walking up and down to the Japanese garden after a few days of rain and what was a relatively crowded event. The grass was slick and due to two lanes of traffic on one pathway, it was a bit difficult to maneuver around with stable footing. I would not recommend the path down if you are not physically capable of walking downhill on uneven ground at night. There are, however, golf carts to drive you down and take you back up if you aren't able to make the walk. read more

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My wife and I love Maymont, and have been several times. It's one of our favorite picnic spots in the Richmond area! Both Coppola's Deli and Sally Bell's Kitchen are nearby and offer boxed lunches perfect for an impromptu picnic. There's a lot to explore, but our favorite area is the Japanese Garden. We also love any sort of holiday lights, so we knew we couldn't miss out on the Garden Glow they do every year. It's absolutely worth it, but be prepared for crowds and get there a little earlier than your ticket time, as parking during Garden Glow can be a challenge. read more

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This park is the jewel of the city! It is a tranquil 100 acre park, replete with rolling hills, beautiful trees, acres of outdoor animal exhibits, splendid gardens, and a Victorian mansion to tour. Maymont can really be thought of as two parks co-mingled. If you come in on the Westover entrance, you are greeted with a beautiful walk through large animal viewing areas, including deer, elk, bear, and bison. Many others. The exhibit paths lead gradually downward to the canal and river. You get your exercise walking back! If you choose to come in the Hampton Street entrance, you are in lush open grass dotted by evergreens and magnolias, leading past a large barn, the lush Italian Garden and Japanese Garden, eventually reaching the Dooley Mansion (currently closed for the pandemic, but as things open up it is a nice, short tour of a classic Victorian home.) Walking further, you gradually descend to the river and canal and meet up with the other walk in the park. Maymont is perfect for family outings and picnics, moderately challenging walks, or just getting away from the urban life. It has been the venue for events as large as the Richmond Jazz Festival and as small as private wedding ceremonies. Lots of great photo ops, and very close to Carytown, Byrd Park, Dogwood Dell, James River attractions, and downtown. Slice of tranquility. Accepts card-based donations at the entrance. read more

Very nice, love the variety the grounds offers. The animals were a great touch. The zoo was great, and the Japanese garden was stunning. Saw a lot of people struggling with strollers but the path were nice. read more

Maymont - Jumpin in japan - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Beautiful. Amazing. Serene. What an awesome surprise. I found it accidentally in Byrd Park. I am not from Richmond so it will be a staple for me. This park is for a leisurely day....even.possibly romantic if ur with the right person. read more

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A must visit when in the Richmond area. They have updated the facilities at the petting area and Maymont Farm. You can purchase a small cup of feed for $2 or use the old fashioned coin feeder dispenser. For the locals it is fun to just go hang out and take a walk now and then, but for a tourist, you will want to experience everything they have to offer, including taking a tour of the The Dooley House and visit the beautiful Japanese garden. Check out the website for the calendar of events to make sure you don't miss anything that interests you and use that to help you plan your visit. read more

This is a great place to go for a walk and look at some animals you wouldn't expect to see in a city! There are tons of walking paths. When we went everything was closed, but it was still nice to walk around. We also could look at the animals. A very unique place to visit in Richmond. I bet it would be beautiful to see in the fall or spring. read more

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Lovely 100 acre park for picnics, weddings, pictures or just a casual stroll. They have a Japanese garden with several water features. There is also an Italian garden filled with gorgeous flowers. Mansion and carriage house are among the structures on the property. It's free to explore the grounds and there is a fee to visit the mansion. read more

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Maymont is a fantastic place for everyone. From the children's farm to black bears and bald eagles. It is beautiful and fun.The Italian gardens are lovely with flowers and a trellis. This is a clean, beautiful, serene setting. You could easily spend a day or two just to see it all. read more

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Awesome park and nature center in Richmond! Maymont features a large open park space, an Italian herb garden, and a Japanese garden, all within short walking distance of each other. There's also some nature trails that wind throughout the different areas, even leading past an enclosure with two black bears! I'm in two minds about the bears; it is kinda sad to see them enclosed like that, but the enclosure has some space for them to roam around in. Any month is a good time to visit Maymont, but late-October and early-November are when you're going to see the most vibrant fall foliage in Richmond. During that time is also when Garden Glow is going on, a spectacular light show set up all throughout Maymont. Just to show you how much I like this park, my fiancee and I just did our engagement photos here! read more

Numerous marked walking trails, cute bridges, waterfalls, sculptures representing different countries, towering trees and magnificent flowers. One important note. There is no butterfly garden. There's a butterfly bush. We'd anticipated seeing them even as we planned the trip. We were informed by an employee upon entering in search of this specific spot. read more

Maymont - Breathtaking nature pic! - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Oh Maymont...I haven't visited you in 15+ years and you're even more gorgeous than I remember. Trails all over the place, hills, rough terrain trails in some spots, smooth paved trails guiding through the park & exhibits. You've gotten a face lift since I last saw you! We took our son here and really enjoyed walking all over to see the beautiful gardens, the wildlife and more. Imagine when you were a kid and you'd roll down the biggest hill....now picture that all over Maymont. These hills are so beautifully manicured that even I want to roll down them as an adult. Kids running up and down them while the parents cheer them on. This park is magnificent. From the relaxing immaculate Japanese & Italian gardens to the farm with all the animals. You may even see the horse drawn carriage during your stroll. The mansion has tours and while I can't quite remember the history behind it, I will happily take the tour next time around. This park is perfect for picnics, family/engagement/maternity photos, taking family/friends from out of town and every photographers dream. There is so much to see I don't think it can happen in a day (unless you plan to spend 5 hours there). Just be sure to wear good walking shoes, don't come in heels (you're a nut if you do)! read more

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Lovely spot to walk around and enjoy the outdoors, as well as some cool historical sights read more

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My second time touring Maymont in the past couple of months, did not disappoint. I live about an hour north of the Richmond area and had some family in from out of town from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Knowing my mom, aunt and grandmother, I knew that a day at Maymont would be just as appreciated by my family, as it was with me. An absolutely gorgeous estate, this place can be visited time after time, and still be just as impressive as the first time seeing it. At first arrival, we decided to start our tour of the grounds in the Italian Gardens, before making our way down to the cooler and more shaded Japanese Gardens. Unfortunately, due to my grandmothers limitations on walking, she could go no further than the Italian Gardens. It was unfortunate because in my humble opinion, the Japanese Gardens offer the most breathtaking views at Maymont. The day was exceptionally smoldering hot, so we decided that instead of touring the rest of the grounds, out to where the animals are, we would make our way back up the hill to the Italian Gardens, to retrieve my grandmother and tour the mansion. It was well over 100 degrees and regrettably just a humid, unpleasant day. The mansion tour is a $5.00 suggested donation. Although I did the tour more recently, I decided to tour again with my family who all found the mansion to be exquisite. Upon this second and more intimate tour (and along with a different tour guide), I found new information that I hadn't caught during my first tour. For example, did you know that it takes $12,000 a day to run Maymont, even with the many volunteers?! Astonishing to say the least, but Maymont is well cared for and a treasure for not just the Richmond area, but the State of Virginia as well. I will most certainly continue to bring my friends and family to Maymont when in town. It is most definitely a sight to see over and over again. read more

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Maymont did not disappoint! The gardens were beautiful! The home has been kept true to its time period and allows you to step back in time. The wildlife habitats are natural and plenty of space. I can't wait to come back for the glow event. read more

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This 100 acre property with a Victorian estate from 1893 is so scenic with so many areas to see including a Japanese garden, Italian garden and other formal gardens. This free public park is open 10-7. read more

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We love Maymont. Beautiful any season. We especially love their Christmas lights with their bonfires and food trucks! It's peaceful and relaxing. Definitely one of my favorite places to walk around and even have a picnic! The best part is that it's free to visit anytime. Of course, if you go during their special event during Christmas there's a fee. However, it's not expensive at all. read more

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I'm late to the party here but I finally ventured all the way to the Japanese Gardens in Maymont. Let me tell you I feel like I unlocked a new level Maymont it was breath taking. The gardens really made me feel like I was in Japan. The coy fish, the bamboo and the tranquillity of it all was just amazing. Unfortunately the waterfall was turned off. I'm not sure if this was Covid related or if someone forgot to pay the utility bill. I cannot wait to return to Marymount again hopefully the waterfall will be back on by then. read more

Maymont - Coy fish pond in the Japanese Gardens - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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For his birthday this year, I gifted my husband a Canon DSLR camera he'd been pining for all year. Naturally, the first thing he did the day after he opened the box was search for a picturesque place to try out his new toy. No idea how Maymont Park in Richmond came up at the top of his Google results, but there it was. And a few days later there we went, making the 2-hour drive on a Tuesday morning. What a lovely visit it was. Maymont is as beautiful as it is expansive, with two gardens, a historic mansion, an arboretum, wildlife exhibits, and a petting zoo wrapped into 100 acres of immaculately-kept grounds. On the day we visited, just one hour after opening time, the park was relatively empty with just a handful of joggers and small families - a win in the era of social distancing. Then again, the park is so vast that even on busy days, I imagine keeping six feet from others must be easy to achieve. As we strolled through tree-lined paths and stopped for photo ops, I couldn't help but be amazed at how such a gem is kept free of charge to the public! The park must be absolutely stunning in peak fall foliage season. But even with many of the trees beginning to lose their leaves, we couldn't deny the beauty and pure awesomeness of this place. Our favorite corner was the Japanese Garden and hubby managed to get some beautiful shots of its red maple trees and lovely creeks. We can't wait to return with our little girl for a springtime visit when everything is in bloom and to check out the petting zoo - which from the looks of it, is a very popular spot for the kiddos. read more

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Maymont is definitely my favorite place in Richmond. I make a point to check out Maymont whenever I'm in town. Every season there is always something new to see and do. Between all the gardens and the beautiful structures, you won't be disappointed. You can tell that the staff really care and put effort into everything on the grounds. I really love that every flower and plant has the perfect place and that each of the areas have a theme they stick to. Each of the themes are so well planned and purposeful. One of my favorite spots at Maymont is the Japanese Garden. From the pond, to the stepping stones in the water, to the waterfall (when it's warm enough - everything is expertly designed and perfectly planned. I really enjoy sitting down in the shade and refocusing in the this particular garden. Highly recommend! read more

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What a beautiful little secret Richmond has! I'm sure this will be a spot to visit a lot throughout the years to come. There is so much lush green grass and walking paths to explore. There is also a nature center to visit, and a small outdoor animal farm. It's the perfect place to bring a wagon full of goodies to lunch in the park. It's a great place to fly a kite (near the Italian and Japanese garden), relax, take in some vitamin D, let the kids run and be kids. The walking path that is about 2 miles also has some exercises to do here and there on the path. It honestly is a simple place, but has a lot to offer whichever section you find yourself in. Enjoy! read more

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Beautiful! I had no idea this was here - and so close to Byrd Park which I have visited in the past! Maymont has plenty of parking and you walk from there along a path past the carriage house for about 5-10 minutes to the main house. You can walk up and purchase tour tickets $5 or you can pay online in advance which is what we did and they're ready for you and have your tickets ready to go. We arrived about 15 minutes prior to our tour and roamed the bottom of the house which is an exhibit on the servants quarters and day to day life of those who upkept the home. It had some interesting info on the cost of upkeep and man hours for preparing dinner and wages as well as a view of the kitchen, laundry and maids and butlers rooms. We then toured the main house with a friendly and knowledgeable volunteer guide who spent about 45 minutes with us showing us around and providing information on the Dooley family. The house is beautiful and well-kept and was worth $5. The grounds are free and after our tour we walked through the Italian and Japanese gardens which were gorgeous. The Japanese garden is stunning and very large. It was raining so we didn't spend a lot of time here but I will absolutely come back on a sunny day. Gorgeous. I want to come explore the grounds of Maymont on my next trip to Richmond and walk all around. Large magnolia trees and blossoms everywhere were stunning. read more

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This place had everything, we had a day to do nothing in Richmond found this place and spent HOURS doing so many different type of activities. There's a treasure to find every where you go. read more

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Very pretty gardens. Also went to see mansion and nature bldg. mansion closed until late 2024 (not on webpage) nature bldg closes at 415 again not on webpage. If you want just a nice walk and see nature it's nice. But mansion closed all summer and nature bldg closed early the reason we went there. read more

This is a beautiful park in downtown Richmond and there's way more here than I expected. We had a great time walking around with the kids and exploring all of the different areas. They loved exploring the flower gardens, bamboo forest, and animal exhibits. Definitely stop by and plan to spend a few hours here. read more

The Maymont was an estate owned by the Dooleys where visitors can stroll through the gardens, check out the collection of farm and wildlife animals, go on a mansion tour, and/or access the many trails. The place also seems to be a popular spot for private events, such as company functions and weddings. I liked checking out the farm area, with the cute ducks, goats, and sheep (I really hope the estate takes good care of these animals!), and also seeing the Japanese Garden (at the end of the trail). It's pretty scenic - for example, there was a bamboo forest and great for photo ops! I just wished that the visitors were more respectful in picking up after themselves, as there was so much litter along the way! It's just so sad that there are some who are so disrespectful! Great spot to get a stroll in during the evenings or to spend a day with the family. +cute barn animals +Japanese Garden +bamboo forest +long trails +parking lot available read more

Have to update this review during the historic Corona quarantine of 2020. On Mother's Day, my husband told me to go talk a walk with my son for a while so that he could clean the house *SWOON*. Frankly, my neighborhood is getting old due to being stuck here. We have gone on countless walks around the same neighborhood route, so I decided we needed a change in scenery. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, so we headed to Maymont! We all know how iconic Maymont is, so there isn't much more I can say about their usual procedures. But, during this visit, they had plenty of "social distancing" signs placed throughout the walking paths and certain parts of the park blocked off. The sheep, goats, cows, and chickens were blocked off from being able to pet, you could not purchase food for the animals, the water fountains were covered up, and all the exhibits were closed. Regardless, I really enjoyed the fresh air and incredible scenery that Maymont provides. We had a great time looking at all of the flowers and taking photos by the waterfall. We also got to see a real "choo choo train" pass by. Some people were pretty aware of social distancing, although I was surprised that the majority were not wearing masks or concerned with being in your space. Overall, a wonderful change of pace during quarantine! read more

Maymont was such a treat when we visited friends in Virginia. It was never on my radar, but luckily our friends took us here. We did not do this park any justice with the short amount of time we dedicated to this place. I would recommend making a day out of it. This park boasts 100 acres of beautiful miscellaneous things to see. We were able to spend some time at the mansion, the Japanese Gardens, a beautiful waterfall, and see wildlife as well. If you are in the Richmond area, check this place out! read more

If you're a history buff, or even remotely entertained by random shows on the History story, you'll enjoy Maymont. Audio toggles make the house tour an immersive experience to remember. read more