Last month, we ventured up to the River City of Virginia (aka Richmond, Virginia!) to celebrate our double birthdays. Titi and I are only a few days apart so we like to celebrate together if we can. This year obviously our celebrations look a little different with COVID-19 still being a concern, but we were able to travel safely to a new city for us.
We actually discovered Richmond when we were traveling through the city when I had to take one of my board exams in Massachusetts this past summer. We stopped to get food before heading on our way, and we wanted to come back when we could truly explore the city.
Are you thinking about booking a trip to Richmond in the upcoming months? Here’s everything that you need to know before you plan your trip.
GETTING TO RVA DURING COVID-19
I don’t think that I mentioned this in my last travel post, but before you head anywhere during COVID-19, definitely read up on your destination’s travel recommendations before booking anything for your trip. All of the states have their own board of health website that will outline everything that you need to know.
At the moment (at the time that I’m writing this), Virginia doesn’t have any quarantine requirements for domestic or international travelers. But masks are required for any person over the age of 5 while indoors and outdoors (when social distancing isn’t possible). I will say pretty much everywhere we went required masks to be worn, indoors and outdoors unless you were sitting down eating or drinking.
GETTING AROUND TOWN
Richmond was roughly a 4-hour drive from Charlotte, North Carolina. But if you are coming from further away, Richmond does have two airports (one of such is international) that are operating flights daily.
I would recommend bringing your own car or renting one (beside the obvious safety reasons), I found that most places that we wanted to see were 10-15 minutes away from each other. And Richmond can be pretty cold during the winter months, so you do not want to walk everywhere or wait around for another mode of transportation to arrive.
WHAT TO WEAR
Since Richmond is right alongside a large river, the temperatures can definitely lean on the colder/chilly side in December. We got plenty of wind the weekend that we came down that kept my ankles freezing the entire weekend. Highly recommend bringing plenty of layers and warm coats if you’re coming to Richmond during the winter months.
THINGS TO DO IN RICHMOND (SOCIAL DISTANCE FRIENDLY)
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: I’m normally not super into museums, but I’m glad that I followed the hype and book us a trip to the VMFA. The museum has an extensive permanent collection, and they also have some of the best special exhibits throughout the year. Right now, they have the Treasures of Ancient Egypt: Sunken Cities, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I love learning about mythology and Egyptian history, so it was really interesting to see the items that archaeologists found in the ocean hidden underneath the sand. The special exhibits change up regularly so keep an idea out for them, if it’s something that you’re interested in.
Carytown: Another popular destination that came highly recommend was the Carytown shopping district. The district bustles with plenty of locally owned restaurants, spas and hair salons, and shops selling everything that you could need. Our favorite was Mongrel, which is a gift shop where you can find a gift for anyone on your list. Some of the food recommendations down below were in Carytown as well.
Belle Isle Pedestrian Bridge: Let me tell you a full little story about our adventure getting to this bridge…I originally was trying to find the James River Park Pipeline Walkway, but whatever address I put into my GPS took us to Belle Isle looking for this bridge. After asking a few people that were hiking about how to find this bridge, we ended up at the Belle Isle Pedestrian Bridge instead of the original bridge that I had planned. Oh well! After a mile hike across this island, we found the Belle Isle Pedestrian bridge, which is a suspension bridge that runs right under Lee Bridge. From the bridge, you can see the skyline of Richmond and the Hollywood Cemetery.
Byrd Theatre: Unfortunately right now, Byrd Theatre wasn’t open completely due to the pandemic, but if you come afterwards, it’s a great theater to catch some cheap flicks while also seeing a national and state landmark. If you want to support the theater during the pandemic, you can book a private movie showing or watch the movies online from the comforts of your own home.
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights (Nov-Jan): The best part of the trip was by far seeing the lights and decorations at the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights. You walk through this amazing display of Christmas lights throughout the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens under a crystal clear sky. Absolutely breathtaking! Some of the displays are even designed into different forms, such as giant flowers, animals, your favorite childhood characters like the minions, and more. They did have to eliminate some of the activities due to COVID-19, but I’m sure they’ll be back once everything goes back to normal.
Murals Galore: If you love mural hunting, then you’ll be obsessed with Richmond. I thought Charlotte had a ton of murals, but Richmond definitely won by a landslide. There are murals in every nook and cranny of the city. From murals wrapped around entire businesses to smaller murals inside of the buildings, they are everywhere.
WHERE TO STAY
Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond: The hotel that we actually ended up staying with is the Embassy Suites, which is located in the West End area. It is an upscale all-suite hotel that comes with a separate living room, kitchenettes, and commentary breakfast. The hotel rooms were really nice, and they did a great job of making us feel safe during our travels. For the commentary breakfast, only one patron was allowed at a time to get breakfast before heading back to your hotel room to enjoy.
For those that are tech savy, Hilton has this super handy app that allows you to check in and check out of your room without coming into contact with anyone. It was very easy to use and such a wonderful tool to have during COVID-19.
Graduate Richmond: This pet-friendly hotel is nestled in the historic Monroe Ward neighborhood, and it’s steps away from great food, shopping, and VCU campus. The cool thing about this hotel is that its décor is actually inspired by a local tennis great Arthur Ashe, who was fond of the mid-century modern décor. He was an African American tennis player, the only black man to every win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. They also have a seasonal rooftop pool, beer garden, and a lobby café/bar.
Quirk Hotel Richmond: This quirky upscale boutique hotel is right in the heart of the city, only 2 miles from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This hotel is commonly featured in a ton of travel guides and for good reason. Besides the great Instagram pictures that you can get inside of the hotel, it also has a rooftop bar with stunning views of the city that is great for a night time drink.
BEST RESTUARANTS IN TOWN
Carytown Cupcakes: If you’re shopping in Carytown, stop by Carytown Cupcakes for a quick snack run. When we stopped in, they had some really interesting cupcake flavors that all looked delicious. I grabbed the Cookie Butter cupcake, which definitely tasted like a yummy gingerbread cupcake.
Sugar Shacks Donuts & Coffee: If you’re looking for the best donuts in the Richmond area, then you’ve found it at Sugar Shacks Donuts & Coffee. The great part is that everything is made in house, and they are some thick donuts. You really only need one or two, and you’re good to go!
Beauvine Burger Concept: We had a late lunch here during our trip, and we were not disappointed. They serve artisan burgers, craft, beers, and great cocktails. The best part about this restaurant is that they source their supplies from local or small owned businesses. Actually – I lied, the best part is definitely the boozy hot chocolate that they make. It was the da bomb!
Campus Waffles: I decided to go to Campus Waffles one morning during our trip, and it was a unique experience for sure. You can decide to pick one of their already-designed waffles or design your own. You can add literally whatever you want to your waffles. I had a waffle with oreo pieces and chocolate drizzle with some chicken strips.
Scoops: Looking for a great local ice cream shop to try? Then head over to Scoops for not only an Instagram-worthy picture but also test out some great unique flavors. My fav was definitely the Peppermint Bark flavor that they currently have for the holidays.
Toast: If you’re looking for a great restaurant for a date night, Toast is the place to be. This place has classic appetizers, holiday cocktails, and the best fish and chips. The fish was perfectly flaky and crunchy. Titi had the ribs and mac n cheese, which he also thoroughly enjoyed. Both came highly recommended.
Burger Bach: We stopped by this restaurant on our way home, and we’re glad that we did. It was such a hidden gem. The restaurant has a New Zealander twist on their meals, and they sourced their ingredients from local farmers.
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