Things to do in Richmond

A wide variety of Richmond's historical sites have remained unharmed over the years. These include Thomas Jefferson’s house, Monument Avenue and the Tuckahoe Plantation. Several restored buildings and homes, such as the Magnolia Grange Court House and the Hanover Tavern, call the town home. Whether your perfect vacation involves countless shopping trips, taking in the art scene or communing with the outdoors, Richmond will make you feel welcomed with lots of Southern hospitality.

1. "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"

Watch the reenactment of Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech at the Historic St. John’s Church—the original site of where this revolutionary moment took place. Performances are scheduled regularly, but check the church website for more details.

2. Tredegar Iron Works

Check out where the majority of the South’s cannons were forged during the Civil War at the Tredegar Ironworks. The site, now a National Historic Landmark, is one of the few buildings to survive the burning of Richmond after Confederates set fire to the city before abandoning it in 1865. Today, the eight-acre site is home to the Civil War Center, which houses a collection of Confederate weapons, battle flags, uniforms and other historic artifacts. You can also visit nearby Petersburg to see historic Civil War sites.

3. Kings Dominion

Get your adrenaline pumping and your stomach turning at the famous amusement park, Kings Dominion, within a 30-minute drive of downtown Richmond. You’re likely to be yelling “wheeeee!” when you drop 144 feet into twisted turns at over 50 miles per hour on the Anaconda, one of the parks nine rollercoasters. If 144 feet isn’t enough for you then give the Intimidator 305 a try, which has a 300-foot initial drop. You’ll also find a water park to help you cool off on a hot day, and dining options are available.

4. Movie Night at the Byrd Theatre

Explore the world-famous Byrd Theatre, a National and State Historic Landmark. The 1,300-seat Byrd has been operating as a movie theater almost nonstop since its inception in 1928. A movie back in the day would’ve set you back 50 cents for a nighttime showing. Nowadays you pay $1.99 a ticket, still a bargain price even just to see the inside of the theater, never mind whatever film is being featured. After the movie, stroll through the streets of the trendy Carytown shopping district, located downtown just south of the Museum District.

5. An Afternoon at Maymont

is a little world of its own, an imposing 19th-century, 33-room mansion set in fabulous Japanese and Italian gardens with endless grounds to explore. This 100-acre estate has an arboretum, an exhibit of native wildlife and a butterfly trail, as well as small specialty gardens filled with cactus, herbs and seasonal flowers like banks of daffodils in the spring. There's even a children's farm with a petting zoo. Pack a picnic and enjoy the expansive grounds, wildlife exhibit and visitors center for free.

6. Richmond International Raceway

On Fridays and Saturdays, the Richmond International Raceway has a family-friendly section where no alcohol is served for viewing NASCAR races with the kids. The raceway features short track racing, and the cars are always in view from every seat. Make a day of it and purchase the 3-Wide Fan Hospitality admission, which includes access to the indoor hospitality area with food, drinks, special Q&A’s, souvenir event programs and pre-race pit passes.

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