Gisel_le Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Hi y'all! We are headed to Richmond tomorrow and I was hoping you could help me figure out must sees. I am scared of downtown parking. How easy is it to navigate and find parking? I have children ages 2-14. So, where should we go? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gisel_le Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 anybody?:bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 I’m from Richmond but it’s been a while since I’ve been there as anything more than visting my parents. :) Here are a few thoughts.... The Art Museum is very nice, dh and I went recently and were impressed. The Science Museum is good and fun for kids. The Children’s Museum is fairly lame, in my opinion, I’d avoid it. The Capitol Building is recently renovated and designed by Jefferson. I’ve never been but I have the Gray House/Museum of the Confederacy on my list to see one day when we are studying the Civil War. The Fan used to be a funky area with lots of shops, restaurants, very arty people but it’s been a long time since I’ve been there. A drive down Monument Ave. is interesting and free to see all the statues of Confederate people. Two cemeteries....Hollywood Cemetery (two presidents, Jefferson Davis, more Confederate people), Shockoe Hill Cemetery (the girl who inspired one of Edgar Allen Poe’s poems, Elizabeth Van Lew who was a Union Spy during the Civil War) St. John’s Church (Patrick Henry’s Give me Liberty or Death speech) Maymont Park- a historic mansion, gardens, nature center, children’s farm Agecroft Hall- English Tudor mansion brought over and reconstructed on the James River Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens- very nice gardens including a great children’s area with a treehouse and other features. The James River itself, very Richmond to play on the rocks in the river. Tredegar Iron Works- I think this has been redone and is now some kind of Civil War Museum. Oh...parking. Again, it’s been awhile since I’ve been but Richmond is a fairly small city. Most of the tourist spots have a parking lot or deck and you don’ t have to worry about street parking. I don’t remember parking being much of an issue in the places I mentioned above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in Richmond Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Our favorite museums when our kids were those ages: Science Museum of Virginia - wonderful exhibit halls + IMAX theater Children's Museum of Richmond - the main location is next door to the Science Museum. Lots of hands-on, art room, etc. Both of these museums are on Broad Street a bit west of downtown and have free parking; they're not hard to access at all! Driving downtown makes me nervous, but this area isn't so busy. The next two might be enjoyable to the older kids (not as much hands-on stuff, but still worth seeing). They're also in the same museum district on North Boulevard w/ free parking in the back. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - recently renovated, gorgeous display of Impressionists Virginia Historical Society We're expecting a lovely fall day tomorrow, so I'd also recommend Maymont Park for a fun family outing - you can tour the estate house, stroll through the Italian and Japanese gardens, visit the wildlife exhibits, the children's farm, and the nature center (don't miss the otters!) Hope you have a fun visit.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 I think Edgar Allan Poe's house is open for visitors. Stay away from the area of East Broad St. after dark. (Ds lives at VCU, and he always tells me that's a bad area.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Coast Sue Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Petersburg National Battlefield (the Crater). Its a fascinating place to see and hear about. http://www.nps.gov/pete/index.htm This battlefield in Richmond is also interesting, but not as interesting as Petersburg (IMO). http://www.nps.gov/rich/index.htm Have fun! I love Richmond, Va! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gisel_le Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 (edited) Thank you everybody. I am so excited to get to go to Richmond and can't wait to see everything. Science Museum is a definite. Is walking the Monument Ave feasible? Is the Petersburg National Battlefield close to Pamplin Park? Is that any good? I have the places you all have recommended bookmarked. I'll be busy reading tonight. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. :) ETA: Would Maymont still be good after visiting Mt. Vernon? Edited September 29, 2012 by Andalasia more questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 The Science Museum has rats who play basketball. I don't think I need to say anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gisel_le Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 The James River itself, very Richmond to play on the rocks in the river. . Where would we park to do this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gisel_le Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 The Science Museum has rats who play basketball. I don't think I need to say anything else. LOL. That's all I need! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in Richmond Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 ETA: Would Maymont still be good after visiting Mt. Vernon? Sure! It's definitely more nature/outdoorsy/gardens/animal stuff than historical exhibits. You don't have to tour the house to have a good time there. Where would we park to do this? At the Pony Pasture park (map) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gisel_le Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Sure! It's definitely more nature/outdoorsy/gardens/animal stuff than historical exhibits. You don't have to tour the house to have a good time there. At the Pony Pasture park (map) Looks wonderful. Thank you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 The science museum, art museum and historical society are all within a few miles of each other. Well, the art and historical are next to each other. and i believe they are both free? I think there is parking at Belle Island, but i actually dont go downtown unless I can help it. When I go to the river i usually go to Pony Pasture but its pretty remote and really best for wading in (and its kinda chilly for that right now) Btw, the state fair is in town (or rather, north of town). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 (edited) ETA: Would Maymont still be good after visiting Mt. Vernon? Yes, they are very different. It depends on how much you like historic houses as to whether you want to tour the mansion. Maymont Park is a great park on its own. Where would we park to do this? Oh, goodness, that’s hard for me to remember or describe. Here is one website that describes it..http://www.jamesriverpark.org/visit-the-park/getting-on-the-river.php. The place we would go a lot is called the Pony Pasture. But if you’re only there for one day it might not be the best thing to do. Edited September 30, 2012 by Alice ETA: I guess we were all answering at the same time. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 I've only been to Richmond a handful of times (4?), but I wanted to encourage you about the parking. I do not parallel park, but each time I've been there, I've successfully parked by the Capitol either on the street or in nearby lots. The first time was the most nervewracking, since I didn't know what to expect. But a prior poster is right, Richmond is really not that big of a city. I wouldn't be able to park in one spot and see all of downtown, but looking for parking wasn't scary at all. Have fun!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 The art museum also has a huge collection of Faberge objects. If you are driving through Petersberg, then they have the only church in the world with all Tiffany windows. It is called the Old Blanford Church. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 I’m from Richmond but it’s been a while since I’ve been there as anything more than visting my parents. :) Here are a few thoughts.... The Art Museum is very nice, dh and I went recently and were impressed. The Science Museum is good and fun for kids. The Children’s Museum is fairly lame, in my opinion, I’d avoid it. The Capitol Building is recently renovated and designed by Jefferson. I’ve never been but I have the Gray House/Museum of the Confederacy on my list to see one day when we are studying the Civil War. The Fan used to be a funky area with lots of shops, restaurants, very arty people but it’s been a long time since I’ve been there. A drive down Monument Ave. is interesting and free to see all the statues of Confederate people. Two cemeteries....Hollywood Cemetery (two presidents, Jefferson Davis, more Confederate people), Shockoe Hill Cemetery (the girl who inspired one of Edgar Allen Poe’s poems, Elizabeth Van Lew who was a Union Spy during the Civil War) St. John’s Church (Patrick Henry’s Give me Liberty or Death speech) Maymont Park- a historic mansion, gardens, nature center, children’s farm Agecroft Hall- English Tudor mansion brought over and reconstructed on the James River Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens- very nice gardens including a great children’s area with a treehouse and other features. The James River itself, very Richmond to play on the rocks in the river. Tredegar Iron Works- I think this has been redone and is now some kind of Civil War Museum. Oh...parking. Again, it’s been awhile since I’ve been but Richmond is a fairly small city. Most of the tourist spots have a parking lot or deck and you don’ t have to worry about street parking. I don’t remember parking being much of an issue in the places I mentioned above. :iagree: with all of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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