Virginia's Capital City

I recommend taking a trip to Shockoe Bottom, which is where all of the cool bars live. Also, if you visit in the summer and travel to West End Richmond, visit Innsbrook After Hours on Thursdays after work.

Quick Tips:

Beware of rush hour traffic! Try to travel on off-peak hours.

Best Way To Get Around:

The Museum of the Confederacy is a must-see for Civil War buffs from both the North and the South. As you probably know, Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy during the War Between the States, and served as headquarters for Jefferson Davis's presidency. There are many displays of Civil War artifacts and such, and relates an emotional history of Virginia's sons that fought in the war, as well as presenting the economic and political views of both sides.

The most interesting thing, to me anyway, is the Museum's collection of battle flags. The museum keeps these in storage to protect the fabric, but flags from both the North and the South are kept and restored.

Also, all you 'family tree' keepers may find some interesting information about your forefathers here.

The State Capitol Building is not so much interesting for what goes on inside, but the grounds on the outside. During the spring, the dogwood blooms highlight the landscape and give the air an incredibly sweet smell. There are benches where you can rest or feed the birds, or just stroll around the walkways and take in the atmosphere. It's definitely a place to just see.

Innsbrook is a business complex on the west side of town that is home to many different types of businesses. Richmond takes notice of the number of young people in the area, and try to provide a lot of fairs and festivals for that group.

On Thursdays during the summer, Innsbrook plays host to a popular band (some bands are nationally known)and for a fee (which benefits local charities) you can come and drink a beer and listen to some great tunes. Everyone is pretty friendly, and it's neat to see everyone interact like they were all neighbors. Even people who don't work in Innsbrook participate.