So you think you’ve done and seen everything in Richmond, huh? Maymont? Check. Science Museum of Virginia? Been there. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts? Heck, yeah. But have you ever toured the James River by pontoon boat, walked the Richmond Slave Trail or gone back to the 15th century with a visit to Agecroft Hall?
Local writer Maureen Egan, author of the recently published "Insiders' Guide to Richmond, VA," gives us her top five picks for what insiders – and outsiders alike – don’t get enough of around here, and also what locals need to add to their list of "things-to-do-and-see."
HIKE THE JAMES
The amenities that the James River Park System offers is one reason why so many choose to live in Richmond, like Egan, who resides south of the James just a stone‘s throw from the water. "It’s like living in a resort, if you ask me," says Egan, who also is admittedly a bit biased as president of Friends of James River Park. As such, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Richmond’s favorite body of water shows up on Egan’s "must-do-and-see" list more than once. Exploring the river by foot is one of the best ways to see the river and its environs – and to get a little exercise while you’re at it. So throw on some waterproof gear, strap on your Vibram Five Fingers and trek as much of the 15 miles of trails as you can.
TAKE A RIVER TOUR
Many know the James from the prone perspective that is laying flat on a rock on a sweltering summer day. Seeing the river by a leisurely pontoon boat, well, that’s something else entirely. Egan recommends signing up for one of the wildlife, fishing and history programs offered by "Discover the James," led by Captain Mike Ostrander and his knowledgeable river boat guides. If you are a bird-watching enthusiast, Discover the James offers a Bald Eagle-centric tour that brings you up close and personal with this one-time endangered species. "The eagles would come up close. They’d dive near us. It was just stunning," says Egan, who has taken the tour.
RICHMOND SLAVE TRAIL
The James River is known for being a recreational playground of sorts, but a lot more has happened on the river and along its shores than most people care to know, including serving as a portal to the slave trade. Your starting point for learning more is Manchester Docks Park, once the site of an active slave market and the entrance to the Richmond Slave Trail. With the Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial on-going, the experience of solemnly and purposefully this 1.5-mile walking trail is not to be missed. Guided tours are typically offered by the James River Park System and the city of Richmond in February. "I think that is a must-see," says Egan, who last June took part in the Annual Torch Lit Walk of the slave trail hosted by Elegba Folklore Society. "It was very moving and also, believe it or not, entertaining because there were dancers and drummers and reenactments along the way."
OUTDOOR MUSIC
We are all familiar with the wealth of musical events and venues to choose from in Richmond: the National, the Canal Club, the Hat Factory and so on. But it’s our outdoor music fests that really set us apart, like Lewis Ginter‘s Groovin’ in the Garden series, the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont, the Festival of Arts at the Dogwood Dell and of course, Innsbrook After Hours. "Our outdoor music venues are just awesome," says Egan. "For people to say there is nothing to do is just baloney."
Innsbrook After Hours
ARCHITECTURAL TOURS
"I think people really miss the amazing array of [architecture] we have here," says Egan. From 500-year-old-plus Tudor-style Agecroft Hall and the Virginia Capital building – ranked #50 on the American Institute of Architects’ list of "American’s Favorite Architecture – to Monument Avenue – a National Historic Landmark – and the Victorian and Italianate row houses in Churchill, there is no doubt plenty of striking architecture to gaze upon. To see if first-hand, Egan suggests signing up for one of the Virginia Center for Architecture’s guided tours or purchasing a "Court End Passport" from the Valentine History Center, which for a few bucks more gets you admission into not only the VHC, but also the John Marshall House and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.
Virginia Capital Building Tours
Virginia Center for Architecture
Jennifer Pullinger is Richmond, Va.-based freelance writer and publicist. Visit her at www.jenniferlpullinger.com
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