2025 Conference Field Trips

Sign up for the 2025 Field Trips when you register for CERF 2025. All field trips will take place on Sunday, 9 November. Please make sure you do not sign up for workshops or field trips with overlapping times. 

White Water Rafting - $91 per person (includes lunch) | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET

Richmond is the only city in the United States where you can take on Class IV rapids right through downtown! The city sits right on a ‘fall line’ where the elevation drops 105 feet over the course of seven miles. Join us as we cross the fall line in a guided white water rafting trip from RVA Paddle Sports. This Trip will be approximately 4 hours including lunch and pass through popular rapids such as the Class I and II Choo Choo which passes under Richmond’s famous art deco train bridge and Class III-IV rapids like Hollywood and Pipeline where you can see the city skyline. Safety Equipment, paddles, wetsuits and guides will be provided.

Walking Tour of Jackson Ward - $20 per person | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

Gary L. Flowers provides a 20-stop, 1.5 mile walking tour of Historic Jackson Ward in the downtown section of his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Tours include historic educational, economic, religious, and social institutions that inspired the name, “Black Wall Street, and “The Harlem of the South”, and served as an early model of Black Capitalism in the United States of America. Gary Flowers is an eighth-generation Virginian, and a fourth-generation Jackson Ward resident, dating back to his great-grandparents, who moved to The Ward in the 1890’s, and he remains highly active in the Jackson Ward community.

Plein Air Art - $45 per person | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET

Join local artist Tori Qualls on a 1.5 mile hike along the James River and explore plein air, the act of creating artwork outdoors. Participants will hike to Belle Isle, an island on the river and stop at two locations along the trail where Tori will guide the group through creating artworks of the local views. Art supplies are included in participant costs.



 

Self-Guided Options

Hike Buttermilk Trail or Pipeline, Belle Isle etc. (James River Park System)

  • Visit the James River Park System and take a hike or walk along the river. The James River Park System connects 16 different park areas with Hiking, Mountain biking, and water trails. There are a number of access points along the trails.  We particularly like the suspended pedestrian bridge over the River to Belle Isle near Tredegar Iron Works and The Buttermilk Trail which has 4 access points along the south side of the River.
  • View Park Map
  • View Trail Information
Science Museum of Virginia
  • From experiential exhibitions to in-depth live demos to fun videos on social media, the Science Museum of Virginia looks for opportunities to encourage all visitors to enrich their lives through science. The Science Museum is a catalyst for inspiration, a place that sparks curiosity, encourages discovery and generates ideas in science, technology, engineering and math. Whether you’re a thinker, tinkerer, creative or full-on science geek, the Science Museum has something for people of all ages. Helping curious minds discover the connections between – and their connection to – STEM guides Science Museum staff in all they do. Science is all around us and discoveries are limitless. We’re simply a gateway to that universe!
  • Visit Science Museum of Virginia Website
Children’s Museum of Richmond
  • Located right next door to the Science Museum of Virginia, the Children’s Museum of Richmond is an active, involved opportunity for the whole family to grow and learn together. From fundamental concepts to socialization skills, research shows that play has a positive impact on a child’s academic performance - and the more often they engage in play at an environment like the one shared at the Children’s Museum, the more likely they are to find success inside the classroom. 
  • Visit Children's Museum of Richmond Website
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
  • Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers year-round beauty on a historic property with more than 50 acres of spectacular gardens, dining and shopping. More than a dozen themed gardens include a Conservatory, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Asian Valley and Cherry Tree Walk. Come explore secret spaces, learn about their plant collections, and enjoy world-class botanical displays. With something for all ages and interests, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a place to learn about plants, to marvel at nature, and relax in a beautiful setting.
  • Visit Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Website 
Capital Trail Bike Ride
  • The Virginia Capital Trail is a protected multi-use paved trail that starts in Downtown Richmond and runs 52 miles to Williamsburg running past several areas of interest.  Rent a bike from one of the companies below or just take a walk!
  • Visit Virginia Capital Trail Website
Maymont Aquarium/Gardens/Park (Family Friendly)
  • There’s something for everyone at Maymont - beautiful curated grounds and gardens with historic architecture, a farm with hands-on encounters, The Robins Nature Center, and so much more! Be sure to check out their website to learn more about this unique property and all it has to offer!
  • Visit Maymont Website

VMFA and Carytown

  • The Virginia Fine Arts Museum hosts nearly 50,000 works of art from around the world. General Admission to the Virginia Fine Arts Museum is free. A short walk (3 blocks) away is the neighborhood of Carytown a shopping, dining, and entertainment district with a focus on small locally owned businesses. On a nice day, we recommend wandering Carytown for a while before taking a snack over to the VMFA sculpture garden to sit and chat.  
  • Visit Carytown Website
  • Visit Virginia Fine Arts Museum Website

Mural Tour

  • Richmond is home to over 100 murals! Follow the downloadable Google Map for location details and to plan your own self-guided tour!

Other Self-Guided Tours

Breweries