CERF 2025 Richmond, Virginia Guide

Welcome to Richmond, Virginia! For those who don’t know much about Richmond—or RVA as it’s known by locals—we’re excited to show you all it has to offer! RVA was named by CNN as the #1 best town in America to visit in 2024. It sits at the head of the tidal portion of the James River, a sub-estuary of the Chesapeake Bay. Richmonders love the outdoors and consider the James an important part of the city’s identity. The city has a youthful vibe, with three universities and 38% of the population between the ages of 20 and 39. Richmond is a diverse and welcoming city, with nearly 58% of the population identifying as non-white and with a score of 100 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index. You can learn more at the Visit Richmond website or see the recommendations below from Richmond resident and CERF Executive Director Susan Park!

Getting Around  |  Food and Drink  |  Outdoor Activities  |  Sightseeing  |  Arts and Museums

Getting Around

  • Pulse Bus Rapid Transit (BRT):  The Pulse is a FREE rapid bus service running down Broad Street. It runs every 10 minutes on weekdays until 7:00 PM and every 15 minutes during evenings and on weekends. It runs every 30 minutes late night (11:30 PM – 1:00 AM).  There is a stop in front of the Greater Richmond Convention Center (GRCC) and stops in popular areas including Scott’s Addition, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) campus, Shockoe Bottom, and the Science Museum.
  • City buses: All city buses are FREE to ride; just hop on and go!
  • RVA Bike Share: There are bike share stations around the city, including a stop at 619 E. Grace Street just a couple of blocks from the GRCC. Some bikes have electric assist. Purchase a membership on the website or in the app for as little as $1.75/ride.
  • Rideshare: Outside of the downtown area, it is often most convenient to take Uber or Lyft to get around the city.

Back to Top ^

Food and Drink

When it named Richmond the #1 town to visit in 2024, CNN noted its exciting food scene full of top-notch restaurants, especially a large number that are Black-owned. RVA is also known for craft beverages with almost 50 local breweries, cideries, meaderies, wineries, and distilleries.

Back to Top ^

Outdoor Activities

  • James River: The James River is an easy walk from the GRCC and is a must-visit for CERFers! My favorite spot is Belle Isle; to get to the island, you cross a pedestrian bridge that hangs from a highway overpass. There's a beautiful trail that goes around the island. You can find it by putting "Belle Isle Parking Lot" in Google Maps. Other places to visit nearby are Brown's Island and the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge; you can get to both from the Belle Isle Parking Lot. There’s also an extensive network of trails in the James River Park.
  • Canal Walk: The Canal Walk is a 1.25 mile path along the James River and Kanawha and Haxall Canals. It has many access points at nearly every block between 5th and 17th Streets. ​The Canal Walk is used for walking and biking and can even be explored boat by buying a ticket on the Riverfront Canal Cruise. There are also a lot of murals and many restaurants.
  • Virginia Capital Trail: The Capital Trail is a paved pedestrian and bike trail that connects Richmond to Williamsburg and Jamestown. The trail is approximately 52 miles and is popular with cyclists. Don’t have a bike with you? You can rent one at many places, including Riverside Cycling, Kul Wheels electric bikes, and Basket and Bike tours. 

Back to Top ^

Sightseeing

  • Carytown: Carytown is a stretch of Cary St. between Thompson St. and Arthur Ashe Blvd. with many local boutiques, thrift stores, and restaurants. Grab a meal and then do some shopping! Mongrel is one of my favorite stores for gifts and souvenirs and Shelf Life has a great selection of new and used books.
  • Maymont: Maymont is a 100-acre green space in the heart of Richmond. The park has an eclectic mix of attractions, including a Gilded Age mansion, curated gardens, nature center, interactive farm, and rescued animal habitats complete with bears and bison! I love the Robins Nature Center which highlights the ecology of the James River and has two baby porcupines!
  • Hollywood Cemetery: This beautiful garden cemetery in the heart of the city is the burial place of two US Presidents (James Monroe and John Tyler), other notable figures, and the well-known “Iron Dog” that guards the grave of a little girl who died in 1862. 

Back to Top ^

Arts and Museums

The city has a vibrant art scene with multiple art museums, its own ballet company and symphony orchestra, and many theatre companies and venues for live music. USA Today recently named Richmond #2 for street art, and you’ll see murals throughout the city.

  • Street Art: Richmond is home to more than 100 murals. Some of my favorites were put up as part of the Mending Walls project, collaborative projects meant to advance social justice by connecting community members from different backgrounds in conversation to foster empathy, understanding, and healing.
  • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: General admission to the VMFA is free and the museum is open every day from 10 AM – 5 PM (and until 9 PM Wednesday through Friday). It has collections ranging from ancient to modern, and don’t miss the sculptures outside; my favorite is Rumors of War by Kehinde Wiley.
  • Black History Museum: The mission of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia is to share, interpret, preserve, exhibit, and commemorate the rich history and culture of African Americans throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. The museum endeavors to tell a more complete and inclusive story about America, celebrating the rich culture and moving histories of African American people in Virginia and their contributions. Open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM.
  • Institute for Contemporary Art:  Virginia Commonwealth University is known for its arts and design programs, and the Institute for Contemporary Art is an extension of this commitment to the arts. Admission is free. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM.
  • Science Museum of Virginia:  The Science Museum of Virginia features four floors of interactive labs, awesome artifacts, hundreds of hands-on experiences and both permanent exhibitions and touring exhibitions from around the world. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 9:30 AM – 5 PM.
  • Poe Museum: Edgar Allen Poe spent his early years in Richmond and this small museum has the world’s largest collection of Poe memorabilia, ephemera, and artifacts.

Back to Top ^

Looking for things to do with the kids? Check out the Family Friendliness page for ideas!