The 14 Best Things To Do In Richmond With Out-Of-Town Guests

The 14 Best Things To Do In Richmond With Out-Of-Town Guests

Travel is back! We’re reuniting with family and friends, and that might also mean lots of out-of-town guests for the foreseeable future. When out-of-towners visit, we want to show off our city the best we can. From the adventurous waterfront to quirky neighborhoods, from amazing restaurants to infinite drinking holes, Richmond, VA really has it all. Here are 14 of our favorite things to do with visitors from out of town.

Visit A World-Class Museum

It’s hard to visit Richmond without checking out at least one museum. RVA even has a neighborhood called The Museum District! Check out the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) for some truly breathtaking collections and a rotating special exhibit (think African masks or Terracotta Army), or the Virginia Museum of History and Culture for a great look at Virginia’s rich history. You can also check out the American Civil War Museum located in Historic Tredegar or The Valentine for more about Richmond’s diverse history. Not into history? No problem! Check out the very hands-on and interactive Science Museum of Virginia.

Bar Crawl Through Scott’s Addition

In the past few years, Scott’s Addition has gone from a bustling industrial center to a hub for Richmond’s beverage scene, and we don’t just mean beer. Give your guests a taste of RVA by introducing them to breweries, cideries, and even a meadery and distillery! The neighborhood includes Ardent Craft Ales, Bingo Beer Co., Black Heath Meadery, Brambly Park Winery, Buskey Cider, Reservoir Distillery, Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop, Strangeways Brewing Scott’s Addition, Three Notch’d Brewing Company, Väsen Brewing Company, and The Veil Brewing. Scott’s Addition does not mess around!

Take A Brewery Tour

Want to hit up some of Richmond’s breweries or cideries, but don’t want to drive or hire a car-sharing service? Take a Discover Richmond Brewery Tour! Hop on board our comfortable, climate-controlled 14-passenger bus and visit three unique breweries to taste a few of their best beers (plenty included to keep your thirst quenched), get a behind the scenes look at one brewery along the way, and learn about Richmond’s beer past and present from our expert guides!

Or Rent Our Bus For A Customized Experience

If a guided brewery tour isn’t up your alley, you can also rent that same comfortable bus and just tell us where you want to go! We can take you anywhere your heart desires, or give us a call and let us help you plan the perfect outing for you and your visitors.

Eat, Drink, And Play

Looking for more of an all-inclusive, eat, drink, and play-type activity? Try something different like duckpin bowling while dining at Scotty’s Taphouse, sell or trade your sports cards at Graybo’s and then head next door to Parlay RVA for a true sports bar experience, bowling at Richmond’s boutique alley River City Roll, or getting your arcade game on at Bingo Beer Co.

Check Out Richmond’s Parks and Gardens

Richmond has tons of parks scattered throughout the city, and several unbelievable botanical gardens. Amaze your guests by taking them to Maymont, which offers 100 acres of free gardens, a zoo, and endless picnic opportunities, as well as tours of the Maymont Mansion, a 12,000 square-foot, 33-room home built in 1893. Or you can check out Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, a 50-acre historic property with spectacular themed gardens. In the spring, visit Lewis Ginter for “A Million Blooms” and in the winter, check out the Dominion GardenFest of Lights. Also be sure to visit Libby Hill in Church Hill for some spectacular sunset views over downtown Richmond!

Cheer On The Local Teams

When in Richmond, visitors have to check out a Flying Squirrels baseball game, or catch a Kickers soccer match. The Flying Squirrels are a minor league baseball team and the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. You can also catch them as Ardillas Voladoras during Friday home games! The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club that play primarily on Saturday afternoons at their stadium near Carytown.

Discover Richmond Through A Scavenger Hunt

What better way to check out interesting Richmond neighborhoods than with a scavenger hunt? Step outside for some fresh air, stretch your legs, and learn a few neat things about this incredible city. Each scavenger hunt provides at least 2-3 hours of outdoor entertainment, and the non-competitive format means you can complete the game at your own pace. Scavenger hunts can be played individually or as a small team, and they’re all family-friendly!

Get Artsy At First Fridays

On the first Friday of every month, Downtown Richmond transforms into an art-lovers paradise. Galleries, shops, restaurants, and other community organizations open their doors to celebrate art and culture. First Fridays generally occurs between 5-9 p.m. and spans the city’s Art District.

Start The Weekend With Friday Cheers Concert Series

Starting in May, Venture Richmond produces Friday Cheers, an eight-week summer concert series on Richmond’s picturesque Brown’s Island. Going on its 35th year, Friday Cheers draws anywhere between 3,000 and 6,000 people per week and showcases some of the nation’s hottest touring bands and all-time regional favorites.

Participate In “Liberty Or Death” Reenactments

If your guests are big history buffs, treat them to a Sunday reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention of March 1775 that ends with Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech. The reenactment happens at its original location – St. John’s Church in Church Hill – and professional actors in 1770s’ attire portray nine delegates who engage in the debates and arguments of the Second Virginia Convention. As guests, you sit in the pews among them and you’re even able to participate if you choose!

Stroll Richmond

Enjoy RVA’s many beautiful strolls! Take a walk through Carytown, Richmond’s mile of style chock-full of mom and pop restaurants and shops. Or walk the pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle where you can find wooded hikes, mountain biking trails, and great rocks for sunbathing on the James. If you want a more intensive hike, try the relatively easy 6-mile urban James River Hike that takes you down the James River, through parts of downtown, and by several cemeteries, including Richmond’s legendary Hollywood Cemetery.

Take A Guided Hike Around The James River

Want something a bit more involved than a stroll? Book a guided hike with Discover Richmond Tours, and we’ll take you across two pedestrian bridges, around Belle Isle (where we’ll take in Civil War-era infrastructure, old train bridge ruins, and Class IV rapids). This hike is a great way to feel immersed in nature while still being in the heart of RVA!

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