2 days in Richmond, VA...what to do?

Question

Hello, I'm going to be taking a vacation to Richmond, VA for just 2 full days in late October. I'm very into history, and I know VA is full of it! After doing some of my own research, I have decided to stay away from Colonial Williamsburg as I've heard that alone takes a full day, and can be quite expensive....here's what I'm thinking....Yorktown, Jamestown, Richmond Battlefield, and the Confederate White House....do these destinations sound good? Anything I should add or avoid to this? What about restaurants in Richmond? Anything I just HAVE to try that's unique to the area? Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

I grew up just off of Route 5 east of Richmond, finding bullets and bits of shell, playing in old trenches that have since been bulldozed over for homes. Since I've toured the Richmond National Battlefield Park system hundreds of times (and I even volunteered for them at several points) I have gotten bored with them and I like to seek out the civil war sites on private land.

(From Ft. Harrison, head east on Route 5. Just before the school, you will see old trenchwork on your left. (It's now worn down to just a small nub.) It leads to a Union fort that was converted to a "greenhouse" by the owner of the overgrown property right beside it. The owner was selling plants for years, but he and his wife are very old now and have closed the business and were trying to sell the property.)

But, you've never been to Richmond. The Museum of the Confederacy and the Richmond National Battlefield Park System are a great start. That's one full day. After the museum and park have closed, try to track down the house that Gen. Lee's family stayed at in Richmond on Franklin St. (Do this after your tours.) There is a Confederate Chapel that used to serve the Confederate Veteran's Retirement Home on Boulevard and Grove Avenue beside the museums. (It's run by the SCV.) From there go west on Boulevard and look at the Columbus statue, then hang a right to see the Carillion at Dogwood Dell. Monument Avenue is a must see! Bob Moates sports shop is run by a reenactor. The main store has a lot of neat stuff in it. Call ahead to see if they will open the Civil War/Reenactor store when you go over there.

My favorite restauraunt in Richmond is Capital Ale. Great selection of beers. Two locations, Innsbrook (western portion of Henrico) and Downtown. You can see Travelers Alley from the Downtown location. (Look up the hisory on this alley, you might already recognize it.) Dollar burgers on Mondays, Steal the Glass on Tuesdays (Innsbrook) and Wednesdays (Downtown).

My second favorite restaraunt is Rare Old Times, located on Patterson Avenue at Pump Road. It is an Irish themed restauraunt, and the owners are from Ireland. There is live music at 8 on Thursday and Friday.

There is also the Penny Lane Pub. I've only been there twice, and only eaten there once. A lot of people like it.

If you go to Yorktown and Jamestown, that is another full day. Go to Williamsburg, just don't pay for the tour. You can still walk through it and you can get access to some parts that are free and not overly commercial. You just won't be able to get into a lot of the "private" houses.

Some other spots to look at, but may not be able to fit into your trip: Petersburg National Battlefield Park. In the summer, they have a horse drawn artillary demonstration and a morter demonstration where they actually fire a (solid) shell. Pamplin Park is a private park that has on it's property well preserved trenchworks and the point that the Union broke through the Confederate lines, causing the entire defense of Richmond to crumble and retreat, culminating in Lee's surrender a few days later. (I used to volunteer there, and I worked with the interpreters who's images are on the trademark symbol.) Follow the route marked "Lee's Retreat" to Appomattox. (Now this is a fun route to find the "off the road" historic sites!)

Good luck and have fun on your vacation!

Answer 2

I've always heard that the Museum of the Confederacy is pretty cool. Colonial Williamsburg was a little too touristy for me (and expensive). I'm a big Civil War buff, so I'd be checking out all the Civil War battlefields around Richmond, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, etc. I'd love to do a little "Penninsula Campaign" trip and retrace some of the movements of the armies.

Answer 3

=] very good choice of historical landmarks.. As for the restaurants, Tobacco Company is great