While my son was getting his scuba certification, my daughter and I drove an hour to Richmond, VA to spend the day there. It had been years since I had been to the city, and I was excited. I had gone to Virginia Commonwealth University for two years before transferring to George Mason University. When we arrived in the city, memories of those carefree days in college started flooding in. I would recommend two days, but if you only have a day, then this is the itinerary that we followed to get the most out of the city.
We arrived at Sugar Shack Donuts and got six donuts (two for each of us. We brought some back for Cebastian.) I decided on Salted Caramel and Espresso donuts. Isabelle went with Espresso and French Toast donuts. We got Cebastian S’mores and Chocolate Cake donuts. They were delicious, so I can see why they are listed as the best donut shop in Virginia.
Capitol Square
After eating some delicious donuts, we headed to Capitol Square. We tried doing a scavenger hunt but it was a bit complicated. The good thing is that let us really enjoy the area. As you know, Richmond is Virginia’s capital. We found out that the Capitol building was designed by Thomas Jefferson. When I used to watch Travel Channel’s “Monumental Mysteries,” I learned that the United States used to build Roman-inspired buildings. The Capitol was actually the first one to be built in the US. It was beautiful and very white.
We walked around Capitol Square and we came across these beautiful statues surround the Capitol building. The best part were the beautiful flowers surrounding them.
We also passed by the Virginia Executive Mansion. It was beautiful, and the security guard who was there was exceptionally nice. There are tours during the week, so if you are visiting Richmond during that time, then definitely check it out.
Shockoe Slip
We then headed to Shockoe Slip. It was beautiful. Cobblestone streets, quaint shops, and interesting restaurants.
We went into The Fountain Bookstore and just loved how cute it was inside.
There was a coffee shop that I wanted to check out. It had these sense that the inside and outside of the shop were all one with the big open windows. However, I was still full from the donut the coffee I drank beforehand, so I couldn’t do it (but I wish I could have).
Carytown
We went to Carytown. When I was in college, my best friend and I used to go to the records store and spend hours listening to music. Therefore, I had a sense of nostalgia being there. We walked around for awhile before we got hungry. We decided to go to Ginger Thai Taste and try the steamed dumplings and Spicy Tom Yum Noodle Soup. Everything was delicious. It was also nice to get out of the heat.
We continued walking around going into different shops. I have to say that the women in Richmond have a great fashion style, and we were impressed how everyone dressed amazing and kept their individual styles. It made us go shopping at the boutiques and consignment shops in Carytown.
Hollywood Cemetery
After Carytown, we went to Hollywood Cemetery. I lived in Richmond for almost three years, and I had no idea this beautiful cemetery existed. I didn’t even know that presidents like James Monroe were buried there. The cemetery overlooked the river, and we saw the people doing water sports. Next time we are in Richmond, we said we would definitely be down there.
One unique thing that we saw was that there were trees carved for a family burial plot. I had never seen anything like that so I thought that was pretty interesting.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Area
I had to show Isabelle the college that I had gone to and had an amazing college experience. Walking around with my friends, studying with them at the library, and eating way too much in the cafeteria. I also showed her the tattoo shop where I got my two tattoos and got my nose pierced (the second time. The first time was a bit of a disaster.)
We then went to a coffee shop that everyone was raving about called Alchemy Bar. I will say that they ruined Starbucks and Peet’s for me. The Caramel Latte had this flavor that I had never tasted before. I asked my coworker who is a coffee connoisseur, and she said it was probably quality coffee beans. Isabelle got this Japanese Pour Over. It took the barista 15 minutes to do, and he was so delicate with the process. When we tasted it, we were impressed that it didn’t need any sugar or cream. Amazing.
Richmond Street Murals
If we had more time, I would have spent half a day trying to find as many murals as possible. The ones we found were impressive. Here are some of them.
That was our day in Richmond. Hopefully this will help you get to see as much as you can in Richmond if you only have a day!
