For those of you looking to enjoy a fun weekend away, I highly recommend Richmond, VA. I’m a huge foodie so their culinary scene alone warrants a trip, but there’s so much to do and see! I already posted my nom recap a few weeks ago – click here if you missed it – so I’ll be focusing on other aspects today. So without further ado, let’s get to it!
Where to Stay in Richmond, VA
During this trip, I stayed in one of the Commonwealth’s “homey suites.” My two-room unit had a king bed with a spacious living room attached. Inside, there was a queen size sleeper sofa, lounge chairs, an extra-large work desk, coffeemaker, closet, an apartment sized fridge, sink and more. The “more” covers everything from dishes to kitchen supplies.
The hotel itself was awesome! It’s chock full of handcrafted furnishings along with artwork from local Virginia artisans. I believe there was a different mural on each floor? Really, really cool. There’s also complimentary high speed wired and wireless internet (a must for me) along with two huge 50″ flat screens. Note: they don’t have a lot available so valet is required ($20 a night).
If you follow me on instagram, you already know the Commonwealth Suites is pet-friendly. There’s a one-time $100 pet fee, and your furbabies are provided with a plush doggy bed + a door hanger to alert staff that your pup’s inside. Note: they do require that your dog weighs no more than 40 pounds so please keep that in mind when booking your trip!
What to Do in Richmond, VA
Mending Walls RVA
This public project features artists from various cultures and backgrounds and brings them together to create murals that address societal issues in an effort to move forward through understanding and collaboration.
Mending Walls offers them the opportunity to connect and tell their stories, and their hope is “to bring about healing through public art while adding something meaningful to the conversation of Black Lives Matter.”
Click here for a map of all their murals, and consider donating if possible. Your generosity will help purchase paint and materials for each wall along with future projects.
One Way Market
I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to list this in my food guide or in today’s travel recap, but I decided to go with the latter since it’s not a restaurant. This Jackson Ward shop’s known for their unique snacks, and they have more than 300+ specialty items from various countries all over the world.
The owner gets several deliveries per day in an effort to keep his inventory fresh, and often times you can only get a specific snack ONCE, so if in question, just splurge. I spent a good chunk of change there, but I have zero regrets.
I LOVE Asian junk food so suffice it to say, I spent a long time browsing goodies. My haul included everything from Thai Chili Lime potato chips to Japanese Pringles (yes, the chips) ramen. Things have been crazy busy so I haven’t had a chance to film reels of my snacks yet, but they’re coming! Follow @nomtasticfoods to stay in the know.
Dog Friendly Activities
Brambly Park
Because wine-o-clock is always the best time of day. Located in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood, Brambly Park is a brand new winery + restaurant in Richmond. Their property is HUGE (2 acres) and is divided into 4 spaces: winery, restaurant, park and event hall.
They have an on-site commercial winery (produced using grapes and juice sourced from CA, OR, and VA), in addition to partnerships with other wineries all around the world. Their full-service restaurant specializes in Italian food, and they offer everything from fresh house-made pasta to craft cocktails.
They have watering and clean up stations for your furbabies, but your dog is required to be on a leash at all times so please be mindful! Reservations aren’t usually required, but due to COVID, it’s highly recommended since there’s a limit on the number of people that can enter.
Bingo Beer Company
I’m a huge fan of barcades so I obviously couldn’t leave Richmond without paying Bingo a visit! To be honest, I’m not a huge beer person so I spent the majority of my money on games, but I hear they have damn good lagers.
Care to try? You can get their brews delivered straight to your door – click here to order. And for those of you interested, they also offer food, and they have a big patio out back with fire pits that’s dog friendly.
Visit the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge
Enjoy the gorgeous weather and head on over to enjoy scenic views of the Richmond skyline. Walk across class III and IV rapids while stopping for the occasional photo. Go during sunrise or sunset if possible, and don’t worry about parking. There’s a huge lot available so you shouldn’t have any trouble!
Alright friends, that pretty much wraps up my 2 day trip to Richmond. If you missed my food recap, click here to read my recommendations, and stay tuned for more content coming your way. I’ve been posting a ton about good eats in the DC area, and I recently got more fashion pics back from Jan Galvan so expect cool editorial-style content Thursday. Until next time! Big e-hugs.