Finding the LOVE in Virginia's Capital
Right in the center of Virginia is the state’s capitol. Along with it being a thriving financial district and center for government, Richmond has a vast array of historical sites, restaurants, shopping malls, and places to simply hang out with friends. Start your travels right in a part of downtown Richmond known as Shockoe Bottom. Tour the historic train station that is the home to the LOVEwork in Main Street Station and one of our Virginia Welcome Centers. Pick up some brochures and explore the area.
Day 1
LOVEwork at Main Street Station
Start your day at Main Street Station, downtown Richmond’s active train station. It was opened in 1901 and has seen over a century of history. Today, not only does it have the train station, but it hosts events of all kinds in the Shed, houses a small gallery, and also is the home of a Virginia Welcome Center. It is here that one of the LOVEWorks live.
Visit the Edgar Allan Poe Museum honoring the American writer and housing the largest collection of Poe artifacts. The museum is located only blocks away from Poe's first Richmond home. Next, tour the Virginia State Capitol and Executive Mansion. Designed by Thomas Jefferson and first occupied in 1788 by Virginia's General Assembly, the Capitol also has a gift shop and exhibit gallery. Join RVA Trolley or Riverfront Canal Cruises for a historic, yet entertaining, tour of Richmond.
Walk or bike the trails at Belle Isle Historic Park. Get on the water and raft or kayak down the James River with Riverside Outfitters or River City Adventures.
Eat -
- Hot Chick
- Bottoms Up Pizza
- Proper Pie
- The Roosevelt
- Salt and Forge
- Extra: Ironclad Coffee Roasters for coffee
Stay -
Day 2
LOVEwork at Richmond Raceway
Start day two with a visit to Richmond's Museum District. Home to some of the city’s most beloved cultural hubs, Richmond’s Museum District is a neighborhood with 22 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, multiple museums, a growing collection of murals and varied monuments.
Whether you are a thinker, tinkerer, creative or full-on science geek, the Science Museum of Virginia has something for all curious-minded guests! View a collection of more than 9 million items and learn about Virginia's cultural history at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. With more than 35,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years of world history, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has an extensive collection including Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Faberge and more. VMFA is also open 365 days a year!
Enjoy the afternoon in Carytown. This nine-block shopping district is home to a variety of specialty shops and boutiques, restaurants and food stores.
End the day with a photo op at the LOVEwork at Richmond Raceway - after which you could catch a race or one of their other many events.
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Day 3
LOVEwork at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
On your last day in the Richmond Region, head north the historic Town of Ashland for its unique shops and restaurants and experience the charm of this cute railroad town. Snap a photo with the LOVEwork in Ashland located directly outside of the Ashland/Hanover Visitor Information Center and promoting the town’s close connection with trains.
Catch a show at the newly restored, Ashland Theatre. First opened in 1948, the theatre was reopened late 2018 and features live music, theater performances, and classic and modern movies.
Also stop by the LOVEwork at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College. This LOVEwork was built to bring recognition to women in the construction industry, and to bring awareness of JSRCC’s workforce development program and their construction and engineering related programs.
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Check out our map of places where you can add more LOVE to your vacation. Be sure to share your pictures on social media by tagging @VisitVirginia using the hashtag #LOVEVA.