Adventure Awaits in RVA
Richmond, known as the River City, is home to the James River and is one of the only cities in the United States with Class III and IV rapids in an urban setting. Adventure-seekers come from all over to experience adrenaline-filled days both on and off the river. Come see why Travel + Leisure named Richmond one of the "Best US Cities for Adventurous Travelers" in 2017.
Trip Highlights:
- Kayaking trip down the James River with Riverside Outfitters
- Climbing lesson with Triangle Rock Club
- Bike to Upper Shirley Vineyards and back on the Virginia Capital Trail
Outfitters and Guides:
- Riverside Outfitters - provide guided tours on the James River for kayaking, whitewater rafting or standup paddleboarding. Guides can also include an optional picnic lunch.
- Triangle Rock Club - offers indoor rock climbing classes. This facility also offers yoga and fitness classes including TRX.
- Peak Experiences - offers both indoor and outdoor climbing expeditions and summer camps for children.
- PedegoRVA - electric bike rentals and tours. Tours include Hollywood Cemetery tours, Richmond neighborhood tours or a BBQ tour along the Virginia Capital Trail.
- Segway of Richmond - Segway tours of Richmond including the popular Richmond Landmark Tour and Public Arts Tour.
- Richmond Rides - offers themed bike tours of Richmond, including the Along the River tour where riders can discover the historic canals and lively rapids of the James River.
- RVA Paddlesports - offers kayaking instruction for all skill levels and whitewater rafting on the James River.
Day 1
The day begins with breakfast at Pop's Market on Grace. After breakfast, it's off to a whitewater rafting trip with Riverside Outfitters down the James River with Class III and IV rapids. Lunch and beers will be served at Triple Crossing Brewing's Fulton location, which offers a pizza kitchen menu. After lunch, it's time for a hike over/around Belle Isle Historic Park, a 54 acre island is the heart of Richmond. Massive cliffs, crashing rapids and stone ruins all beckon you to 300 years of changing land use.
With a bit of time to head back to the hotel and rest, there will be a farm-to-table dinner at Rappahannock for fresh oysters and seafood.
Day 2
Start the day off with breakfast at Perly's Restaurant and Delicatessen. Directly after that will be an indoor rock-climbing class at Triangle Rock Club, a state-of-the-art indoor climbing, fitness, and yoga facility. Lunch will be at Lunch. |Supper in Scott's Addition.
Then it's time for a hike through Pocahontas State Park. The park has more than 58 miles of trails throughout the 7,724 acre park open to hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. We will spend some time shopping in Carytown and will end the day with dinner at The Daily Kitchen & Bar.
Day 3
Grab a coffee and pastry at Sub Rosa Bakery before the bike tour down the Virginia Capital Trail, a unique bicycle and pedestrian route linking the first settlement in Jamestown, the Colonial Capital in Williamsburg, and Virginia's modern seat of government in Richmond. The 52-mile-long shared-use trail highlights the rich historic, cultural and environmental assets along the Route 5 Virginia Byway.
After that, it will be time for lunch at SB's Lakeside Love Shack, a funky lil' place. Head to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden with its year-round beauty on a historic property with more than 50 acres of spectacular gardens, dining and shopping. A classical domed Conservatory is the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic with more than 200 orchids. See its latest exhibit, Origami in the Garden.
Have a beer or two at the nearby Final Gravity Brewing and will cap the day off with Alpine cuisine at Brenner Pass.
Suggested Places to Stay:
The Linden Row Inn, a historic boutique hotel located right in downtown Richmond.
Graduate Richmond, a pet-friendly property with a rooftop bar and pool
This Outdoor Adventure was submitted by Richmond Region Tourism.
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