Richmond is a beautiful city but unfortunately somewhat underrated. I had not visited RVA until I got accepted into VCU. It has so much to offer going from the nightlife to historic sites! As a Richmond resident, I wanted to talk about places I recommend seeing in this amazing city.
- T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge
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This is my favorite place in Richmond hands down. It has a stunning view of the skyline and is a very insta worthy spot as well for people who love photography. The bridge is by Brown’s island so many choose to hike or bike around the area. I definitely recommend this to people who enjoy nature because the bridge is built over the James River and it is a bit of a walk to find!
- Carytown
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Carytown is a popular district in Richmond filled with restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, and other cute places to window shop! It is not just a family-friendly place but also perfect for date night with its adorable dessert cafes and cocktail bars. My friends and I like to visit Carytown at least once a month to just walk around and take pictures because it is so colorful and vintage. They also have an amazing coffee shop called Sugar & Twine where my friend and I love to study.
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
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VMFA is an art museum located in RVA that is popular among VCU students as VCU is the number one school for art and design (Go Rams!). The exhibits inside are stunning, as is the outside of the museum. I have seen many clubs take photographs of their Executive board members outside the museum for the aesthetic.
- Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
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The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is one of the most popular public gardens in all of the USA. It is so unique that it doesn’t just contain a garden but also has a dining area, boutiques, and a library. The garden also offers classes for those interested in botany and art. I recommend everyone who visits RVA to go here because it is special and has something for everyone to do!
- Short Pump Town Center
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This is an outdoor mall located on the outskirts of downtown Richmond. It has department stores, high-end restaurants, and other popular stores. My favorite time to go to Short Pump is during the holiday season because they set up a large Christmas tree next to the fountain where people can take pictures, and drink coffee by the sitting area.
Richmond has many fun sights to see that are not just for college students but can be for the family as well! I am so glad I choose RVA as my new home because I get to see city life as well as have a feel of a public university. Although Richmond isn’t on everyone’s bucket list for a dream vacation, I definitely recommend visiting the city because it has so many great historic points as it is the capital of Virginia and the best nightlife.