Tour your Town – Richmond VA Staycation Ideas

If you live in, near, or within driving distance of Richmond , VA then you are in luck. There are so many places to visit to make any staycation fantastic. Many of the places are free or very inexpensive which is the whole point of a staycation, to save money, right?

10 Ten Places to Visit During Your Richmond, VA Staycation!

1. Belle Isle – Bring your bikes and wear your sneakers. You can hike and bike. There is a great bike park. Belle Island is right in the heart of downtown Richmond on the James River.If you are really adventurous, you can get in the river but it is a swift moving river so swim at your own risk. It is fun to climb and hop on all the big flat rocks so you will probably get your feet wet. Belle Isle is a busy place all summer long so if possible do this on a weekday instead of a weekend. Parking is locvated at 300 Tredegar St. Richmond VA 23219 and Belle Isle is accessible by a pedestrian foot bridge near the parking lot.

2. The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar – While you are in the area you may want to go ahead and visit the civil war museum housed at the Tredegar Gun Foundry. Admission is reasonable. The museum offers three historical perspectives Union, Confederacy, and African American during the war.

3. Canal Walk and Cruises – This is easily one of my favorite things to do in the city of Richmond. Not only do I enjoy walking along the canal route but the canal cruises are a so much fun and you learn a lot about the history of the canals in Richmond. Did you know Richmond was once a port city? That is was a center for shipping? Also see the Triple Cross from the best view possible on the water. Don’t know what the Triple Cross is? Guess you will have to take a cruise to find out. The canal cruises are really inexpensive.

4. Hollywood Cemetery – Yeah yeah maybe visiting a cemetery is not your idea of a vacation but you have never been to a cemetery like this. At Hollywood Cemetery you can visit the graves of  President James Monroe and President John Tyler.

5. Virginia War Memorial  – Highlights of the Virginia War Memorial include the Shrine of Memory with names of fallen heroes from WWII, Korea, Vietnam,  and Persian Gulf Wars, the Torch of Liberty, which has an eternal flame representing patriotism that is everlasting,  and the Flag Court with flags representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Merchant Marines, Virginia War Memorial, and POW/MIA.

6. Byrd Theatre – This is a historical movie palace that opened in 1928. You can catch a movie for just $2. Check out what is showing or better yet sign up for email updates so you never miss a great movie. My children know whenever a new movie comes out that they want to see, all they have to do is wait for it to show at the Byrd.

7. Henricus Historical Park  –  Jamestown may have been the first but it was not the only English settlement in VA. Henricus Historical Park is a living history museum recreating the second successful English settlement in the New World. There is a small admission fee but the hands on encounters and live interpretations of early colonial life are well worth the price of admission!

8. Browns Island –  If you have a family of music lovers then you will definitely want to check out the Friday Cheers outdoor concert series on Browns Island. Children 12 and under are free! Enjoy live music every Friday evening during the months of May and June. Browns Island is also connected to the canal walk and its many pathways offer a great view of the James River and the ruins of the Richmond and Petersburg Railways.

9. City Hall Observation Deck – See the city from this amazing vantage point. Free and easily accessible via stairs or an elevator, the observation deck at the top of City Hall offers stunning panoramic views of the city.

10. Maymont – If you are only able to do one thing on this list, then Maymont should be it! That is why I saved it for last. It is the best free attraction in Richmond, VA! Maymont has acres of lovely gardens. Our favorite is the Japanese Garden. For a small fee you can tour the Maymont Mansion and learn about the history of the mansion and the people who lived in it and gifted it to the city. There is a unique perspective during the tour from the slaves who worked in the mansion. Also at Maymont you can take a horse drawn carriage ride, visit the nature center and wildlife exhibits, and also visit the children’s barn where kids of all ages can interact with farm animals.

I hope that you enjoy your Richmond, VA Staycation and if you have any other ideas for great places to visit on a budget in or around Richmond please let us know!

More Great Cities and Ideas for Summer Staycations:

A – D

Phoenix, Arizona — Saving For Someday
Fresno, California — Living A Frugal Life
Orange County, California — More With Less Today
San Diego, California — Southern Cali Saver
Denver, Colorado — Bargain Blessings
Washington, District of Columbia — Kidventurous

F – I

Disney World, Florida — The Happy Housewife
Jacksonville, Florida — Saving The Family Money
Orlando, Florida — Coupon Mamacita
St Augustine, Florida — Simply St. Augustine
Tallahasse, Florida — SwagGrabber
Tampa Bay, Florida — LaToyaEdwards.net
Atlanta, Georgia — Pretty Frugal Diva
Dahlonega, Georgia — Kathys Cluttered Mind
Savannah, Georgia — This Mommy Saves Money
Aurora/Chicago, Illinois — A Savings WOW!
Chicago, Illinois — Entertaining Chicago
Indianapolis, Indiana — Chaos Is Bliss

K – P

Lexington, Kentucky — Homeschool Village
Louisville, Kentucky — The Kennedy Adventures
Northern Kentucky, Kentucky — Simply Sherryl
Carroll County, Maryland — Looking at life CreativLEI
Boston, Massachusetts — Maven of Savin
Battle Creek, Michigan — Pichea Place
Grand Rapids, Michigan — Give Me Neither
Metro Detroit, Michigan — Saving Dollars and Sense
Kansas City Area, Missouri/Kansas — Redefined Mom
Omaha, Nebraska — Family Fun in Omaha
Central, New Jersey — Our Good Life
Cincinnati, Ohio — Adventure Mom
Cleveland, Ohio — Kosher on a Budget
Columbus, Ohio — Cleverly Simple
Dayton, Ohio — Savings Lifestyle
Mansfield & Richland County, Ohio — The Traveling Praters
Miami County, Ohio — Something 2 Offer
Northeast, Ohio — Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring
Portland, Oregon — Frugal Living NW
Harrisburg/Central, PA — Family Balance Sheet
Erie, Pennsylvania — Growing Kids Ministry
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Moms Need To Know
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — The Coupon High

R – W

Arlington, Texas — Grocery Shop For FREE
Fort Worth, Texas — Coupons and Freebies Mom
Houston, Texas — Melissa’s Bargains
Katy, Texas — Moms Confession
San Antonio, Texas — How to Homeschool My Child
Tyler, Texas — iLoveMy5Kids
Charlottesville, Virgina — How to Have it All
Norfolk, Virgina — The Talking Suitcase
Richmond, Virgina — Vacation Maybe
Seattle, Washington — Thrifty NW Mom
Tacoma/South Puget Sound, Washington — Queen Bee Coupons
Oshkosh, Wisconsin — A Little Bit of This and That