Why Richmond?

Richmond has become a center for dining innovation and craft beer development. Award-winning chefs serve the best farm-to-table meals here that have received national recognition. Local breweries have racked up numerous awards. The craft beer and cider scene has exploded here, and visitors can find out more by hopping on the Richmond Beer Trail.  

From the architecturally inspiring Virginia Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, to Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields, the Richmond region has a variety of options for history lovers. Watch reenactors present Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death” speech at St. John’s Church in Church Hill or stand at the Civil War cannon at Malvern Hill Battlefield and visit Robert E. Lee’s 1862 headquarters. Experience Hollywood Cemetery — much more than a final resting place, Hollywood is a living story in stone, iron and landscape. 

From traditional suburban shopping malls and quaint specialty stores to eclectic boutiques and gem-filled antique shops, the Richmond region has its share of shopping. Check out the local wares at the South of the James Farmers' Market, the unique shops of Carytown or head north of downtown to Bass Pro Shops. Head out to Stony Point Fashion Park, an upscale outdoor retail center with shopping, dining and entertainment. Don't miss Short Pump Town Center, an open-air shopping mall with more than 140 upscale shops and eateries.

The region’s cultural scene offers a year-round schedule of musical, theatrical, artistic and dance performances including performances by the Richmond Ballet, Richmond Symphony and Virginia Opera. The area also features a variety of museums and arts galleries including the following:

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• Institute for Contemporary Art
• The Valentine
• Science Museum of Virginia
• Children's Museum of Richmond

The city of Richmond enjoys a moderate climate, making Richmond an ideal holiday destination year-round. Spring and autumn in particular are pleasant seasons with warm days and cool evenings. Winter can be cold but is still relatively mild. Summers can be warm and humid, and July generally features the wettest weather of the year.

With 18,000 hotel rooms, the Richmond region has many varied accommodations, including the Jefferson Hotel, one of only 33 hotels in North America to carry the Mobil 5-star and AAA 5-diamond rating.

The Greater Richmond Convention Center is the largest exhibition and meeting facility in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The GRCC — an impressive 700,000-square-foot, multi-purpose complex centrally located in Virginia’s capital — is one of the most desirable destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Richmond region has facilities, accommodations, restaurants, attractions and events to please every pocketbook.

The Richmond region is home to more than 60 attractions and the only class III & IV urban rapids in the entire nation. Kings Dominion, Virginia’s premier themed amusement park, is located just outside the city in Hanover County. Visitors also enjoy access to outdoor recreation such as the James River Park System, Pocahontas State Park and the Virginia Capital Bike Trail. Richmond also features a variety of theaters, museums and music venues.

The Richmond region is located within a day’s drive of half the U.S. population. Only two hours from Washington, D.C., it is easily accessible from Interstates 95 and 64. Visitors also can easily reach the area through Richmond International Aiport and two Amtrak stations.