It's a small park, but some like it small, especially in Richmond apparently. The more parks the…read morebetter, and this one is a cute little space in the West Burbs where I stopped to walk Starlight. Yes I'm serious, I walk my cat, not even on a leash, and she loves parks most of all. Hates beaches, I think because of the water. She's not a fan of large bodies of water. Just of large bodies of her Daddy, filled with bubble tea or nearby Boyer's Ice Cream. Richmond has plenty of parks and this one is a perfectly good one. Not nearly as big or impressive as some of the others though, but deserves some love. My view from my left side is my "Westview" and it's probably the best view. According to, well, nobody.

This place is great for people who have to much energy and just need to run it off. There are two…read morehuge fields that the dogs can run for hours without feeling cramped.

There is SO much dog poop everywhere throughout this park. It's in the fields and all through the…read morewoods. All of the off leash dog owners that use this as their dog's toilet are ruining it for the rest of us. There are signs everywhere reminding people that this is not an off leash park and that you are required clean up after leashed pets. Stop ruining it for the rest of us!!

Welcome to the other slide... this small playground for kids is a great addition to this…read moreneighborhood! My kids grew up on Granite Avenue and I wish this park was here when they were little! It's completely fenced in, has plenty of receptacles, picnic tables and benches. Heads up, leave the fur babies home, no pups allowed. There's a large sliding area, and a smaller one on the Libbie entrance. There's a mini rock wall and climbing stools. Let your kiddos swing on the swing set with a couple of open swings and a few buckets swings for toddlers. You'll only find two spring rides, but it's a neighborhood playground so that's sufficient. The mulched playground should keep you precious cargo safe enough and there's a small field for playing ball. Although this is not a huge place, it should tire your tots out! Minimal parking, many folks just walk over!! Have fun and be safe.

This charming little park is the perfect place for your little one's to release some energy!…read moreParents don't have to worry about their kids running into the street because it's gated! Although this park isn't the biggest it covers all of the basics every kiddo needs to have fun: slides, swings, climbing walls and lots of space to run around. Their are benches and a picnic table for parents to relax at as they watch their kids play. Be sure to keep your fur babies at home because this park is dog free! Be warned that parking is very limited so if your traveling across town like we do you'll most likely have to parallel park on the street!

Pony Pasture is one of those places you have to see to believe. With incredible views of the James…read moreRiver and access to amazing trails. This is a great spot for families, couples or friends looking for water access or a spot for a picnic. I love checking this spot out and sitting on a rock and enjoying the sounds of the water while watching the geese present. There is ample parking in the form of a parking lot, a public bathroom with multiple stalls and most of the trails are well marked with trash containers sprinkled throughout which has definitely caused the litter here to decrease. Definitely check this spot out if you're wanting a nature retreat!

Beautiful, serene park worth searching for if you'd like to escape the humdrum or daily grind. It's…read morejust so relaxing listening to the river rolling over the rocks and boulders. There's something to be said about unplugging and losing yourself in nature! You should try it!

This park is HUGE! Do you like picnics, disc golf, farmer's markets, soccer practice, hikes, nature…read moreor the outdoors? This is the place for you! This 262-acre park is in Richmond's Northside. Most locals come here for the Saturday RVA Big Market. I highly recommend checking the market out and making a day out of it. You can hike a trail while you're there too. There are a lot of picnic benches in the area and grills you can use for cookouts. My friend once rented one of their picnic shelters for her birthday and it was loads of fun. You can rent those spaces online. Although I don't play disc golf, they have disc golf baskets all through the park. Everytime I see them I always consider trying a new hobby. There are parking lots scattered around the park. On weekends it can be a little hard to find parking, but you'll find a spot. You can get a map of the park online. This park is well known and liked by most locals. It's a 5 star spot for me.

It's still an amazing space for walking and just getting outside. The Farmer's Market is a great…read moreattraction there. Unfortunately I remember the azaleas very differently as a child as many others do as well. If memory serves correctly, there was a much more manicured azalea garden with a beautiful white azalea cross configuration in the middle of an ocean of bright pink azaleas. Unfortunately, I don't know of too many azaleas that last 50 years!

I drive from SC to CT and back twice a year and typically stop at a different dog park in Richmond…read morebut decided to switch it up this year. On the way up, we stopped at the Byrd Park dog park. It was clean, well shaded, had running water available, and even the human portapotties were clean and in the shade (a miracle!). The dogs that were there with us were well behaved and the owners seemed to be paying attention and interacting with them, always a good sign. On the way back, we parked at the little pond and walked around for a little while. It was a little too warm to do multiple laps, but it was a great view and, again, very clean. I think we'll be making Byrd Park a regular part of our journey from now on.

Richmond is home to many top-tier, well-maintained parks, and Byrd Park is no exception. The park…read moreis host to many events throughout the year, has cherry blossoms in the spring, and the foliage is lovely in the fall. It's a great place to go walking or catching up with friends. Parking is abundant as well.

Brambly Park is an excellent date-night spot with a great balance of food, drinks, and atmosphere…read more We grabbed cocktails at the bar before our reservation, and the drinks were well-made with a lively but comfortable pre-dinner vibe. We did the $45 Date Night Special, which is a great value and includes a bottle of Brambly wine with dinner. I ordered the vegan spaghetti and was genuinely impressed -- flavorful, hearty, and clearly intentional, not just a token plant-based option. It paired really well with the wine and felt satisfying without being heavy. The space itself is open, social, and stylish, making it easy to enjoy conversation without feeling overwhelmed by noise. Service was smooth and the pacing of the night felt natural. Whether you're going on a date or just want a fun spot to enjoy good drinks and food, Brambly Park is definitely worth checking out.

Very great brunch! Loved their cinnamon buns....goodness I wish I could have more. Their cinnamon…read morebuns are huge! Their wine tasting was great...just disappointed their in house Cabernet Sauvignon was about $45 for one bottle. That was the only downside. I want to go back in the spring when they have their back patio open.

A huge fenced in playground! There are toddler and big kids playgrounds, water play, a sensory…read morewall, and plenty of space to run around. There is a parking lot right in front of the playground. My kids had so much fun and hope to visit again next time we visit Richmond!

Thank Goodness this place is open early. While visiting Richmond for the holidays, everyone in the…read morehouse slept in and I was able to get the kids' energy out at this park without having them destroy the house or wake everyone up. Very clean. No vagrants while we visited. Has bathrooms. Is fenced in. Easy parking.

This curved bridge that takes you across the James River from Tuckahoe to Bon Air (or vice versa)…read moreis an easy highway bridge to navigate. It's divided into two lanes both ways separated by a median barrier wall. Although it's not a long bridge, you can get a nice scenic view of the river and the surrounding foliage. Heading south from Parham Road, the road merges into Route 150 or Chippenham Parkway at the foot of the bridge. You'll also see some cool, unusual homes by the riverside and a view of Bosher's Dam. One a clear, sunny day, you may also catch a glimpse of kayakers, paddle boarders or boaters. Newer than the Huguenot Bridge nearby, this bridge is convenient for those living further in the West End heading to Southside. Because this is a flat, wide, quick passing bridge, gephyrophobia (fear or anxiety crossing bridges) should cause little stress. I'm generally a little nervous driving over bridges, but this one is a piece of cake! The speed limit is 45 mph and there's usually a police car on north side of the bridge so proceed with caution. Named for a Virginia state senator, this bridge is instrumental for shoppers traveling south to Stony Point Fashion Park, as the two exits to the mall are towards the foot of the bridge. Pedestrians, bicyclists and mopeds are prohibited. Willey, a retired pharmacist, also used to operate a drug store in Bellevue where you could get some of the best limeades in town!

We headed to Huguenot Flatwater last night to do some kayaking with our group. It is very easy to…read morefind, and there is a small parking lot there. I can see it being frustrating to find a spot as it gets closer to boating season though. I was not a fan of the boat launch area, it's design was not very user friendly for easily getting into your kayak. You have to step off a ledge into your boat, or use the small muddy area to load and push off. The point it puts you into the river is great though, and you can go left for a nice paddle up to Bosher's Dam.

During this crazy time of Covid and politics, our priorities have shifted from dining out…read morefrequently, to attempt a more healthy lifestyle of cooking most meals at home, and seeking out alternative sources of entertainment, ones that permit us to breathe in fresh air, enjoy what nature has to offer, and maintain social distancing. So, after visiting a few terrific Virginia State parks, renting kayaks, we decided that this would be something we would like to do regularly, and purchased our own boats. How many times have you crossed Huguenot bridge and thought, oh neat, look at the people kayaking, what fun? Yea, that has been me for years. So we decided to check out the Huguenot Flatwater put-in area and while it is a challenge, it is doable. By this, I mean, it is CRAZY steep, there is a ramp that the "fit and brave" smaller and experienced kayaker can attempt. For us, we carried our kayaks down the steps and were able to launch from there with relative ease. The main issue we had, was that it got super busy, and it was really noisy with the constant sound of vehicles on the bridge. We paddled down river for a bit but decided to play it safe and head back up river so we could float back and were not fighting the current and didn't get too worn out. When we were about ready to head back in, there were so many people trying to put in, that people were having to wait to get out. And then a bus load from a tour company came and we decided to head over to where a trail end let out on the river, decided it was safe, and we carried our kayaks through the trail and back to our car. Not far. The "coolness" and novelty of urban kayaking wore off within 5 minutes of being in the river. It wasn't peaceful at all, but we did get a decent workout and enjoyed the views. We will definitely continue to seek out different places to kayak, and kudos to those who love the adrenaline of being in that environment. I personally just prefer more quiet and fewer people.