If you're into history and/or call Virginia home, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is worth…read morea visit. Open every day from 10am-5pm, tickets are between $8 and $12 with children five and under free. Located next to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is inside a historic building erected to commemorate the Confederacy. Now it's a museum honoring all Virginians, regardless of background. Here's why you should visit: 1) Entrance: There's a large parking lot near the main entrance. Walk inside and you'll see a well-designed cafe that serves local coffee and food, a bookstore with books and products from Virginia, restrooms, and the ticket area. Staff are helpful and the entire space is kept clean. 2) Exhibits: Start with the 15-minute film about the history of Virginia starting 16,000 years ago to today. It's worth the time. Then explore the exhibit halls where you can find art, artifacts like letters George Washington wrote, and more. One exhibit walks through history of Virginia from 16,000 to present day. Another honors all five regions of Virginia. Another talks about the original murals in the building and another showcases art of Virginia. Little rooms are filled with more exhibits displaying some of the 9,000,000 objects in their collection. There's even an area for kids to play in a little market, try on colonial clothes, and more. Interactive exhibits are part of every room. 3) Experience: It's not an overwhelming museum, but you can easily spend a few hours seeing most items and reading most displays. I learned a lot!

Not sure what I was expected, but I was sorely disappointed with this museum. The fee is $12 and I…read morefeel I spent about 12 minutes in there, so one dollar for every moment spent? Idk, I didn't feel that price tag was worth it. The history and culture wasn't presented in a way I thought captured my attention, nor made me want to retain said information or learn more. Save your $$$ and go to the VMFA which is right there, amazing, and free.

This is a gem of a gallery in the Richmond art scene and it's within walking distance of my house…read more While they specialize in graphics, they have some antique art as well as contemporary pieces. Not that I can afford anything here, but it's fun to look and some of their pieces are also displayed in the Patrick Henry restaurant nearby. I haven't been to their Satellite Gallery downtown, but I'll definitely be checking it out the next time I do the First Friday Art Walk.

I love the Eric Schindler Gallery. This is a decades long family run Gallery with an eye for…read moresupporting and promoting Richmond artists in a variety of mediums. In the heart of Church Hill this Gallery is beautiful and an easy walk from most other historic sites and new foodie locations on the hill. Over the years I've acquired many works through Kirsten's shows. My home is covered in paintings from artists she's represented over the years. Every time I have the time to travel to Richmond for an opening here i do and it's always worth the trip! Beautiful works of art in historic rooms plus you can view the families private collection as well!

Hard to know how to review this place. It is a sad and moving experience. We particularly…read moreappreciated the survivor story piece in the second floor theater. It was well done and moving. The museum itself is not huge ( We would say give yourself 2 to 3 hours if you're the type to read everything). It is heartbreaking and so very important to teach this history in the hopes that we never again allow this genocide to reoccur or to allow a fascist egomaniac and his fanatical followers to take over and commit these atrocities. Go and take the whole family. This history must continue to be taught.

A very moving experience, particularly with all that's going on in the world now…read more You walk through his exhibit at your own pace, and can take as much time as you like. It is truly horrifying what happened, and even more scary when you realize some of the similarities to current news stories from around this country. It is a reminder of what can happen when people become complacent. Definitely worth a visit.

Love this gallery!! I make sure to try and catch EVERY SHOW. They are so welcoming into the space…read moreand don't give off that weird stush vibe other galleries have in this city. They also have events like art collecting 101 to introduce new collectors. They're also involved in art fairs and have a strong list of represented artists. I just went to their closing ceremony for their most recent exhibit and I had such AN AMAZING TIME. Make sure you check them out if you're in town. It is a MUST SEE. I have also gotten into collecting because of them, they truly make art equitable and accessible while also lifting Black artists up.

Great gallery with a nice variety of artwork and a welcoming space. Worth a visit! I would…read moredefinitely come back.

Great staff and friendly cats! This place has more to see than I originally thought! Great place to…read moreget photos which I'll include a few. They had a fun and interesting selection of souvenirs too. I feel like history nuts would like this place on top of those Poe fans. There's some rich history here with old timey furniture and other unique items. Deff worth a visit.

I've been to the Poe museum in Philadelphia (which is a National Park) this one felt like it had…read moremore character and the whole atmosphere was wonderful!! The cats roaming the grounds made everything better! I visited alone and enjoyed being able to sit and soak up the peaceful atmosphere.

RavenChase Adventures in Richmond is an absolute 5/5 experience! If you're looking for something…read morefun, interactive, and a little different from the typical outing, this is it. From the moment we started, the adventure was engaging and incredibly well designed. The storyline kept things exciting, and solving each puzzle felt rewarding. It was the perfect mix of challenge, teamwork, and exploration. RavenChase Adventures is a must-do. It's fun, memorable, and something I'd absolutely do again with friends or family

These escape rooms are so creative. We've been to several places and we had a great time in this…read morelocation.

Pre-1900s house situated right on 360 with top-notch artists. They change paintings consistently…read moreand are really friendly. One of the few great art studios in the RVA area. The paintings are well done and are pretty affordable for being an art studio in the area. They also take commissions which are really nice for clients as well. A worthwhile stop while in Mechanicsville!

Spirited Art is SUCH a great idea! No artistic skill necessary and you still end up with a (semi)…read moreprofessional looking painting! I took my mom here as a Christmas present and we both had a blast! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. We had about 12 other people in our class, and although we each painted the same picture and followed the same instructions from the teacher, all of our paintings looked slightly different but equally as impressive! The calendar on their website displays photos of the different paintings that correspond with the dates they are being offered. Just choose one you like, make sure the date works with your schedule, and purchase it directly online. There are a variety of options to choose from; everything from cartoonish images to Monet-inspired paintings. If you're a diehard fan of certain Virginia colleges, they also offer University of Richmond, VCU, and JMU themes. When you arrive, everything is already set up for the painting (colors of paints needed, brushes, and a blank canvas). There are aprons at each seat as well. The studio itself is a large open space with long tables towards the back where the painting actually occurs. The teacher we had was super friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxed- everyone was chatting the whole time. Painting AND wine?! Spirited Art has partnered with the Wine Loft, which is directly next-door, so there is at least one designated server per class. Not only is there a list of wines available (many at $5/glass), but there is also a painting-friendly menu of snacks that are easily eaten during the class. I think you are free to order anything from the Wine Loft's menu if you'd like, but they've created a more streamlined menu of suggestions conducive to the painting class. To help the servers keep track of orders, they use a cool system of numbered poker chips that attach to your easel with Velcro. I will definitely be back to test my skill on a different painting (and enjoy some more wine, of course)!

I had a wonderful evening at Spirited Art with some friends enjoying wine and trying my hand at…read morepainting. I think the wine gave my inner artist a false sense of confidence but I definitely had a lot of fun. The instructors will take you step by step to create your own unique version of the chosen picture for that day. They have templates you can trace to get started if you are not comfortable free-handing the design. Our instructor Kerri made sure to tell us that these paintings are ours and so you are free to make your art as personal as you want. We were painting a funky peacock and if you wanted a pink peacock instead of a blue one go for it! I appreciate this free flowing format to the class, it allows you to truly love your work. Everyone gets together for a group picture at the end of the class in front of their Color Wheel. Spirited Art in right next to Wine Loft so they had a waitress available to us for drinks and food. You can also BYOB for a $10 per bottle cork fee. I saw tons of other neat pictures on the walls so there may be more painting classes in my future. I also got a rewards card which will earn you points towards a free class. If you are looking for a fun activity with friends or just want to tap your inner artist check out Spirited Art in Short Pump.