Great surbubanite park in nature! They offer amazing paved and gravel trails with fun sights…read morefollowing the history of the coal mines here in Midlo! This is an amazing spot to get a walk in, enjoy a picnic or fish! The most unique part of this park is the tunnel that connects you to the walking loop around the lake. It's a lot of fun to just walk through and really helps break up the monotony of a walk. No playground but tons of things to see and animals around. There is also a creek that runs through most of the park so water access is available.

I like this park a lot. I enjoy coming here for walks once a week and sometimes I sit on the…read morebenches and look at the lake. I like how clean the place is and walking here for me is very relaxing and peaceful. I have seen people come here to take their graduation, birthday and engagement photos. I have invited co workers and friends here to take walks with me and they liked it too!

"Walk a mile in their shoes......"…read more I decided to peer through the eyes of history and visit the Tuckahoe Plantation. I felt all the feels driving up the loooong drive to the plantation. I wondered how many slaves dreamed about what was on the "other side" of that long field. Many visitors pack in to see where Thomas Jefferson spent his childhood BUT I drove to see how the ancestors spent theirs (as this plantation tells the enslaved stories, as well). As I walked the curving path to see the schoolhouse, kitchen, enslaved quarters....I felt something (not the haunting that is said to be present) - i wondered about long sweltering summers in the field. I didn't need to peer inside the main house. I thought the archivists did a good job assembling historical facts about Thomas Jefferson and the enslaved. I didn't take the guided tour but I enjoyed what was open to see (people reside there - in both the main house and cabins - so not much to see).

Lovely spot to take a walk in their immaculate garden! This plantation, once the home of Thomas…read moreJefferson, is located off River Road, down a long, dirt driveway. You will pass a farm with chickens and gorgeous fields as you make you way to the stately Georgian styled home at the end of the road. There's a parking lot with an honor system box, $5 donation for the self- guided walking tour of the grounds. A map Is provided, and there are QR codes throughout this beautiful acreage. Should you want a guided tour of the main house and outbuildings, there are charges ranging from $5-$20, discounts for children, seniors and military. Call for reservations to be sure they are not hosting a private event. We were only interested in being outdoors! The plantation is open from 9-5 daily. This place is the perfect location for some fresh air therapy! We were enthralled by the various garden areas, the statuary, the arched groves, the arbors, the colonial design, and most of all, the spring flowers and trees in full bloom! We meandered through the rows of tulips, daffodils, poppies, hyacinths, snowdrops, candytuft, bluebells, and other colorful flowers, shrubs, bushes and plants. This not so secret garden was full of birds, with bird houses placed strategically at various spots. Flowering vines and trees were trained to make gorgeous arches. The maintenance of this amazing, historic estate is obviously painstakingly meticulous. We were completely enthralled with its beauty and understated grandeur. They allow photo shoots for exorbitant fees and by appointment only. You might want to try Maymont, etc. instead.

This building is breathtaking, outside as well as inside! While in Richmond, I couldn't miss the…read moreopportunity to visit. The architecture is so ornate and gives you the feeling of stepping back in time. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything on site to learn about the building's history, and you are limited to only the first floor. However, it's worth the visit just to take in the beauty and detail of this space.

Old City Hall in Richmond is a stunning architectural gem. The intricate Gothic design and towering…read morearches are truly breathtaking!

Great food and good service. Bartender is really pleasant…read more A great place for lunch. A little loud when they are really busy.

This is a small museum with well-organized exhibits that are easy to follow. With all the nearby…read moreconstruction, parking was a bit tricky--I ended up having to go a couple of streets up the hill. The exhibits themselves covered some very heavy and thought-provoking topics that really dove into the human psyche of war. I was especially impressed by how well they've been able to save and preserve artifacts over time. One highlight was a presentation on muskets from the era, complete with a live firing demonstration, which was both fascinating and educational.

I love history... I love that Virginia is packed with so many interesting museums, old towns and…read morehistoric sites! Whenever visitors come to see us from other states, we always take them on a drive down this iconic Avenue! Monument Avenue is unique and beautifully maintained. The various houses along the drive are well kept and architecturally appealing. From Colonial, to Spanish, to English Tudor, and other styles, you will enjoy seeing these lovely Southern homes. In the spring, the pear trees, crape myrtles, dogwoods and other trees burst into bloom leaving a spectacular site among the flowers that line the median. I love the areas where there is some old cobblestones preserved from bygone days. The monuments are a testament to our Virginia history. While we take our drive, we like to have the passengers google the various statues and brush up on the various historic and modern figures, learn about their background, catch a glimpse of the past and really get a sense of our place in the present. If you're a history buff, love buildings or scenic views, a leisurely drive down this landmark avenue is a Richmond treat!

Monument Avenue is worth a drive or walk down if you're in the area. Lined with trees, churches,…read moreand old architecture, it is a beautiful part of town. As a bit of a Civil War history buff, I was disappointed that the statues do not have much educational information to explain the lives of the people they depict. It's an educational opportunity wasted to not put them into context. It is also difficult to appreciate the sculptors' work on such a busy street, but that actually goes to show that the original intent of the Avenue has succeeded. After the death of General Robert E. Lee in 1870, land owned by Otway C. Allen was chosen as the future site of a Lee memorial statue and a larger avenue of monuments dedicated to famous Confederate Virginians, Including J.E.B. Stuart, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. (Fun fact: Interestingly, Lee explicitly stated before his death that he did not wish any statues to be erected in his honor, nor any symbols of the Confederacy to be kept and displayed.) Oceanographer Matthew Maury and tennis player Arthur Ashe later joined the Avenue in 1929 and 1996. The City of Richmond and developers hoped such a street, scenically lined by trees and flowers, would attract wealthy Richmonders to the area and raise property values. A century later the Avenue still attracts home buyers, tourists, and protesters alike as a major landmark.

This headquarters is connected to the Petersburg battle, but it's about 10 minutes away from the…read morebattlefield site. It's worth the drive over if you're already visiting the battlefield. It's a small house where you have to ring the doorbell to so the one employee knows to let you in, and then it's a tour on demand as it's not a high traffic site. The tour covers the history of the people who owned the house, the war and making the city a major port for goods, and how it was used by General Grant. There is a great map of the battlefield and some highly realistic and creepy mannequins to better illustrate the site. It's free, no gift shop, but an enthusiastic and informative tour guide. It's also got a nice view of the water.

When you get there, you'll watch a short film and then you can explore the small exhibit inside the…read morehouse. It's definitely worth visiting after you visit the battlefield.

I read the novel, The Yellow Wife, and if you are a fan of historical fiction, I highly recommend…read moreit. The book is based on the story of Mary Lumpkin, an enslaved woman in Richmond, VA who went on to inherit the Lumpkin Jail and used the property to establish Virginia Union University. I was so moved by her story that I felt the need to visit this site. Much like my experience on the slave trail, I was unclear of what was a part of the site. I was a bit disappointed that I may have missed parts of the experience.

Easily located. Very heavy history. I think the city of Richmond can definitely do a better job at…read moreupkeep but that's neither here nor there. We already know anything as it relates to the history of slavery America tries to erase. This is a must see if you are in RVA to pay your respects.

This place is pretty amazing even if you're not a history buff. Kids enjoyed the place. There's…read moreunmark parking available. Picnic tables available for a luncheon. They have a visitor center for all your questions. They offer ghost tours as well! If you're in the area definitely stop by and check it out!

Built in the 1600's. At one time the largest private dwelling in colonial America. One of 3 large…read moreplantations. 17 fireplaces, 33 bedrooms! Burned down in 1916. This house has been through a lot over the past centuries. A nice stop to see an interesting architectural feat. Stop by the visitor's center for admission and information about this mansions previous grandeur and storied history.

While looking for the Pyramid, keep going to almost the very end of Lee Drive and you'll see the…read morePyramid past the railroad tracks in the distance to your left. And since you're visiting the Pyramid, take your time going down Lee Drive. Many Confederate fighting positions are still visible, including an artillery site and trench works. I found this to be more interesting than the Pyramid itself. While you can see the Pyramid from the road you can't get close to it, since it's on the other side of an active Amtrak line. About the battle: While the Union's river crossing on Day 1 and heroic attack on the Sunken Road at Marye's Heights on Day 3 get plenty of attention, Day 2 is often overlooked. In fact Meade's attack against the southern Confederate flank on Day 2 almost broke through their lines, but failed mostly because of poor communication between Union commanders. The "pyramid" stands near the point of the Union's greatest penetration. The "Slaughter Pen" (which has its own Yelp entry) is on the opposite side of the wood line. Unfortunately the Confederate and Union positions are separated by the railroad, so you can't walk the entire length of the battlefield. Funny thing about the Pyramid - it was actually built by southerners. The idea for a monument was pitched by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society to Virginia railroad execs who sought to memorialize the battle in a location visible to train travelers. The pyramid shape is based on the monument to the Unknown Confederate dead in Richmond.

A very cool hidden gem in Fredericksburg - there is a path that you can walk down but I don't think…read moreyou're supposed to. There is a train track in between the path and the pyramid. You can pull off of the road and take pictures with a zoomed lens. It was a bit challenging to find - my Apple Maps took me to the wrong place (completely different battlefield!) but android seemed to have it down just fine. Just make sure you're going to the location near Lee Dr!

This confusing setup has a bunch of national park land adjoined to a privately owned historical…read moresite. Focusing only on the national park site, I found a visitor center with an introductory movie. While I was perusing the exhibitions right outside the theater, they managed to close it and lock it without letting me know the movie was starting. Which is a little irksome, but may have worked out for the best as I got to the outdoor site and managed to get a run of it and take some pictures just as a weather front was heading in. Some people had traveled from Michigan to tour the area, which I think was a good decision for them as you don't get this kind of history up there. The national park site has some ruins and signage after crossing a boardwalk over the swamp. While not huge in scope; I spent maybe an hour on the site in total, it gives you a feel for the challenges that settlers would have faced. The signage provides compelling information for visitors of all ages, and the views of the waterfront and nearby ferry are majestic as well. You'll get a sense of historical nuance with a lot of players in the area, and an aesthetic experience as well. There is a wildlife drive and this place does have a parkway running to Yorktown, albeit currently not fully open due to major construction. I did not have time for everything the area has to offer on this passing visit, but there is a lot regardless of how much time you have.

September 2024- I visited the historic & original Jamestown , the colony was established there in…read more1607. Jamestown is remembered for its iconic historical figures like Pocohontas and Captain John Smith. In the Visitor Center, there is a small museum exhibit of Jamestown. The admission to explore all of Jamestown requires the purchase of two tickets since Jamestowne managed by two separate organizations, Preservation Virginia (Jamestown Rediscovery) and the National Park Service (Colonial National Historical Park). This can be very confusing when entering and getting admission inside Jamestowne. Entrance inside the visitor center & museum as well as the grounds are free for active military and their families, who get free passes to all the national parks. Standard fee is $15. An additional ticket of $15 is required to purchase by ALL (even with a free military entrance pass to all National Parks). It was worth it to me and a fair price to pay. Jamestowne was a fascinating visit to walk through the well maintained and reconstructed historical buildings & ancient ground of Jamestown. I like how they reconstructed Jamestown to show how it appeared during colonial times and showcased the ruins of the old church within its duplicated replica. I spent most of my time in the church, drinking in the views by the River, and walking through the grounds of Jamestowne. We ended our visit at Jamestown by going to the Archaearium, the archaeology museum, last. It covers the history of Jamestown 1607-1624. There was so much unknown information uncovered there about Pocahontas and the dark history of the colonists during times of famine. 1609 - 1610 was a dark and horrific time period of cold winter weather & starvation for the colonial settlers of Jamestowne. Many starved to death, some resorted to cannibalism of dead corpses or killing the living for food to survive. They reserved a room about this dark period and restrict the use of cameras & taking photography/ videos of that area in the museum out of respect for the remains of the dead in the room. Very macabre yet still fascinating. There were many areas we did not have time to explore due to time constraints and our travel agenda, yet we made the best of what little time we had there.