One of the best go to date spots and kid friendly parks! There's a few animals and so many walking routes. Bring a picnic and enjoy nature in one of Richmond's prettiest gems read more

Beautiful, beautiful place to enjoy a nice walk, visit with the barnyard pets, see some of the aquatic and reptile animals, or to have a picnic in the middle of any of the fields on this enormous estate. There's a lot of history here. You can tour the mansion and some of the other buildings on the property. You also have the option to become a member (or not) to attend the numerous events and classes such as crafting, tending to the animals, behind the scenes of how the estate was ran during the slavery period, Christmas events, and much more. They even have a designated area for birthday parties with crafts, toys, learning activities and more. We spent an entire day here appreciating the landscape, it's so beautiful. Many benches and seating areas throughout. A wonderful place to escape to. read more

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Favorite park in RVA. Free to enter though they ask for donations to help with conservation and support to maintain the beautiful landscaped park. This extensive park houses many beautiful themed gardens with a small zoo. I've taken my children here numerous times for fun and for educational purposes. Visit their visitor center for more information. Perfect place to picnic!!! read more

If you want to do something outdoorsy in Richmond for a couple hours, I can think of few better places than the Maymont. Admission is free (though donations are encouraged) and the grounds are huge. The Italian and Japanese gardens are particularly pretty and thus great for upping your Instagram game; you'll likely find more than a few patrons staging photoshoots in these areas. The rest of the grounds, while more plain, have a bit more space to relax. Animal enthusiasts will enjoy the scattering of wildlife exhibits throughout the paths, which include a bison, black bear, bald eagle, and other regional fauna. Maymont's Nature Center has fish, reptiles, and similar small animals in an aquarium-like experience for a small fee. Whether you want to enjoy a scenic stroll with a loved one or take the family to see some animals, Maymont is worth a visit to get some nature in the city. read more

Awesome place to spend a day in Richmond. They have extensive grounds you can walk for free, and a house to tour. You can tour the basement on your own or the whole house while guided. The grounds have some animals and lots of trails and gardens. It is great year round - we went in winter and still had a nice time - but is likely even better in the warmer seasons. read more

My family and I enjoyed walking the beginning of the gardens. We didn't have much time and got so into the animals we didn't make it far! Haha we saw baby goats and omg they were the cutest, cows, donkeys and other goats there was also a fox and minx but were not visible at that time. I really wish we had more time to explore. But next time! ... and then I will update! read more

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If u like walking pop out if you don't like walking then don't, beutiful place has goats not much to complain ab it unless u like walking yk? read more

Maymont Glow garden festival I'm a fairly new resident in the Richmond area and honestly considering my rigiours hours commitment to school and work I don't get time to go out and have fun often. Maymont is one of the most beautiful gardens I have to see in my lifetime!!! Going to Maymont in the daytime is a nice experience. It's a park with many gardens that have very interesting themes . I Enjoyed a walk there with beautiful scenery. One of the most interesting ones was the Herb Garden!! It's a garden that appeals to all your senses . Beautiful herbs and spices that you can try some of them as well. HOWEVER, the Glow garden festival made by kroger was so eye-catching I had to check it out. I went on a Sunday night . Besides it was very affordable and very family friendly, the staff was very friendly and informative about different aspects of the park and the surrounding areas. Parking was a little bit of an issue but it was because many people couldn't help but come to these beautiful gardens. Coming through the gates,it feeled so different from the usual daytime Maymont. Very beautiful ambient lighting across every track and the Japanese Garden was TURLEY BREATHTAKING. The lake in the middle as the lights Glow over trees and the bridge. Many festive colors. They also had food station and snacks. A must visit!! read more

Seriously you can't go wrong with this place they have everything and it's free! It's worth the drive coming from Virginia Beach and there's so much to do for kids all ages. I suggest baby wearing as much as possible if you do want to go through the gardens because they have an area with a lot of steps but it's so worth it and beautiful. They have a good selection of animals for kids to look at and a cute little petting zoo. read more

Absolutely ridiculous how they talked to us! The lady in the entrance was awfully nice and kind however once we had tried to go into the farms the lady who was guarding the door was extremely rude and condescending when she talked to my daughter and I when we asked about questions about purchasing tickets. I will never go back here again! read more

Beautiful!! It's a gorgeous 60 degree day here in February so I decided to come here to walk around. So many gorgeous nature views. They also have a petting farm and nature center for the kiddos. I was disappointed that the otters were not in their habitat at the nature center, nor were the horses in the barns. They were the two main things that I came to see. Nonetheless, I was not disappointed with the gorgeous views on my walk. read more

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I love coming here! This is a great location for fun family time! The gardens are beautiful and my kids love the animals. Every time we have visitors in town this is one of our go to spots. It is one of the many gems of down town Richmond! Absolutely stunning and very well maintained by the staff! so much to do here we never get bored with visiting read more

One of my all time favorite Richmond spots. I've been coming here since I was a kid and still find new things to appreciate. It's a huge expanse of "park" like area that can be visited in a short amount of time or stretched out over several hours. We visit the barn side and see the animals and then walk around to the birds, past the bears, over to the Japanese garden. There are trails that you can walk through, hills to climb, and plenty of places to eat a picnic lunch, go to the restroom, and get water. Sometimes we start on the side where the nature center is and venture out down those hills and over to the Italian Garden. It's just beautiful to walk around the historic location and see all the trees, flowers, and animals. You can also tour the mansion which is fun. read more

Maymont is one of the best parks I have ever been to anywhere and I really mean anywhere in the world. This park has something for everyone and is almost like a free zoo! There is a barnyard for the little ones filled with creatures from ducks to pot bellied pigs, the science center holds river otters, snakes, fish and turtles, there's an amazingly serene Japanese garden, an Italian garden, and a butterfly garden! Not to mention the buffalo, bald eagles and bears! How many parks do you know that have bears? I love that the beautiful manicured green lawns totally remind me of England and the free tour of the Dooley's Victorian estate is awesome. I want that swan bed! If you don't know what that is you have to take the tour. I come to Maymont anytime I need some fresh air, plus walking up and down all those hills is good exercise. The only down sides I see are: 1) That Maymont closes at 5pm. 2) The new $3 entrance fee to get into the aquarium/ science center. I miss just running through to visit the otters. However, I understand that times are tough and it costs a ton of money to keep a place as awesome as Maymont up and running. read more

I have been here twice and thankfully the second time I actually got through the whole thing. I went here with 2 kids. There are miles to walk so if you bring kids you may need to convince them they can do it to. There is a lot to see from gardens, animals, landscape and of course the mansion. The animals range in size from small goats to large bears. You are able to feed some of the animals. There is also an aquarium which we did not visit. Plenty of parking available at a couple locations and restrooms are available but it's best to go before you start as they are spread out. I am amazed at the gardens as you can see a variety of flowers, trees, and plant gardens including a forest of bamboo. We enjoyed the waterfalls and the pond with fish in it. I have yet to go in the mansion so another trip is in my future. I actually bet this would be a neat place to check out all season because there is so much too look at. My biggest tips are to wear comfortable shoes, bring some water and a camera! read more

People call it byrd park, but it's a free park to run sit or eat a sloppy burger. Help keep it clean. Bye.

Beautiful park! I'm honestly surprised by the amount of amenities available for free. Petting zoo, Japanese garden, the Maymont Mansion. This is definitely one of the best places to take your kids, or your honey for a romantic outdoor date. Maymont Park will also hold a special place in my heart as this is where my fiance proposed. On the bridge in front of the waterfall. Men, please take note - it's a perfect place to ask that special someone to spend the rest of their life with you. Bonus points if you can get someone to photograph it. I also learned from a photographer that Maymont Park charges $50 for engagement photos. I'm sure that's how they help fund the free park. Just keep that in mind if you want to go back and recreate the moment. read more

Anyone who says.. "Richmond?!? WHY?!?, don't know what they're talking about. I've gotten this reaction several times from co-workers who prefer being in North VA /D.C. and specially when they find out that I like Richmond better than southern cali. Maymont Park is just one of the few reasons why this city has a lot to offer. Beautiful landscape with great walking paths and benches to sit and relax or have a spur of the moment picnic. I did the whole walkabout to the different gardens and the small zoo the first time I visited Maymont. Today however was a simple "where to for lunch?" so we ordered take-out sandwiches and drinks, parked, walked around and found a shaded bench and had a little picnic. A blanket/mat is a great idea since you can sit anywhere in most areas of the park and hot days are just around the corner so take advantage of the cool sunny days if you have time! I have not had the chance to go inside the mansion and buildings but will try to the next time I visit. There are also a lot of activities in their calendar of events which you can find on the Maymont Park website. Have fun! read more

This is a beautiful park, great for children, families, couples, everyone! The park itself is gorgeous!! As soon as you walk in, you can sense the serenity envelop you and whisk your cares away. The rolling hills, sunny meadows, gardens, rivers and ponds all partake in this magic. Their beauty melts into the horizon and you feel like this is where you were meant to be. This gorgeous scene seems to continues in every direction. The fact that this was once someone's private estate, their own personal playground, just mesmerizes me! Could you imagine having 100 of the most stunning acres to call your own?? We came here for a daytrip while visiting my cousin and her family. At first, I expected nothing more than a day in the park, punctuated with the occasional stop at yet another preserved mansion or antique barn. I expected the highlight of the day to be the quality time we spent with my cousins. I was completely wrong! Children's Farm: I didn't expect a full sized children's farm with dozens of animals of several species that routinely interacted with the guests. Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Chickens, Peacocks, Ducks, and more wandered freely. We were able to pet and feed the goats, sheep and horses. My son, who had been to farms before but was much younger, squealed with delight as he encountered the goats!! We had not seen him so thrilled!! Every animal he encountered was more exciting than the last. We literally had to hold him back as he wanted to climb in and play with all the animals! Wildlife Exhibits: Who knew there were areas where BEARS, Bald Eagles, Otters, Deer and more lived here too? The bear habitat was a giant pond with huge trees that extended over it. We were quickly able to spot both bears (just look for the crowds of people pointing and taking pictures! ;-)). One was located way up in a tree, cuddled on a high tree limb (left you wondering if it would be able to get down), while the other frolicked in the pond. The bald eagles were rescues that were unable to survive in the wild, so kept here as part of education programs. The habitats were clean, expansive and only as caged as necessary (i.e. the Bald Eagles had no upper netting because they could not fly). Gardens: This location boasts both a glorious Japanese Garden and some Italian Gardens (which apparently dates back to the original owners! Imagine?? They had their own Japanese and Italian Garden!!!) The Japanese Gardens has an exquisite Koi Pond with possibly hundreds of fish. There is also a refreshing waterfall that you can get up close and personal with. We were lucky enough to witness a surprise proposal in the Japanese Gardens, on the bridge near the waterfalls. Given the number of people involved and the planning, I hope she said "Yes!". Trolley: I recommend taking the trolley to the different destinations (at least from the parking lot to the farm or gardens). Although everything is technically walkable, there is no point in being overtired by the time you get to these areas. Much better to take the trolley, get off at the farm or the gardens then walk to the other one- especially on a hot day! Drinks: The locations to purchase snacks are few and far between. Definitely pack at least a water bottle. read more

Richmond is SO lucky to have such an amazing park! This place is beyond beautiful. Just be prepared to be amazed. It's almost breathtaking. The sites are all postcard ready, truly picture quality images everywhere you look. And there's more than just the sites to keep you entertained there's exhibits, wildlife, ponds and gardens for you to explore as well. I absolutely LOVED spending the afternoon just walking and taking it all in. And the best part is that there's plenty of parking and it's good for everyone no matter the crowd! Yes, yes, yes I agree with all the other reviews this and definitely recommend making this a go to place when you are in the area! read more

Huge cross county invitational today, drawing runners from all around the state. The grounds were covered with tents for each team as they staked out their bit of territory to rally at. Likewise there were many rows of vendors, sponsors, solicitors, and even the USMC with a pull up bar for challenging those that were willing. The park was wonderful on a sunny, not to hot day... perfect for the race gawkers if not the runners themselves (there were some who had some heat stress issues likely due as much to lack of hydrating as the heat). The park staff did a wonderful job supporting the event. The grounds seem well maintained and we enjoyed wondering among the trees and gardens during the day. Parking was impossible due to the race so its hard to really evaluate that without a return trip on a normal load day. read more

Gorgeous gardens, lots of well-kept and paved walking paths. The nature center is a huge hit with kids, along with the petting farm.

I was a little reluctent when I first arrived at Maymont due to the hills because I had just run a 5.5 mile race the previous day. Needless to say I am SO glad that my parents wanted to check this place out during theire visit to Richmond. I "muddled" through and couldn't have enjoyed myself more. Maymont reminds me of Meadowlark Gardens in Northern Virginia, but on a slightly differnet playing field. The property is this amazing expanse of rolling hills, trees, gardens, and the house. OMG THE HOUSE!! I was so amazed during the tour at the preservation and attention to detail of the estate. I felt like I had stepped back in time to the 1910's and was viewing the amazing lifestyle that some people lived back then. It's a stunning example of the Gilded Age. The collection of pieces that are original to the house is just mind blowing, from the stained glass, to the Tiffany & Co pieces, to the diningware, and my favorite the books in the library. Gosh, I would love to have a room like that library with the built in half wall bookshelves. Along the tour you not only get to see these remarkable treasures, but our guide helped to paint a good picture of what life was like during that time. Separate drawing rooms, even separate bedrooms at some points, the parties and the history of the grounds. Maymont is somewhere that I would take any history buff to see when they were visiting Richmond. read more

This park is massive and my review is only for the animal/petting zoo area of the park. You would need to be a local to review this place properly but if you're a parent visiting with young kids then keep reading. The goats here are the liveliest goats I have ever visited, although I haven't seen many goats so there's that. They have small, cute ones that climb on things, ugly ones that stick their heads between the fence, and a large one that just wants you to feed it all the time. Anyway, this place is a lovely, hill-y, walk loaded with farm animals and some random animals such as a fox, bobcat, eagles and a black bear. They have a station where you can wash your hands after petting the animals and the bathrooms are clean. The suggested admission is $5, apparently it costs a half million dollars annually to maintain the nature center (or the whole park?). Further in, there is a woman peddling fresh popsicles with interesting fruit and herb combinations. I didn't purchase any but the popsicles looked pretty good. It's a great place to walk around for kids and/or adults who are looking to crush their competitors on any Apple Watch Activity Challenges. read more

Informative staff, gorgeous grounds, and fun for everyone! I can't say enough good things about this park. I love every visit. My favorite locations are the Italian and Japanese gardens. Do take the time to visit the mansion as well. I finally got a chance to take a tour myself recently. Calling the decorations and furniture "grandiose" would be an understatement. The mansion is well-kept by staff and you learn a lot about the Dooley's history during the tour. I can't wait to go back for another tour when they "do up" the house for Christmas! read more

I cannot say one bad thing about Maymont! It's the most beautiful, peaceful place in all of Richmond! The gardens here are just breathtaking and going through the Italian garden almost makes you feel like you've gotten on a plane and traveled across the Atlantic! The only thing missing - of course - is some delicious Italian food and hot Italian men! As weird as it is, I also really enjoy the children's zoo! I know I'm 28 years old, but I love a good petting zoo (no perversion intended - I promise)! They've got goats and sheep galore, and sometimes there's even a stray donkey thrown in! If you're visiting Richmond, or if you just moved here you HAVE to make Maymont your first touristy stop! It's well worth the trip! read more

A Richmond staple has gone downhill. Sadly, this once beautiful park has dropped off tremendously. The last few times I've visited (most recently today) its been a terrible experience. The flowerbeds are grown over with weeds, waterfalls are turned off, and the grass isn't cut. The small ponds look more like swamps. Richmond fix this legendary park! read more

I have been going to Maymont for over 25 years and it never disappoints. The Italian gardens are spectacular --so many roses! And the Japanese gardens are worth the hike. Be sure to check out the two rescued otters in the conservatory. They are worth every penny of very reasonable admission price. (Also check out the sea horses). Bring a picnic, camera, and frisbee and stay the day. read more

Maymont - Otters! - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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What a beautiful park! I was so glad we stopped here after our long flight from LA. The fall foliage was absolutely spectacular, and the sound of water rushing from one lake to another was so soothing that I just wanted to lie down and fall asleep right there. Instead, we ended up walking around, taking pictures, and enjoying the scenery and watching others do the same. We saw a lot of parks in Richmond that weekend, but Maymont Park definitely stood out as peaceful, beautiful, and perfect for reading or a picnic on a nice, sunny day. read more

This is the best park I've ever been to. You could easily spend a day (or many) exploring this place, with all the different options they offer at this hundred acre park. First off, its free with a suggested donation of $5 (key word: suggested). The architecture of the mansion & gardens is STUNNING. I'm a sucker for all that history, and instead of covering over all the imperfections of the ancient steps ,they've kept it true to its age. Some might find it hard to walk on, but it's refreshing to see it all preserved. Just walking around the gardens & entire park will give you a serious workout. It's a hundred acre park after all! Also, there is a lot of heavy slopes, and rocky terrain. Plan on bringing lots of water. They also have a farm/animal petting area. Kids love this (and those young at heart). And placed around the area are different animal attractions, lots of birds, a bobcat, etc. It's definitely a treat and a MUST GO place if you're ever in the area, or looking to travel. read more

I've come to Maymont for years and I never get tired of it. It seems like every time I go back, I notice more scenes that I've never seen before. People definitely need to check this place out seasonally as the blooms and leaf colors can completely transform this place. If you're looking for a place to hike around and enjoy some great scenes of nature and architecture, you have to check this place out. Parking and admission is free, although donations are much appreciated. read more

This place is my haven in Richmond. I live in DC but work in Richmond 2 days a week so I come here to "get away." Beautiful grounds to walk around or go for a jog Free entry but it's so gorgeous I donate to contribute to the maintenance Easy parking read more

I love Maymont. I love it in the summer when the waterfall is running, in the winter when it's chilly, in the spring when it explodes with flowers and the fall when it has gorgeous leaves. I love to wander the paths and crawl through the bamboo and sprawl out in the big field with a picnic basket and some friends and a chilly bottle of rosé [I called and asked, the staff has no objections to drinking on the grounds so long as no one is disruptive]. It has a historical house tour, a rose garden, a waterfall, a petting zoo and wild animals and... a science center with otters... Something for everyone and admission to the grounds is free, what's not to love? read more

I love Maymont! Any time of year it is lovely. Rolling hills with big beautiful old trees and very walkable paths. It has everything you could want...a few zoo-like animal exhibits, a few formal gardens (Italian and Japanese), an educational nature center, a kid friendly barn area, a historical mansion you can tour and lots of wide open green areas. Wonderful! I highly recommend this free (they would love your donations!) gem in the heart of Richmond! read more

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You've got to see the playful sea otters in the Robins Nature Center, as well as the roaming buffalo, and other wildlife at this fab park. It's free to get in, but you'll want to pony up for the tram to ride around the huge 100-acre area. If you're into 19th-century history, tour the Dooley House to see how the former owners of this tract lived. Kids love the petting zoo and climbing on the big rocks by the waterfall. You can clamber all the way down beside the falls to reach the Japanese gardens. read more

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Fabulous! Only been there a couple times but I am always impressed. Stopped there today on the impromptu. If I had been wearing better shoes I would have stayed all day. Gardens are beautiful. Will go back soon, take a blanket and book and spend the day read more

Maymont - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Great place to take a walk or just hang out and relax. What amazes me is how few people take advantage our the great parks system we have in Virginia. Plus it uses the all popular four letter word starting with "F" FREE!!!!!!!!! read more

My husband and I were at Maymont Park recently and had the pleasure of touring the Mansion. We were absolutely enthralled by the beauty, and the lengths that they have gone to preserve this wonderful piece of history. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the history as well as the home, the residents, and the decor. We were awe-struck by the splendor, it was very hard to keep my hands to myself I must say. I truly wanted to touch everything, however I obeyed the rules and kept my hands to myself. We also walked down to see the carriages, however, we were distracted by the awesome horses that were quietly munching away in their stalls. There was a lovely employee there who was on hand to allow us to pet and feed the horses for a short time. Being allowed to do that was a special treat and we were indeed grateful. While the park is generally "Free" there is a box at the entrance for donations, it is asked that the donation be $5.00 per person. A nominal fee for such a wonderful place to visit as long as you like, all day until closing. The park has so much to offer, a Japanese garden, a farm, hills, trees, the mansion, the carriage house, carriage rides, and much more! Suffice it to say, we have no issue giving money to preserve such a wonderful place. However even if one cannot afford to, it is still a fantastic place to take ANYONE! Children have ample room to run, there is a lot to look at and to do, and we did not even have an issue parking. The only "down side" we had, and it was probably our own fault for not thinking ahead and bringing provisions with us, the vending machines, all of them, were empty. That is the one and only "criticism" we have. Please, go and enjoy this Richmond gift it is totally worth it!!! read more

This beautiful park in the middle of Richmond is a breath of fresh air. It's serene, calming and a wonderful way to spend a day. Best of all it's free although I do advocate at least making the suggested donation of $5 as you enter the park. The grounds are gorgeous. The specialty gardens are expansive, unique and well-maintained. I especially loved the Japanese garden, but all are impressive. The mansion is striking and I have only seen it from the outside. Tours are offered, but we have not yet had the opportunity to take advantage. I really enjoyed the wildlife exhibit as well. The habitats are natural and the animals are well cared for. The nature center is educational and fun to visit especially catching the river otters playing. There is a small charge to enter the center if you are not a park member. We love to pack a lunch and enjoy a leisurely picnic on the grounds. This is the perfect place for hiking around and enjoying scenery! If you get tired of walking there are trams to take you around the grounds as well. The park sponsors various events throughout the year. If I lived in Richmond, I would visit much more often. Next time I come, I plan to tour the mansion as well. read more

Maymont is a Gem in Richmond. An incredible Gift to the City by a family that worked hard to make it great. The Maymont Foundation has work hard to make it a great place fir families and children to enjoy. There are amazing gardens, animals, mansion, and lots if space for kids to play. Come check it out. read more

Maymont - Maymont Mansion - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia