Always a great place to get out into nature. One of my favorite places to hike with great views of…read morethe river or the woods.

This past weekend, I went to one of my favorite local parks in Vegas, and it prompted me to think…read moreof my favorite urban parks across the United States. Belle Isle was the first place that came to mind! I lived in RVA (Manchester) for a year from 2007-2008, and Belle Isle became a second home for me during that time. As an avid adventurer, I highly recommend Belle Isle for the following reasons (based on my pre-pandemic/circa 2008 experiences): 1.) Egalitarianism: It's a great place to mix and mingle with people from all walks of life. 2.) It's a great choose your own adventure type of place where you could spend an entire day doing a mix of the following activities: kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, reading, sunbathing, whiling away time on the rocks, cloud gazing, having a picnic, doing landscape photography/photoshoots, etc. 3.) The James River! It's the only Class III-IV white water rapids in the U.S. running through the heart of a city center. 4.) Wildlife (especially the aquatic birds)! 5.) Proximity to the rich culture, food, and history in Downtown Richmond that you can explore before or after your Belle Isle adventure.

This is one of our favorite trails to walk because of the scenery. They also have a climbing wall…read morefor all you rock climbers and tons of areas to explore that branch off from these trails.

James River Park Pipeline Walkway is part of the James River Park system and is very deserving of…read moreit's own listing. I have heard people describe this as downtown Richmond's best kept secret. When the river is low (it was at five feet when we went) it can be quite scenic. You get to walk across a vast expanse of boulders that are normally underwater. When the river is high prepare for some Class IV rapids (the Pipeline Rapids stretch is considered Class IV and hazardous at times). The trail itself is often times small catwalk on top of a sewer pipeline just above water level. Ok sewer, I know gross, but the water here is re markedly clean (people were swimming) despite the occasional litterbugs. Hey I grew up surfing a break in El Segundo that was over a sewer pipe (affectionately called Shitpipe), and I am no stranger to water treatment and everything seems fine. I'll report back when I have three eyed babies in the future. And this pipe carries street run-off to a storage area and not to the river. The unique part is that this trail is a mix of industrial combined with nature. You got the iron trail and bridges, with abandoned buildings and then you spot a small island that is a large Great Blue Heron rookery, where dozens of herons nest (http://www.rvariverfront.com/trails/blueheron.html). And then you got a ton of rocks and boulders to hang out on and watch the river. I've seen tons of people sunbathing here and dogs swimming. Now about how to get there: I wouldn't depend on Waze or google maps. Find the James Condominiums (that can serve as a landmark when you are hiking) and park around there. There is to access from the walk at South 12th and Byrd streets or from the east end of Brown's Island. There is parking for a few cars and you have to climb down a metal ladder, but it is well worth it.

This is a nice little park located in Rockett's Landing. While there is very few parking, it is not…read morethat extensive a park such that there is a quick turnover. This parking frees up rather quickly and many people were kind enough to offer up their spot. The Ship Lock Canal runs along the park to cross over to Chapel Island. It was clear that the area is being protected and restored as it is part of the historic William H. Trigg Shipyard Dry dock or Caisson, that originated in the late 1700s and served as the home of destroyers used in the Civil War. The area is rife with wildlife, which is why the city is heavily invested in habitat restoration. So it is a good place for a short hike and and a place for reflection.

Another piece of Richmond's riverfront, this one is a little quieter and farther from downtown than…read morethe Belle Isle area. As with much of the Richmond riverfront, this area has a sense that the old industry was simply abandoned, and the disused canal lock with its flamboyant gate has a ghostly vibe to it. There's a set of trails on a nearby island, and the railroad runs by the area. Parking was pretty limited; I went a block up. There is a much longer trail system of which this area leads into, and there is plenty to do along the river.

If you're jonesing for the beach, or want to do some up close and personal people-watching, check…read moreout this little strip of beach next to Belle Isle. On hot weekends it is crammed with picnicking families touting dogs, toddlers, coolers filled with beer, and baring too small bikinis for all to see... but if you have a random afternoon to yourself, you can probably sit out here without competing with too many other Richmonders for space. There's a rope where over-exuberant teens have been known to fling themselves into the shallow river, and there are rocks you can wade out to and sit on. The river is uneven here- shallow in some places and deep in others, with almost no in between. But it's still a great place to enjoy the river, it's one of the few places that has actual sand...

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!

Gorgeous home to tour! We really enjoyed our visit and all of the people working were super helpful…read moreanswering any questions we had.

We had a lovely picnic celebrating my daughter's birthday. With ample parking acres of lush grounds…read moreand animals to feed an interact with it was a great place for the family.

I had an incredible time at this charming park. As it is getting warmer, I am looking for new to me…read morespots to go on walks after work. Three Lakes Park was the perfect evening refresh. We arrived around 5:30pm and spent until about 7pm exploring all the walking paths. There is something here for everyone. There is a huge playground for little ones, there are paths for walkers/runners/dog walkers, and there were even a bunch of people fishing in the lakes. I love how child-friendly this park is. It felt like most of the bridges, benches, and other fun structures were made by girl or boy scouts. There is a huge parking lot so it's easy to drive to this spot. They also have very clean restrooms. We didn't go in to the nature center, but that was pretty too. I liked that this park had a lot to explore. The water was low enough at one section for us to go to a little island in the middle of one lake. While not all the trees have their leaves yet, I image this is even prettier when everything is in bloom. It was a very serene and lovely place to explore.

Three Lakes is a gem of a park not far from Richmond proper. I love walking here when I happen to…read morebe visiting a business or estate sale nearby and it has always been exceedingly pleasant. This place has plenty of parking, lots of playground equipment, and (as the name suggests) three small lakes to walk around. It's worth noting that the main lake (closes to the park entrance) is where fishing is permitted and has the newest/nicest path as well. The middle lake is enjoyable though is a bit rougher. The far lake was damaged in storms in the past so some of it is pretty rough but still enjoyable to explore. I make sure to hit all three lakes every visit, though if you want a nice clean experience, stick to the main lake. The nature center is nice but fair warning: it's pretty small and won't take more than 10-15 minutes to enjoy in its entirety. Still, the staff member there tends to be nice and there are a few small animals in the little displays there. If you want a fun place to walk (especially if you have kids who like playground equipment), this is a great spot to do it. Overall: 5.0 stars ---- Pros: - Beautiful walking spot. - Pleasant staff. - Lots of free parking. - Fun (if small) nature center. - Plenty of playground equipment for kids. Cons: - It would be great if they fully re-built the third lake, though I suppose the rugged nature of it is part of the charm.

Upon my visit to Richmond, Lena M said walking this pipeline trail was must…read more Honestly, I have never seen anything like this! While at first I was freaked out to climb down the little ladder onto the actual pipe, I am so glad I did. The trail is on a pipe that is over the river and one of the cooler things I have experienced as a walk. There is metered parking in the area and you can easily find a spot before your walk. There are also little beach areas off the pipeline where I saw people relaxing, which seems nice on a good weather day. Overall, you should check this out when in Richmond as it is such a unique experience!

Love the Pipeline Trail... what a cool look at the underbelly of RVA! We hiked all the way along…read morethe river to Belle's Island and loved the scenic views and this bridges and tracks above us! What a fabulous way to get in touch with nature, enjoy the foliage, while getting exercise! I'm looking forward to going again! Word who the wise: wear good shoes! No flip flops!

This park is made to host events. Established in 1851, it has the distinction of being the city's…read moreoldest park. It is a wide open park with a lot of green space. It is located across from the Altria Theater, near the Virginia Commonwealth campus. There is metered street parking and a parking garage available within a reasonable walking distance to and from the park. The park spans about 7 and a half acres and It is named after James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States. The park features some nice paved paths that are pretty wide and popular among joggers/walkers and people walking their dogs. You will find a nice cast iron fountain here at this park and some tables with umbrellas to sit at. Interestingly enough, the park has free wifi, making it a popular spot for VCU student to hang out at. The park has hosted many rallies and events. There was a bronze statue of Williams Carter Wickham, a plantation owner, Confederate general and industrialist, who unapologetically accrued power and wealth through the exploitation of enslaved people. In the wake of the George Floyd protest, protesters tore the statue down. The park was well maintained and also well lit at night, even though it closes at sunset. I did still see people hanging out their late into the evening anyway though. This park is more of a hangout spot than anything. Walker/joggers can also find some value in this park. The park also has a lot to offer a person hosting an event. Some events hosted here include the Iron Blossom Music Festival, Mobile Soul Sunday, Justice for Tyre Nichols protest, Virginia Prison Justice Rally, and grocery/meal give aways. This is definitely a chill spot and worth checking out if you are looking to just kick back and relax. Fun Fact: The park was home to the Richmond's first baseball games.

I knew I wanted to get my steps in and had to visit some park within the city. I figured this…read morewould be the right one since it's right in the smackdab of downtown Richmond off W. Franklin St. There's some nice views of the buildings, a tiny playground, and a fountain in the middle. And... that's about it in terms of sight seeing. Were you expecting Central Park!? Please. THis aint' the Big Apple!