Richmond, VA?
With its impressive architecture and tree lined streets, the
city of Richmond is perhaps the most beautiful city in Virginia. As
the former capitol of the Confederacy, Richmond has a long and rich
history of southern values and culture. However, Richmond has come
to embrace the modern world wholeheartedly in recent years and is
currently experiencing an impressive amount of economic growth.
Here is what you need to know about the different neighborhoods of
Richmond, Virginia.
The Fan District
In many ways, the Fan is the cultural center of Richmond, but it
can take some time to learn your way around. The Fan consists of
hundreds of Victorian townhouses and homes on narrow streets that
fan out toward the west from downtown. The area is home to an
eclectic mix of professionals, students, free thinkers and many
locally owned businesses.
Carytown
No visit to Richmond is complete without a stroll along Cary
Street through Richmond's Carytown neighborhood. Carytown is home
to a wide range of cool little shops, bustling coffee houses and
award winning restaurants. Be sure to set aside time to catch a
cheap movie at the historic Byrd Theater.
Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe Slip
The cobblestone streets of Shockoe Slip are home to some of the
trendiest restaurants in Richmond, as well as the most expensive
boutique shops. If you take a few short steps past the old orange
train station, you will find yourself in Shockoe Bottom, home to
many of the bars and nightclubs of the city. Generally speaking,
people come in from the suburbs to hang out in Shockoe Bottom,
while the city dwellers stick to many little restaurants and bars
hidden throughout the Fan.
Downtown Richmond
Downtown Richmond is pretty much all business. There is a huge
Federal Reserve building, and the city has a thriving banking
industry. The downtown area is pretty much empty at night, but
there are a few good watering holes like Penny Lane Pub if you know
where to look.
Belle Island
For the locals, James River and Belle Island offer an
opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors without needing to
leave the city. Belle Island is located in the middle of the James
River just about where it snakes past downtown. This historic
island was used as a prison facility during the Civil War, but
today it is a public park where Richmonders love to walk, run, fish
and explore.