Virginia’s Blue Ridge boasts world-class outdoor recreation with 1,000+ miles of trails for hiking, biking, and paddling. | Photos provided by Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge
This region promisesan adventure for every type of traveler, and it’s just a road trip away.
⛰️ Outdoor adventures
Roanoke Star | This iconic symbol atop Mill Mountain is the largest free-standing, man-made, and illuminated star in the world.
Smith Mountain Lake | Enjoy water sports, fishing, and more along 500 miles of shoreline (you can even rent a boat).
McAfee Knob | This 7.8-mile bucket list hike is one of the most photographed spots on the Appalachian Trail.
Upper James River Water Trail | This scenic river with mountain views offers paddling opportunities ranging from a day of tubing to overnight camping trips.
🍽️ Foodie finds
Cheers Trail | Discover local craft beverages with a self-guided tour of some of the region’s best breweries, wineries, and distilleries (psst... download the passport for special deals).
Moonshine Capital of the World | Get a taste of Franklin County’s heritage at its many restaurants, breweries, and distilleries.
Tasty tacos | Roanoke has countless spots to grab delicious tacos — and many of them are on the historic Williamson Road. Check out this Tour de Tacos self-guided cycling route for inspiration.
🎨 Arts + culture
Annual events | From the GO Outside Festival and Salem Fair to the Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival, there’s something to look forward to in every season.
Taubman Museum of Art | See exhibitions drawn from collections around the world, regional artists, and the museum’s permanent collection.
Virginia Museum of Transportation | Explore historic locomotives, classic cars, and other unique artifacts that highlight Virginia’s rich history of travel and transportation.
What would be at the top of your to-do list during a trip to Virginia’s Blue Ridge?
A. Hike to McAfee Knob
B. See a live sporting event in Salem, VA’s Championship City
C. Float the Upper James River Water Trail
D. Sample craft spirits at a distillery in the Moonshine Capital of the World
Fitness Warriors: Feeling Fit with Pat | 6:30 p.m. | Ginter Park Branch Library | Free | Energize your after-work evening with a relaxed, laid-back movement workout.
“The Mocking Bird News” | 7-8 p.m. | Shafer Playhouse, VCU Campus | $15 | You can still grab tickets for this short, five-act play hosted on the final day of the Richmond Fringe Festival.
Tuesday, April 15
Curator Gallery Tour | 12 p.m. | Branch Museum of Design | $35+ | Head to this historic local landmark for lunch and a guided tour with the museum’s “Re-Think Landscape Design” exhibition curators.
Chesapeake Baysox vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels | Tuesday, April 15-Sunday, April 20 | Times vary | The Diamond | $13+ | Hit The Diamond for a week of eventful Flying Squirrels games featuring Jackie Robinson Day, Diamond Through the Decades, firework shows + more.
Wednesday, April 16
Tiny Shiny Jewelry Sale | Wednesday, April 16-Friday, April 18 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Murry N. DePillars Building | Price of purchase | Head to West Broad to peruse and purchase unique, handmade jewelry by VCUarts Craft + Material Studies students.
Tuckahoe Creek Park is expecting a 20-acre expansion, according to a press release from Henrico County Recreation & Parks. Donated by The Wilton Companies, the new acreage will introduce an additional boardwalk, trailhead, and educational landmarks preserving the land’s history.
Development
Richmond officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony kicking off official Diamond District infrastructure developments. Phase 1A of construction includes plans for four new streets, a park, and several new commercial and residential buildings. Check out more development details.
In other Diamond District news, CarMax Park has announced more stadium construction milestones. Concrete has been poured for lower-level seating, framing is underway for a beer garden, and the final steel beam is waiting to be placed — all that and more.
Mansion Monday
Step into history with this 1838 Colonial Revival home — known as “Talavera” — now on the market in The Fan. See inside the 4,728-sqft house with parquet oak floors, detailed stained glass windows, intricate plaster moulding, and a covetable outdoor living + gardening space.
Mailbag
Last week, we asked you to send in pictures of your pets, and we were paw-sitively in awe of your adorable friends. Send your favorite pics + your pet’s name for a potential feature. Here’s Covey — one of Richmond’s more active residents — enjoying Chimborazo Park and a Flying Squirrels game.
Seasonal
It’s social event season — outsmart the noise of rumbling crowds and hear conversations more clearly. Most hearing aids have one processor, but these bad boys have two. They process speech and noise separately, so speech gets clearer and crisper. That’s why 540,000+ customers swear by them.*
Biz
Our Parents’ Gift Guide is almost complete, but we have a few spots left to feature your business’s product or service. Secure your spot just in time for Mother’s Day + Father’s Day.
More than 25 artists and designers. Two years of intensive research and work. One immersive, boundary-pushing exhibit.
The VCUarts MFA Thesis Exhibition is now on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art and The Anderson. It’s dynamic, cutting-edge, and delightfully perplexing — and we highly recommend you make the trip.
LED under cabinet lights, so you can finally have light in dark closets, above kitchen counters, or beneath shelves. The wireless lights turn on with a motion sensor and can be adjusted between five different brightness levels.
I loved my trip to see the new VCUarts exhibit. Honestly, art can be intimidating to me sometimes — I can feel slightly defeated when I don’t understand at first glance.
This exhibit demands some extra time and thought, but I found it so worth the effort in the end. The collection is deeply human, and it’s astounding how much work was involved — a comforting reminder of Richmond’s rich creative capacity.
If you get to visit, let me know which piece of art moved you the most.
Answered
Answered
🥾 What’s your go-to Richmond trail?
Here are five hike-worthy reader responses:
- Buttermilk Trail
- North Bank & Buttermilk
- Railroad Ave. in Ashland
- Richmond Slave Trail
- Floodwall
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