My hometown story isn’t very exciting, but it is very comforting. I still live relatively close to where I grew up and since I have had my first child, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I grew up in Henrico County, which is right outside of Richmond. I went to school with the same people throughout my entire childhood and teenage years. It was so much fun growing up near “the big city” and in the middle of so many historical landmarks. I can’t tell you how many field trips I’ve taken to Williamsburg or Yorktown or any museum in Richmond, and it wasn’t until I was an adult that I really understand why people love Richmond. There is so much history here and it is right in the middle of everything!
When I think about growing up in Henrico, so many things come to mind: spending spring days at Maymont Park, summer time down “on the rocks” and looking at Christmas lights all around the city.
Maymont Park is an awesome place to spend a warm, sunny day. The animals are usually out and about, which is so much fun for people of any age. Maymont also has gorgeous waterfalls and ponds, they’re great to sit by and have a picnic!
The “rocks”, also known as Belle Isle, is a fantastic place to be on a summer day! There are bike trails, walking paths, rocks to lounge on and there is a great view of Hollywood Cemetery (sounds weird, but its really cool). I’ve wasted many summer days lying on the rocks, soaking up the sun with friends! Belle Isle is full of history; there are signs all over the island that describe the historical events that took place there.
The good thing about Virginia in the winter is that it gets cold, but not too cold to go outside. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, in the north side of Henrico, has a really cool light display to walk through. It begins a few weeks before Christmas and lasts until the beginning of the new year. There are also tons of light tours that happen throughout the Christmas season all over the city. It’s definitely something that everyone needs to do, at least once, while in the area.
Richmond is my hometown, my friends and family are here and it’s where I grew up. I find more new and cool things to do all around the Richmond area as I get older. I can’t wait to introduce my daughter (and more future children) to the awesomeness that is Richmond!