{"id":8526,"date":"2023-05-18T14:14:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T18:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/?p=8526"},"modified":"2023-05-18T14:14:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T18:14:43","slug":"outdoor-activities-to-check-out-in-downtown-richmond-va","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/outdoor-activities-to-check-out-in-downtown-richmond-va\/","title":{"rendered":"Outdoor Activities to Check Out in Downtown Richmond, VA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The City of Richmond offers unique outdoor experiences. The James River flows through the city providing spectacular views and awesome options for recreation. For those who prefer to stay dry, downtown has a variety of areas, each with their own unique personality. Stumble upon great opportunities in Richmond whether it&#8217;s a friendly park, an informative walking trail or a local farmer\u2019s market.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/\">CityParking<\/a> has parking lots scattered all throughout the city to help you access some of Richmond\u2019s most engaging and interesting outdoors areas.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of our favorite outdoor activities:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>1. Exploring Famous Landmarks: Downtown &amp; Shockoe Slip<\/h2>\n<p>Enjoy both indoor and outdoor sightseeing and explore some of Richmond\u2019s notable sites and attractions.<\/p>\n<p>Start with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginia.org\/listing\/riverfront-canal-cruises\/17174\/\">Canal Cruise<\/a> and enjoy a 40-minute historically narrated tour of the James River and Kanawha Canal. \u00a0From there, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginia.org\/listing\/richmond-slavery-reconciliation-statue\/26585\/\">Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue<\/a>.\u00a0 The Statue is one part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginia.org\/listing\/richmond-slave-trail\/226\/\">Richmond Slave Trail<\/a> (read more below).<\/p>\n<p>Continue East on Main street to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjakJ61j_j-AhVYD1kFHZ97DccQFnoECBAQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmainstreetstationrichmond.com%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw2smYS_aC-wFtfibDlEu9aq\">Richmond\u2019s Main Street Station<\/a>. Built in 1901 and renovated in 2018, Main Street Station provides regular rail service and beautifully designed event spaces in its Headhouse and newly renovated Shed. Conclude your walking tour with a stroll to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginia.org\/listing\/the-valentine-first-freedom-center\/25740\/\">The Valentine First Freedom Center,<\/a>\u00a0 located at the site where Virginia\u2019s temporary capitol stood in Richmond. The First Freedom Center commemorates and educates passersby about freedom of religion and conscience as proclaimed in Thomas Jefferson\u2019s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to grab a bite to eat at one of the many Shockoe Slip restaurants! CityParking has a nearby parking lot that will make your walking tour a breeze:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lot 141:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1410+E+Cary+St+Garage\/@37.5345662,-77.4343886,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b111191978c5fd:0xb2c79ea31d9e1142!8m2!3d37.534562!4d-77.4318137!16s%2Fg%2F11f_p2_l5w\"> 14th &amp; Cary Parking Deck<\/a> (central to all, ~5 min walk to all locations)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>2.\u00a0 Walking the Pipeline Trail<\/h2>\n<p>The Pipeline Trail is a unique pathway that takes you over a stormwater pipeline alongside the rapids of the James River.<\/p>\n<p>This section of the river is lush with beautiful green foliage in the spring and summertime, as well as views of some of the river\u2019s islands. This is a great spot to look for birds or whitewater rafters. Try out a quick walk on the pipeline or settle into one of the sandy and rocky spots on the riverbank. During the summer, this can be a great place to cool off and hang out with friends.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to <a href=\"https:\/\/water.weather.gov\/ahps2\/hydrograph.php?gage=rmdv2&amp;wfo=akq\">check the river levels<\/a> before planning an excursion on the Pipeline Trail. If the river rises too high, it can be unsafe to walk the trail.<\/p>\n<p>If this seems like your kind of adventure, CityParking has a nearby parking lot that can make your day by the river even more easy going than before:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lot 125: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1451+E+Main+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5358131,-77.4323381,18z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b11119285f657d:0xfedcd4501fe43f34!8m2!3d37.5344376!4d-77.4306643\">Dock Street<\/a> (3 minute walk)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8528\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8528\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8528 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"463\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8528\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8528 size-full lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-2.png 620w, https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-2-300x224.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/noscript> Photo credit: Eli Christman\/ Flickr Creative Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>3.\u00a0 Strolling Down the Canal Walk<\/h2>\n<p>This 1.25 mile long urban walking path follows Richmond\u2019s canal and connects you with Brown\u2019s Island on the western end and the Capital Trail on the eastern end. Walk, run or bike along the path and soak in some of Richmond\u2019s history, art and culture.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the canal views and glimpses of the river at either end, there are attention-grabbing murals located along the Canal Walk.<\/p>\n<p>The area has a deep historical significance with the canal dating back to the 1780s. As people explore the Canal Walk they will pass by 22 medallions built into the ground. Each one gives detail on places, people, companies and events that are historically linked to the Canal Walk.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/venturerichmond.com\/our-services\/riverfront-canal-cruises\/\">Riverfront Canal Cruises<\/a> are located along the trail for those who are interested in learning more about Richmond\u2019s history. During the spring, summer and fall there are historic tours every hour and opportunities to book a private charter.<\/p>\n<p>Give yourself plenty of time to explore and drop your car in the nearby CityParking lot. We have a lot located right beside Dock Street that allows you to easily access the Canal Walk:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lot 31: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1660+Dock+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5324103,-77.4331772,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b1111957b6dbc1:0xd6841bcc7c791111!8m2!3d37.5324061!4d-77.4306023!16s%2Fg%2F11cshk408v\">Cary &amp; Dock <\/a>(1 minute walk)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 141:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1410+E+Cary+St+Garage\/@37.5345662,-77.4343886,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b111191978c5fd:0xb2c79ea31d9e1142!8m2!3d37.534562!4d-77.4318137!16s%2Fg%2F11f_p2_l5w\"> 14th &amp; Cary Parking Deck<\/a> (5 minute walk)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8529\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8529\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8529 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8529\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8529 size-full lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-3.png 620w, https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Outdoor-blog-pic-3-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/noscript> Photo credit: Eli Christman\/ Flickr Creative Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>4.\u00a0 Learning Richmond\u2019s History Through The Slave Trail<\/h2>\n<p>The Richmond Slave Trail walks you back in time to better understand what enslaved people endured in Virginia. This self-guided tour takes you to the locations of former slave markets, the Reconciliation Statue and more. It runs from the Manchester Docks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginia.org\/listing\/lumpkins-jail\/180\/\">Lumpkin&#8217;s Slave Jail<\/a> and the Negro Burial Ground to First African Baptist Church.<\/p>\n<p>Richmond was historically one of the largest exporters of enslaved people. The 17-stop trail educates you on how slavery was enforced in Virginia, where people were sold, attempts at freedom, where people lived and where they were buried.<\/p>\n<p>One of the last stops on the Richmond Slave Trail is the location of Lumpkin\u2019s Jail where enslaved people were held and auctioned off. The site was later owned by Mary Lumpkin, an African American woman who had been married to the jail\u2019s owner Robert Lumpkin. Mary Lumpkin rented the building to a Christian School that was a part of the institutions that led to the inception of Virginia Union University.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to walk this trail, park at one of CityParking\u2019s lots in Shockoe Bottom:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lot 16: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1604+E+Broad+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5368403,-77.4294549,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b1111f83e20f7d:0x322d6b8d00019f3f!8m2!3d37.5368361!4d-77.42688!16s%2Fg%2F11ckqm6w0h\">16th &amp; Broad<\/a> (2 minute walk)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 222: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/200+N+17th+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5354522,-77.4294979,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b1111fa6c431c7:0x817c1bfc2a122bda!8m2!3d37.535448!4d-77.426923!16s%2Fg%2F11cs6zhgtk\">17th St. &amp; Ambler <\/a>(3 minute walk)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 160: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1604+E+Franklin+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5350152,-77.4302809,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b1111f048aae15:0xe51727a92f99ffd7!8m2!3d37.535011!4d-77.427706!16s%2Fg%2F11cs9926hb\">Lovings Parking <\/a>(3 minute walk)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>5.\u00a0 Visiting Local Farmers Markets<\/h2>\n<p>For those who want to enjoy the outdoors without physically exerting themselves, Richmond has several farmers markets to check out. Browse through vendors, support local businesses and even treat yourself to some yummy food.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginia.org\/listing\/17th-street-farmers-market\/12087\/\">17th Street Farmers Market<\/a> is one of the oldest markets in the city, and has been a center of community and connection for the area. Every Saturday, the market hosts produce vendors with meats and vegetables, along with vendors for baked goods and locally made crafts.<\/p>\n<p>On top of the typical weekly event, the 17th street market will often host special events \u2013 everything ranging from live music to festivals, art installations and themed market days.<\/p>\n<p>If you find yourself free on a Thursday, <a href=\"https:\/\/rvagriculture.org\/onthesquarevafarmersmarket\/\">On the Square VA Farmers Market <\/a>provides a lunchtime opportunity to check out local vendors and their goodies.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t worry about finding parking for either market, CityParking has several lots in Shockoe right by all the action:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lot 160: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1604+E+Franklin+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5350152,-77.4302809,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b1111f048aae15:0xe51727a92f99ffd7!8m2!3d37.535011!4d-77.427706!16s%2Fg%2F11cs9926hb\">Lovings Parking<\/a> (2 min walk from 17th St.)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 222: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/200+N+17th+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5354522,-77.4294979,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b1111fa6c431c7:0x817c1bfc2a122bda!8m2!3d37.535448!4d-77.426923!16s%2Fg%2F11cs6zhgtk\">17th St. &amp; Ambler <\/a>(2 min walk from 17th St.)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 141:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1410+E+Cary+St+Garage\/@37.5345662,-77.4343886,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b111191978c5fd:0xb2c79ea31d9e1142!8m2!3d37.534562!4d-77.4318137!16s%2Fg%2F11f_p2_l5w\"> 14th &amp; Cary Parking Deck<\/a> (5 min walk from On the Square)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 15: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1451+E+Main+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5344418,-77.4332392,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b11119285f657d:0xfedcd4501fe43f34!8m2!3d37.5344376!4d-77.4306643\">15th &amp; Main<\/a> (5 min walk from On the Square)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>6.\u00a0 Attending Kanawha Plaza Events<\/h2>\n<p>The Kanawha Plaza is a three-acre plaza that connects Richmond\u2019s Central Business District with the James River area. One of the main features of this space is the large sunken pool with its pyramid-shaped fountain rising out of the waters.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to being a pedestrian-friendly park for those to stroll around, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tclf.org\/landscapes\/kanawha-plaza\">Kanawha Plaza<\/a> hosts a variety of community events in the summer months. These include Brunch on the Plaza (a monthly cookout with food trucks and a DJ), movie nights and even concerts.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone is allowed to attend events, though some require purchasing a ticket.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a fun activity to take the family to during the warmer months, there is sure to be something going on at the Kanawha Plaza.<\/p>\n<p>With the park being located in-between two busy streets and over top of the highway, it can be difficult figuring out where to park.\u00a0 No worries, there are a few CityParking lots close by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lot 23: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/800+E+Cary+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5379212,-77.4401469,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b11117dbf7f30b:0x5737f77f9730303c!8m2!3d37.537917!4d-77.437572!16s%2Fg%2F11c5lknzsv\">8th &amp; Cary Parking Deck<\/a> (3 min walk)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 823: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/838+E+Cary+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219\/@37.5377812,-77.4396789,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b11117e70db3cb:0x905b881182476ebd!8m2!3d37.537777!4d-77.437104!16s%2Fg%2F11csmdy68x\">First National Parking Deck <\/a>(3 min walk)<\/li>\n<li>Lot 141:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/1410+E+Cary+St+Garage\/@37.5345662,-77.4343886,17z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89b111191978c5fd:0xb2c79ea31d9e1142!8m2!3d37.534562!4d-77.4318137!16s%2Fg%2F11f_p2_l5w\"> 14th &amp; Cary Parking Deck<\/a> (10 minute walk)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Explore the Outdoors with CityParking<\/h2>\n<p>Don\u2019t let parking hold you back from all of the outdoors activities in Richmond. CityParking makes exploring your city easy and affordable. The rates for our lots are reasonable and will never cost nearly as much as a parking ticket.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/contactless-parking\/\">Download one of the apps we partner with<\/a> or use our <a href=\"http:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/contactless-parking\/\">parking locator<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The City of Richmond offers unique outdoor experiences. The James River flows through the city providing spectacular views and awesome options for recreation. For those who prefer to stay dry, downtown has a variety of areas, each with their own unique personality. Stumble upon great opportunities in Richmond whether it&#8217;s a friendly park, an informative &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,139],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-richmond"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8526"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8533,"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8526\/revisions\/8533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kwchost.com\/staging-cityparking\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}