Richmond/West End

• Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

  phone: +1 804 262-9887
  address: 1800 Lakeside Ave
  The Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens was once property owned by the Powhatan Indians, but was purchased in 1884. It has become one of the top public gardens in the US because of its facilities, programs, and displays. There are over 50 acres of garden with theme gardens including the Healing Garden, Asian Valley, Rose Garden, Children's Garden... There are several libraries and an education center, a visitors center, cafe, garden shop, and tree house. The garden is open all year long, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

• The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen

  address: 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen VA 23060
  The Cultural Arts Center holds special events and performances, classes, and exhibits. Some examples are the Latin Ballet of Virginia, comedy and musical theatre performances.

• Innsbrook After Hours

  address: 4901 Lakebrook Drive Glen Allen, VA 23060
  Holds annual summer concert series and events

• Meadow Farm Museum

  address: 3400 Mountain Rd.
  1860 living history farm site and museum

• Bogey's Sports

  address: 1675 Ashland Road
  Driving range, batting cave, miniature golf

• Regal Short Pump

  address: 11650 W. Broad Street
  14 movie theatres

• Bowl America

  address: 4400 Pouncey Tract Rd

• Henrico County Tourist Information Center

  address: 3812 Nine Mile Rd
  The new tourist center opened September 17, 2010 in the restored Dabbs House Museum. The center has information for travelers on Richmond's historic and cultural sites, as well as guides and information for the rest of Virginia.

• Eastern Henrico Recreation CenterThis 24 acre recreation center is being reconstructed. The new model will be modified to comply with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. It will include a new fitness center, gym, activity spaces, classrooms, and administrative offices. Outdoors there will be a football field, track field, concession building, restrooms, and larger shelter. It is scheduled to be finished in the summer of 2011.

• Kings Dominion Amusement Park

  address: 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, VA 23047
  Although Kings Dominion is not in Richmond, it is about 20 miles away in Doswell, Virginia. It is a 400 acre amusement park. It was opened in 1975 with 15 rides. Now, some of the popular rides include the Hurler (1994), Rebel Yell (1975), Shockwave (1986), El Dorado (2009), Avalanche (1988), Scrambler (2003), and Anaconda (1991). The park now also includes a water park called WaterWorks which includes the Lazy Rider, Baja Bends, Spiral Chutes, Shoot the Curl, Tornado, Pipeline Peak... The park also includes a Theater, the Mason Dixon Music Call, KingsWood Amphitheaer, Eifel Tower replica, and the Action Theater.

• The National

  address: 708 E. Broad Street Richmond VA 23219
  The National Theater in Richmond opened in 1923. It was a popular site in the downtown scene in RIchmond. It hosted vaudeville, silent movies and a live orchestra. It was designed by architect Claude K Howell. From the outside, the building looks like an Italian Renaissance villa. The nation was recently restored and reopened, as RIchmond's newest concert venue. It has featured bands like Blues Traveler, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Ben FOlds, Elvis Costello, Melissa Ethridge, Pat Benatar, Justin TImberlake, and Matchbox 20. Payments accepted are cash, AMEX, VIsa, Mastercard, and Discover cards. Tickets can be purchased at the door or through Ticketmaster.

• Short Pump Town Center-

  address: 11800 West Broad Street
  Short Pump mall is a beautiful place in Richmond. It is an outdoor mall with all of your major stores and department stores. Short Pump is romantic and quaint surrounded by waterfalls and beautiful lights and décor. The only negative thing about Short Pump is the fact that outdoor malls do not take into consideration cold weather. If it is cold and raining out, Short Pump is not the place to be, however, on a beautiful spring day, it’s perfect. It’s more of an upscale shopping center with restaurants like ‘The Cheesecake Factory’, or ‘Firebirds’. The shops range from your ‘Nordstrom’s’ and ‘Gap’ to fine jewelry and boutique clothing. Short Pump is the perfect place to visit if it’s your first time in the area. The shopping, food, and scenery are perfect.
• Gayton Crossing Shopping Center on Gaskins Rd. at Gayton Rd., also in Henrico County
• Regency Square Mall Located at Parham and Quioccasin Roads in Henrico County

• Cary Town

  phone: +1 804 522-8696
  Carytown was established in the late 1920s. It is recognized as a superior shopping district in Richmond with over 200 businesses. It has been preserved as a historic area. Carytown offers popular groceries including Fresh Market, Martin's, Ellwood Thompsons, and Krogers. There are cafes and coffee shops, like Bev's Homemade Ice cream, Cary Street Cafe. There are spas, candy shops, clothing boutiques, and vintage and consignment stores like Halltree and Bygones... Check out the restaurants while you're there - some of the best eateries in Richmond, from the low-end Galaxy Diner to the Thai restaurants, make their homes in Carytown. There is the Byrd Theater which screens movies for $2.00. Each year Carytown hosts an annual Watermelon Festival which draws 100,000 people from near and far.

• Kenji Hibachi and Sushi- Located at 11740 West Broad Street, Suite 102B Richmond, VA. A smaller, more quaint sushi and hibachi restaurant. The staff is very welcoming and remembers their “regular” customers. They also are great at helping decide what to order on the menu. Their pink panther roll is one of their most famous rolls and for a good reason. They are reasonably priced compared to other hibachi and sushi restaurants. It’s never overly crowded so reservations aren’t necessary (unless you are with a large group). Casual dress is fine and children are welcomed.

• Melting Pot

  address: 9704 Gayton Rd
  Su-Th 5PM-10PM, F-Sa 5PM-12PM. This is fondue restaurant with a great wine list. The food prices are on the high end. On Thursday night there is a wine tasting in the bar area for $10 and you get to sample three different wines and meal purchase is not required. meals $18-$50, fondue $13 plus $6.50 for each additional person.

• Sakura Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar

  address: 9008 W. Broad St
  They have sushi, habachi grill, and normal menu.

• Byram's Seafood

  address: 3215 W. Broad St
  Most entrees are under $15.

• Greek Islands

  address: 9503 W. Broad St
  Serving authentic Greek food for 35 years with most entrees are under $15.

• Grandpa Eddie's Alabama Ribs & BBQ

  address: 12859 Broad Street
  Road. Best BBQ in town! Virginia State Championship BBQ. Beef Brisket, Ribs, Pulled Pork. Catering and Private Parties too!

• Pho So 1

  phone: +1 804-673-9940
  address: 6403 Rigsby Rd
  Hands down the best beef phở in Richmond, and, according to many, rivals what you get in Saigon. Complete with packed crowds on the weekends and hurried servers, but still worth the wait. Order a durian bubble tea (off-menu) for dessert, and you'll feel like you're in Southeast Asia.

• Red, Hot & Blue

  address: 9502 W. Broad St
  This is the BBQ spot. Most entrees are under $10.

• UMI

  address: 11645 W Broad Street
  Best sushi in town!

• House of Vietnam

  address: 3402 Pump Road
  One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the area.

• Glory Days Grill

  address: 10466 Ridgefield Parkway
  Glory Days Grill is a sports bar which includes a wide variety of foods at reasonable prices. This is a great family restaurant with an entertainment room in the back. There are many TVS - big and small - in the restaurant with volume controlled radios at each table. Glory Days serves lunch and dinner. Its casual dining. You can dine in or take out.

• Mekong Vietnamese Restaurant

  address: 6004 W. Broad St
  Great Vietnamese food, and an excellent beer selection.

• Bar Louie’s located at 11788 West Broad Street in Richmond, VA. Bar Louie’s a casual bar which also offers food. There are two bars inside of the establishment which helps with the crowds on the weekends. If you are going with a large crowd you will want to reserve a table since spots at the bars fill up quickly. The age group varies from early twenties to late fifties. Certain weekends there is a cover charge (normally about $7) so call ahead to check. It gets busy around 10:30-11pm and parking is hard to come by. There’s a back exit and front porch that can be used for smoking.

• Shula's 2

  address: 6624 W. Broad St
  This is a sports bar also with about 30 plasma screen HD TV's.

• Capital Ale House

  address: 4024-A Cox Rd
  75 Beers on draft and over 200 bottled beers. Beer prices can range from $2 to $50.

• Home Team Grill

  address: 11351 Nuckols Road

• Rare Olde Times Irish Pub

  address: 10602 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, VA 23229
  Having a long tradition as a centerpiece in people's lives, public houses have acted as hardware stores, "spirit groceries", undertakers, and in many other capacities. But as a place for friends and community to gather in an informal setting, pubs have become less well known. Rare Olde Times is distinctly a Public House. You can find casual and regular acquaintances, friendly staff, a homely setting, and the personal touch that family ownership brings. Andy is a native of Dublin, Ireland and named the pub after a favorite song of his father’s.

• Comfort Suites At Virginia Center Commons

  address: 10601 Telegraph Road
  Offers guests free breakfast, free high-speed Internet access and an indoor heated pool.

• Sheraton Richmond West

  address: 6624 W. Broad St

• Virginia Crossings Resort

  address: 1000 Virginia Center Parkway
  Glen Allen is 10 miles north of downtown Richmond and only 20 miles from the Richmond International Airport.

• Courtyard Richmond North/Glen Allen

  address: 10077 Brook Rd
  The new state-of-the-art lobby at Courtyard Richmond North provides greater flexibility and choices for our guests. This Glen Allen hotel's lobby features inviting, flexible spaces to work or relax in, free Wi-Fi throughout and easy access to the latest news via our GoBoard™. The highlight of our lobby is The Bistro, which provides breakfast and dinner service with cocktails. The hotel offers 2800 square feet of flexible meeting space, perfect for corporate events and social gatherings. Just a short drive to downtown Richmond, Kings Dominion, Richmond International Airport, and Busch Gardens, our hotel has an ideal location no matter where you want to go! Our North Richmond hotel is also within easy reach of the dining, shopping and entertainment of nearby Virginia Center Commons Mall, Short Pump Towne Center, Carytown, and Shockoe Slip. Courtyard Richmond North is within minutes of Villa Park, Owens and Minor, and Bass Pro Shops. Welcome to Courtyard Richmond North/Glen Allen, It's a new stay!

Budget

• Suburban Extended Stay Hotel North West

  address: 7831 Shrader Road
  This extended stay hotel offers on-site guest laundry facilities and free wireless high-speed Internet.

Mid-range

• Wingate

  address: 13991 North Gayton Rd

Splurge

• Embassy Suites Hotel Richmond

  phone: +1 804 672-8585
  address: 2925 Emerywood Pkwy
  Enjoy a nightly reception and cooked-to-order breakfast.

• The area code is 804.
• Postal cities include Glen Allen, Short Pump, Tuckahoe, Wyndham, and Henrico.
• You can find free Wi-Fi at Panera Bread locations on Broad St, and at Stony Point and Willow Lawn and at the Capital Ale House on Cox Rd. You can also find Wi-Fi at the Twin Hickory YMCA or any McDonalds.