Richmond, Virginia: Where the Ghosts Are Chill and the Humidity is…Present
okay, so. Richmond. I didn’t plan to end up here, honestly. My van, Beatrice (she’s a temperamental beauty, let me tell you), decided she needed a serious tune-up, and the best mechanic I could find was…here. Which, fine. Turns out, it’s kinda great? Like, surprisingly great.
I just checked and it's clinging to everything like a damp hug - the temperature’s hovering around two degrees Celsius, but it feels closer to freezing. Ninety-one percent humidity. You’ve been warned. Bring layers. And a dehumidifier, maybe.
I’m a botanist, so naturally, I spent a good chunk of my time wandering around *Maymont Park. Seriously, the Italian Garden is chef’s kiss. I’ve never seen so many different varieties of ferns crammed into one space. It’s a little chaotic, a little overgrown, which is exactly how I like it. I even spotted a few rare orchids tucked away - definitely worth a wander. Check out some reviews on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60864-d117877-Reviews-Maymont_Park-Richmond_Virginia.html.
I’ve been crashing at a little Airbnb in Church Hill. It’s…interesting. The house itself is gorgeous - all Victorian gingerbread and peeling paint. But the neighbors? Let’s just say they’re characters. I overheard someone complaining about the squirrels stealing their birdseed. Apparently, it’s a major neighborhood issue. If you get bored, Petersburg is just a short drive away - they have a surprisingly good battlefield park.
Speaking of characters, I spent an evening at The Hofbräuhaus Richmond. It’s…loud. Very loud. And the beer is…well, it’s German beer. You know what you’re getting. I overheard a group of guys arguing about the best way to smoke a brisket. It was peak Richmond. You can find their menu and hours on Yelp https://www.yelp.com/biz/hofbrauhaus-richmond-richmond.
“Someone told me that if you go down by the James River at night, you can hear the ghosts of the Civil War soldiers. Said they’re mostly just sad and looking for their mothers.”
I’m not usually one for ghost stories, but…Richmond has a vibe. A heavy, historical vibe. I spent a morning wandering around Hollywood Cemetery. It’s…intense. So many elaborate tombstones. So much history. It’s beautiful, in a melancholy sort of way. I’m thinking of checking out some local ghost tours - there are a few listed on this Richmond forum https://www.rva.city/forums/topic/ghost-tours-in-richmond/.
I also stumbled upon this amazing little vintage shop, Gather. Seriously, the owner has an eye for everything*. I snagged a killer 1970s floral dress for like, twenty bucks. You can find them on Instagram - they post new arrivals all the time. https://www.instagram.com/shopgatherrva/.
“Drunk advice I got from a guy at a bar: ‘Don’t go near Shockoe Bottom after dark. Something bad happened there.’”
I’m not sure what “something bad” means, but I’m taking his advice. I’m sticking to the parks and the vintage shops for now.
Honestly, Richmond is a weird, wonderful place. It’s got history, it’s got charm, it’s got humidity. And it’s got Beatrice getting fixed, so…that’s a win, right?