Hello and welcome! I’m Lauren Z Ray, and I moved to Richmond, Virginia exactly 1 year ago and over the last year, I have compiled some things that I wish I knew before moving here. Some things were so much better than I expected and some things were definitely not.
So whether you're planning to move here or just curious about what made my list...let’s dive in to 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Richmond, Virginia.
If you'd like to watch the video, you can here:👇
1. The James River
The James River is massive river that flows right through the city and downtown. Before moving here I didn’t really consider it as a reason I wanted to live here but that quickly changed once I got here. Literally you can just drive across it and see the most beautiful views. I have never seen anything like it, even in other river cities.
We also have Belle Isle in the middle of the river which you can walk to from the Belle Isle Suspension Bridge or the T Pott Bridge and that has incredible views of the river and downtown. This also is a great selfie spot!
I’ve also enjoyed watching kayakers go down the rapids here. Oh did I mention Richmond has Class IV rapids right in our downtown? These are for experienced riders or you can take a trip down them with one of the tour groups in town.
Also this summer I went wake surfing on the James, I literally had so much fun doing this. And have also kayaked the river at the Huguenot Flatwater. Literally the options are endless for adventures on the river. Plus, the views are absolutely stunning!
But also, sometimes the James River isn’t safe. There is a long history of multiple sewer pipe bursts and overflows into the James River over the years. These incidents are often exacerbated by the city's combined sewer system, which dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This system combines stormwater and wastewater into the same pipes, which can overflow during heavy rainfall.
Key Incidents:
September 2021: After heavy rainfall overwhelmed the system, lead to flooding and sewer overflows into the James River (RVAHub) .
July 2024: Two separate incidents occurred along the Tredegar Pipeline Trail, then immediate repair efforts by the city (Richmond Free Press) .
They say there are efforts to upgrade the system and I sure hope there is because the river is incredible and should be treated as such.
2. The Food
I’m vegan, so I feel like I should have low expectations everywhere I go. But not here. I knew we had a good vegan scene before I moved here but now it’s even better than I could have imagined!
We have a 100% vegan bakery called Minglewood in Carytown, we have Tiny Vegan which is a 100% vegan American restaurant with comfort food, and Philly Vegan which is 100% vegan Philly cheesesteak spot - and new spots popping up with tons of vegan-friendly options. From food trucks to fancy restaurants, there’s something for everyone. And again, if there’s a food scene for me as a vegan, that’s a great sign for a city.
Also we have tons of farmer's markets, and many of them year round like RVA Big Market, Birdhouse Farmer’s Market, Dorey Park Market, Carytown Farmer’s Market, Scott’s Addition and many more!
3. The History
Richmond’s History is everywhere…and also not everywhere.
Before I moved here I read a ton of books about Richmond and many about its history. I love history and this is a huge reason why I love Richmond so much. BTW “A History Lover’s Guide to Richmond” is absolutely the best book to read before moving here & also if you already live here. It takes you through top places to visit and the history behind those places. A MUST READ.
I thought I knew Richmond pretty well. I knew the facts, the history, but I didn’t really know Richmond yet.
It wasn’t until I got here and started visiting the museums, talking to tour guides and talking to people that I learned more about Richmond.
Richmond has a long and lengthy past and that comes up a lot here. You have 18th century places like Historic St. John's Church and Virginia State Capitol then 19th century ones like Old City Hall and Main Street Station. Those you can see. But there is a lot of history that you can’t see.
Like what was located in Shockoe Bottom before Main Street Station was built or who actually built the Virginia State Capital. That history isn’t spoken about enough.
Thankfully I got tons of fantastic book recommendations from people to learn more. And I highly recommend reading at least one of those to really get to know Richmond. The Black History Museum of Richmond is also a fantastic place to visit for more information.
Books to Read:
If you have any other recommendations for me, please DM me on Instagram! I'd love to learn more.
4. The Events
There’s always something happening in Richmond. And if there isn’t you probably just don’t know about it. From food festivals to music events, to art shows & broadway shows to niche Richmond things like Goth Prom, Watermelon Festival and 804 Day - there is so many events!
My weekly vlogs on this channel do a great job of showing you what is going on around Richmond but also following my Instagram can be helpful to know what’s going on too - I do videos on things to do around Richmond and vegan food to eat (@laurenzray). And my friend Elaine (@miss_elaine_neous) dedicates her whole page to sharing events around Richmond, so make sure to follow there too. I also love (@therichmondexperience) who highlights tons going on in Richmond.
5. The Weather
Richmond has all four seasons, and sometimes you’ll experience them all in one week. If you aren’t familiar with the geography, we are located in the Mid-Atlantic. I would argue our seasons are decently mild compared to other parts of the US, but we still have some pretty hot summers and also our winters can have some pretty cold days.
But wow Richmond in the Fall and Spring is just magical. The Foliage with the James river next to it, the Halloween decorations everywhere, the cherry blossom trees surrounding Hollywood Cemetery - don’t get me started.
I grew up in Indiana where our winters are so cloudy and gray. But here the winters have the sun shining and to me that is glorious. Plus to cool off in the summer, you have a water source nearby.
6. The Friendships
I think people in Richmond are incredibly friendly. Don't be surprised if strangers strike up a conversation or offer to help you out. The amount of times I’ve walked into a shop and talked to the clerk for 30 minutes - too many times, just ask Lukas.
But to make actual friends as an adult was tricky for me. I didn’t really know how to do it and also I didn’t know anyone when I moved here.
Slowly after building a following on Instagram I had people DM me to get coffee and that is really how I started to get to know people and now I’d say I have a pretty good amount of friends. But it took me a good 8 months or so to get here.
Obviously not everyone puts themselves out there online, so I started a social club in town called Vegan Club RVA. And you don’t have to be Vegan to join or come to our events - but there will always be vegan food.
Every other month we do a free hangout event where you can make friends and hang out! The other months I do ticketed events around Richmond trying vegan food. To sign up for free, click here: laurenzray.com/vegan-club-rva. And also you can follow us on Instagram at (@veganclubrva). I would love to see you at the next one!
7. The Neighborhoods
Richmond is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own unique charm. I want to dedicate an entirely separate video on my YouTube channel going over each neighborhood in depth, so if you’re moving here or already live here and are looking to move - you’ll be able to see the options.
But for now I would say if you want to be close to quirky vibes, live in Carytown.
If you like historic vibes definitely Church Hill or The Fan.
If you like a walkable neighborhood, for sure Museum District or The Fan.
If you like to see green and trees, Forest Hill is great.
If you like modern condos and breweries - definitely Scott’s Addition.
There is so much more to that but again, separate video coming soon!
8. The Tolls
I’ve said this in another video but seriously - the tolls. I sort of knew about this before moving to Richmond but the amount of times I have paid for those dang tolls.
And yes, there are ways to avoid the tolls - but if you want a quicker route - you have to pay the toll. It also depends where you live. My friends in the Northside never come in contact with tolls. But if you want to go from Museum District to Downtown, get ready to pay.
But either way I think it is good to get an EZ Pass as soon as you move here, so you don’t have to worry about having exact change in your car at all times.
9. The Art
Art lovers, mural lovers, artists, everyone - this place is for you! I did not realize Richmond’s art scene was so vibrant and diverse. We have so many stunning street murals, super talented ceramicists, so many talented creatives, our VMFA is incredible - there's literally so much to explore.
And the First Friday of every month is the First Friday’s Art Walk in Jackson Ward, which is so fun. And there are always tons of markets, events, and art galleries to purchase the incredible works.
For local art year round you can check out the galleries in Jackson Ward, Crossroads Art Center, Studio Two Three Markets and so many more honestly. And of course just driving around Richmond to admire all the murals.
10. You’ll Fall in Love with Richmond
Ok, this one is so cringe. And I get so much crap for it when I say it all the time - but I am obsessed with this city. Yes, like every city it has its pros and cons - but it’s been my personal favorite place I’ve ever lived.
I knew I was going to love it before I moved here, that’s why I wanted to move here - but it actually turned out to be better than I expected. It continues to surprise me every day.
Obviously everyone’s experience with this city is different and throughout this I want to again say this is all just my own opinion and what I’ve experienced.
I can’t wait to see what this next year brings.
I hope you found this helpful! There are more blogs on my website about other spots around Virginia, as well as Richmond tips. You can also follow me on YouTube for my travel videos or Instagram for daily updates. Feel free to DM me with any questions!
💚Lauren Z Ray
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