Completed in 1834 and named in honor of President James Monroe, Fort Monroe is recognized as the largest stone fort ever built in the United States. Nicknamed “Freedom’s Fortress,” this Union-held fortification provided a safe haven for thousands of enslaved people during the Civil War. It was also the site where the Army of the Potomac landed before beginning the march toward Richmond during the Peninsula Campaign.

Fort Monroe’s history is interpreted for visitors at the Visitor & Education Center at 30 Ingalls Road and at the Casemate Museum located at 20 Bernard Road. Self guided walking tour brochures are available as well as the National Park Service’s Fort Monroe Junior Ranger Program booklet. Programs and events at Fort Monroe are presented through a collaboration of the Fort Monroe Authority, the City of Hampton, and National Park Service.

The park is where English colonists first landed in 1607. Native American canoes, Colonial settlers, 20th-century schooners and modern cargo ships have navigated the park’s waterways.

As Virginia’s most-visited state park, it’s an oasis within urban Virginia Beach. The park has 20 miles of trails and 1.5 miles of sandy Chesapeake Bay beach frontage. First Landing offers many recreational and educational activities and has many unusual habitats including bald cypress swamps, lagoons and maritime forest, as well as rare plants and wildlife.

The park has cabins, yurts, water and electric hook-up campsites, tent campsites, picnic area, boat ramps and a camp store.

The Chesapeake Bay Center has aquariums and a wet lab operated by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, educational displays, historic exhibits, a camp store, an amphitheater and a Gateways Program regional welcome center. It’s off U.S. 60 at Cape Henry.

The outdoor courtyard, pavilion and amphitheater can be rented for special events and weddings.

Weekends are very high visitation days. Expect delays. Once parking capacity is reached guests will be turned away.

The park is open from 7 a.m. to dusk for day use. The Office/Visitor Center is open for overnight check-in and information from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily. The Trail Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Corey’s Southern Kitchen & Catering is a family-owned restaurant located in Williamsburg that serves the best soul food and fried chicken in town. We are located just minutes from Busch Gardens, Water Country, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.

Ethiopian restaurant serving meat and vegetarian dishes. Evening lounge with bar food daily.

Richmond’s Altria Theater is located to the west of downtown Richmond, across from historic Monroe Park. The City of Richmond-owned theater is nestled in the middle of the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University and it now plays host to a variety of events including Broadway productions, The Richmond Forum, concerts, comedians, children’s theater, lectures, school commencements and fashion shows.The City purchased the Mosque from the Shriners in 1940 and a 1994-95 renovation restored its splendor. One of the best known and most striking buildings in Richmond, the Altria also ranks among the City’s most popular stages for theatrical and musical performances. Some of America’s greatest entertainers have appeared on stage beneath its towering minarets and desert murals. Known for its excellent acoustics, the Altria now offers seating for 3,565.

Barky’s Spiritual Stores is one of the oldest African American owned religious supply stores in the United States of America. Richmond, Virginia is our home. We are independently owned and operated. Our creed is “Do all the good you can . . . For all the people you can.” We can ship our quality Christian supplies anywhere in the world.

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia presents the complex experiences of peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora, with an emphasis on Virginians, by collecting, preserving, and interpreting historical and cultural artifacts.

Brown’s Island is an amazing, six-acre riverfront park. Brown’s Island is located south of Tredegar Street between 5th Street and 12th Street on the James River. It was formed by the Haxell Canal and is part of the 1.25-mile Riverfront Canal Walk.The Island connects to the James River Park and is the popular venue for outdoor concerts and festivals including the Friday Cheers concert series, Dominion Riverrock, and the Richmond Folk Festival, which attract over 400,000 people to the riverfront. It is a favorite walking, running and biking area for locals and visitors alike. There are historical exhibits, public art and plenty of nature to explore. Discover the April 1865 exhibit that hangs over the James River and connects to the Potterfield bridge, a popular biking and walking destination. Visit the War Memorial, American Civil War Museum and National Park Service. Look for eagles, blue heron, osprey and more. Head east along the paths towards 10th, 12th and 14th streets and you’ll find over 75 restaurants in the Shockoe area and some unique shopping.Rent a mountain bike, kayak or paddleboardDuring summer months, Riverside Outfitters is renting mountain bikes, kayaks and paddleboards from the Brown’s Island kiosk on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The riverfront outpost opens June 15. There are great mountain bike trails on Belle Isle and along both sides of the river, as well as a bike skills course on the isle. Hit the streets and explore downtown on a bike as well!Paddling on the river is a wonderful way to experience the natural environment and nature in the middle of RVA’s downtown. There are some beautiful flatwater areas of the James for paddlers to cruise.

Chef driven menu. We offer gluten free and vegan fried chicken options, so no one is left out of the chicken party! We refuse to compromise on quality in our restaurant. That’s why we source our fresh

Charlotte’s Southern Deli and Tapas is located in the heart of Downtown Richmond in the high rises. This quaint restaurant is owned and operated by Nikki Gregory and Paul Polk. Charlotte’s is a restaurant where their dishes are “a simple concept with bold flavors.” Charlotte’s menu ranges from quick service breakfast items with fresh brewed coffee and breakfast sandwiches, to lunch items with in – house made deli meats and pickles.