TOURS
African-American Tours of Richmond
Tour Richmond Region sites associated with liberty and African-American achievements. A Richmond native, the owner and founder shares with participants his family history which spans back to 1860. 804.683.6630 or africanamericantours.com .
Ashland Walking Tours
Self-guided tours begin at the Ashland Visitor Center. Guided tours are offered on Saturdays in May and October. Free. 804.752.6766 or town.ashland.va.us .
Balloons Over Virginia
Daily chartered hot-air balloon flights offer unique perspectives of the Region. January 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of this high-flying tour. 804.798.0080 or balloonsovervirginia.com .
Discover the James Bald Eagle Tours
Embark on a two-hour tour of the bald eagles' home turf along the James River aboard the Discovery Barge II, a 24-foot pontoon boat. A new 40-foot pontoon boat is excellent for groups of 35. 804.938.2350 or discoverthejames.com .
EagleRider Central Virginia
Explore the sites by self-guided motorcycle tours. 804.353.3456 or eagleridercva.com .
Elegba Folklore Society
"In the Beginning … Virginia" is a journey into Richmond's history along the Trail of Enslaved Africans and other notable sites. Narrative presentations, music and dialogue enrich the experience. 804.644.3900 or efsinc.org .
Floodwall Walking Tours
The Richmond Railroad Museum offers a brisk 1.5-hour walking tour of Richmond's floodwall every second Sunday of each month. 804.233.6237 or odcnrhs.org .
Guided Segway Tours
Explore downtown Richmond through a variety of tours on a self-balancing Segway Personal Transporter. 804.343.1850 or segway ofrichmond.biz .
Haunts of Richmond Walking Tours
Local legends and ghost stories come to life throughout the Region on this guided tour. 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, May-Nov. Private tours by request. 804.343.3700 or hauntsofrichmond.com .
Heart of Virginia Aviation
Offers sightseeing and photo tours. 11152 Air Park Road. 804.798.6500 or flyhova.com .
HeloAir
Take a tour by helicopter. 5721 Gulfstream Road. 804.226.3400 or heloair.com .
Let's Get Frank Tours
Van and walking tours for individuals and groups include "Richmond Then … Richmond Now," Civil War battlefield trips and "Lincoln's Last Days" tour. 804.360.1701 or lets-get-frank.com .
Real Richmond Food Tours
These Friday and Saturday tours stop at local eateries and specialty food shops. Tours are seasoned with history and architectural highlights. Private tours by request. 804.840.5318 or realrichmondva.com .
Richmond Discoveries
Provides educational and historical tours. 804.222.8595 or richmonddiscoveries.com .
Richmond History Tours
The Valentine Richmond History Center offers hundreds of opportunities to tour historic Richmond on foot, by bus or with your dog. 804.649.0711 or richmondhistorytours.com .
Richmond Trolley Company
Chartered tours aboard a trolley bus are available for events, weddings and groups. 1805 E. Grace St. 804.343.6105 or richmondtrolley.com .
Riverfront Canal Cruises
Take a narrated historical tour of the James River and Kanawha Canal. 804.649.2800, 804.788.6466 or venturerichmond.com .
RVA Historic Tours
Offers a two-hour history tour of downtown Richmond and also chartered tours for groups and special events. 1301 E. Cary St. 804.343.1850 or rvahistorictours.com .
Virginia Film Tours
Get an insider's perspective on some big movie stars and the 40 Hollywood films shot in the Region. Reservations only for private groups of 15 or more. 804.744.1718 or virginiafilmtours.com .
If you are interested in bringing a group to the Richmond Region, contact RMCVB at 804.782.2777.
TRAILS
Layers of history and culture intertwine throughout the Richmond Region and beyond. Beginning with the American Indian tribes who inhabited Virginia and spanning through the Colonial Period, American Revolution, Civil War and into modern times, there are many paths to follow. Travelers who want to fully explore a single chapter of the Region's story can follow any one of these trails.
Colonial Virginia Wine Trail
Relax and enjoy yourself with this introduction to the Region's wineries. The Colonial trail leads you to James River Cellars, New Kent Winery, Saudé Creek Vineyards and The Williamsburg Winery — all within an hour's drive of one another. colonialvirginiawinetrail.com .
Heart of Virginia Wine Trail
If one tour of wineries simply awakens your curiosity about viniculture, this circuit will add to the experience. Sharing a winery in common with the Colonial Virginia Wine Trail (above), the Heart of Virginia trail also offers four wineries — Cooper Vineyards, Grayhaven Winery, James River Cellars and Lake Anna Winery. A "passport" ticket admits you to all four for tastings and allows you to complete the tour over multiple days. hovawinetrail.com .
Jamestown Discovery Trail
Taking you along Virginia's Route 5 Scenic Byway, through three of the eight original shires of Virginia, the trail connects you to an impressive number (nearly 50) of historic sites and attractions. On the list are three National Park Service sites, seven National Historic Landmarks and plantations, and a few dozen historic highway markers. virginia.org/ jamestowndiscoverytrail .
John Smith Trail
One of the few trails in the Region that allow boaters and motorists alike to explore historic sites, it stretches along the James River from Richmond to Hampton Roads and encompasses nearly 40 stops related to the voyages of English explorer Capt. John Smith from 1607 to 1609. johnsmithtrail.org .
The Road to Revolution Heritage Trail
Visit 10 sites central to the life and achievements of founding father Patrick Henry. Points along the trail include Rural Plains, one of the Region's oldest homes, where Henry married Sarah Shelton; Pine Slash, a 300-acre tobacco farm bequeathed to Henry as a dowry; and St. John's Church, where his words "give me liberty or give me death" inspired the American Revolution. roadtorevolution.org .
Virginia Capital Trail
By 2014, this paved pedestrian and cycling trail will cover 52 miles between Richmond and Williamsburg, although currently there are only four phases of the project open to bikes and pedestrians. virginiacapitaltrail.org .
Virginia Indian Heritage Trail
The guidebook produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities spells out the fascinating history and culture of the Region's first inhabitants. The free publication (available online and by mail) offers a wealth of detail, including maps of important sites related to the American Indian tribes of Virginia. virginia humanities.org/virginia-indian-program .
CIVIL WAR AND EMANCIPATION TRAILS
You can retrace the steps of Confederate and Union soldiers as you cross the state using the self-guided tours provided by the Virginia Civil War Trails program. The program links more than 400 sites that include national parks with hands-on exhibits.
The Head of the Trail
The Northern battle cry, "On to Richmond!" will lead you to what was once the Confederate capital with a variety of historical sites and Civil War memorabilia. The Civil War Gateway Visitor Center at Historic Tredegar, once the largest munitions foundry in the South and now home to The American Civil War Center and the Richmond National Battlefield Park Civil War Visitor Center, has maps available that outline all the Virginia Civil War Trails. civilwartrails.org and nps.gov/rich .
Sites of the Bermuda Hundred Campaign
The Bermuda Hundred Campaign will guide you through 10 Civil War sites linked with one of the most important military campaigns of the Civil War. A printed map and guide, which includes an extensive collection of Library of Congress images, is available at Magnolia Grange. chesterfieldhistory.com
The Story of the Enslaved
From 1840 to 1865, Richmond was home to the largest domestic slave export business in the United States. The Richmond Slave Trail stretches from the docks at Manchester, where slaves arrived, to the former marketplace in Shockoe Bottom where slaves were bought and sold. richmondgov.com/CommissionSlaveTrail .
