The guy who coined the phrase “pursuit of happiness” spent several years of his life in Richmond. Coincidence? I think not.
I’ve lived up and down the East Coast, in small towns, big cities, and suburbs, and while I admit there are other fine places to live and visit, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Richmond has the advantages of a cosmopolitan city—top-notch museums, historic sites, beautiful and varied architecture, engaged universities, vibrant arts, music, and culinary scenes—and a spectacular setting along the James River that gives the area a natural rush that’s not rushed. Go white-water rafting through downtown in the morning and check out the exquisite Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the afternoon. Dine on everything from barbecue to ethnic specialties to gourmet cuisine in beautifully renovated buildings, trendy hot spots, and beloved dives. The combination of how much there is to do and how easy it is to do it never ceases to amaze me.
Gridlock doesn’t exist here. Getting around to where you want to go is a piece of cake—which reminds me, the bakeries are wonderful, too. And the farmers’ markets, and the live music, and the unique urban wilderness of the James River Park System. When the Folk Festival takes over downtown every fall, it’s magic. For those with high blood pressure, the Rx is to come to Richmond and watch the river run—or run and bike alongside it.
In the 18 years I’ve lived here, my children have grown into adults, studied Richmond history and architecture, and toured the city by bike, foot, raft, car, and kayak. We’ve eaten our way all over town, enjoyed the explosion of ethnicity, and visited churches, synagogues, and a mosque.
When my sister moved here with her family a few years ago, I introduced them to some of our favorite haunts. Sometimes I tagged along in their car to see my nephew’s reaction to baby goats at Maymont or trains at the Old Dominion Railway Museum. Lucky for you, I won’t be in your car—you have this book instead. You can shut it anytime you want me to shut up, then open it back up when you’d like a bit of advice. Everybody’s pursuing happiness—Richmond’s a great place to grab hold of it.