The heart of Richmond, Virginia, is the broad James River. On summer weekends, you’ll find people kayaking and rafting the rapids, lounging on the water-worn rocks, walking dogs over the bridges, mountain-biking riverside trails, or catching an evening concert on Brown’s Island. (If you’re lucky, a passing train will blow its horn during the show, and the crowd will erupt in cheers.)

Richmond is many things at once: a quirky college town, a news-making state capital, a center for the arts, a foodie destination, and a diverse Southern city that’s always seeking new ways to reckon with and honor its complicated history. It's also the home of Allianz Partners USA. Here are a few of the things we love most about Richmond. Come and visit sometime!

3 reasons to buy domestic travel insurance for U.S. trips

1. Insurance makes travel delays so much easier. Did you know there’s a one in 5 chance your domestic flight will be delayed?¹ When you have insurance with travel delay benefits, you don’t have to worry: you can get reimbursed for eligible expenses, such as meals and a hotel, during a covered delay.
2. You don’t want to risk losing your trip investment. You’ve worked hard for your vacation, so it makes sense to protect it! Trip cancellation/trip interruption benefits can reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you must cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason.
3. It’s the best way to protect your rental car. While central Richmond is easy to navigate by foot, bike or bus, you’ll need a car to explore the whole metro area. Safeguard your rental car for less and get bonus benefits when you purchase a plan through Allianz Travel Insurance.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for U.S. trips

1. AllTrips Prime is a money-saving choice for anyone who travels frequently, whether you love weekend road trips, international adventures, or both. It even includes rental car damage and theft coverage! (Not available in all states.)
2. OneTrip Cancellation Plus is a popular choice for domestic travel, with trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits as well as travel delay and 24-hour assistance.
3. OneTrip Rental Car Protector provides primary coverage for covered collision, loss and damage up to $50,000, with no deductible. You also get trip interruption, baggage coverage, and 24-hour emergency assistance—for just $11 per calendar day (available in most states).

3 of the best things to do in Richmond

1. Wander through 6,000 years of art. In addition to ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian pieces, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has some of the nation’s best collections of South Asian, Himalayan, and African art. Other favorite things to see include the Fabergé jeweled eggs, Tiffany stained glass, French Impressionist paintings, and the sculpture garden. The VMFA is open every day of the year, and admission is free.
2. While away an afternoon at Maymont. For a century, this estate has been Richmonders’ favorite place to enjoy the outdoors. Explore the Italian and Japanese gardens, tour the Gilded Age mansion, see farm animals and Virginia wildlife, or just spread out a blanket and enjoy a picnic. Best of all, Maymont is free to visit.
3. Shop and snack in Carytown. Dubbed “the mile of style,” the Carytown district offers visitors hours of shopping at locally owned boutiques. Stock up on sweets at For the Love of Chocolate, check out the ever-changing window display at Bygones Vintage Clothing, browse rare vinyl at Plan 9 Records, and indulge your inner child at toy store World of Mirth. Hungry? There are two dozen restaurants and cafés to try.

3 of the best hotels in Richmond

Built in 1895, the Jefferson Hotel is known for its baroque Palm Court, grand staircase and the alligators that once resided in the interior fountains. Thirteen presidents have stayed at the Jefferson as well as countless celebrities. The Jefferson is known for its sumptuous Sunday brunch and delightful afternoon teas.

Quirk Hotel’s motto is “love, happiness, and art.” This boutique hotel in downtown Richmond features original works by local artists in every room. It’s also pet-friendly: Dogs up to 70 pounds are welcome to stay. When the weather is nice, there’s no better place to sip a sunset cocktail than the Q Rooftop bar.

The Boulevard Inn is a chic bed-and-breakfast in the Fan District, one of the nation’s largest neighborhoods of preserved Victorian homes. Enjoy a daily wine-and-charcuterie happy hour, as well as a breakfast buffet of fresh pastries, fruit and yogurt, quiche or frittata, and more.

3 of the best restaurants in Richmond

If you're craving lovingly made soul food, you'll find mac-and-cheese, fried chicken and peach cobbler at Mama J's Kitchen. This family-owned restaurant is located in Jackson Ward, a historically African-American neighborhood that once was the center of black commerce, entertainment, and culture in the South.

For dining with a dash of je ne sais quoi, L'Opossum in Oregon Hill serves Southern and French dishes with a playful twist. Where else can you get Chesapeake oysters “in a Green Fairy Fog of Absinthe Mist,” or sea scallops served with “Cheddar Grits, Sweet Pickled Peppers and Repentance?” The clown-themed bathroom is a special attraction.

ZZQ blended two styles of barbecue—smoky Texas-style beef and vinegary Virginia pork—to become one of the best BBQ spots in the nation. Get there early, because ZZQ only stays open until the food sells out (and it sells out pretty much all the time). And go heavy on the sides, which include jalapeño mac & cheese, blackstrap collard greens, frijoles de charro (cowboy beans), and sweet tea beets.

Ready to visit Richmond, VA? Don’t forget to protect your trip with Allianz Travel Insurance… and say hi while you’re here!

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