SPORTS & RECREATION / LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Competitive Events

CAA Tournaments
Colonial Athletic Association
Richmond 804-754-1616
www.caasports.com

CIAA Tournaments
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Hampton 757-865-0071
www.theciaa.com

Monument Avenue 10K
100 Avenue of the Champions
Richmond 804-285-9495
www.sportsbackers.org

NCAA Tournaments
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Indianapolis, IN 317-917-6222
www.ncaa.com

SunTrust Richmond Marathon
100 Avenue of the Champions
Richmond 804-285-9495
www.richmondmarathon.com

USA Track & Field
Junior National Championships
100 Avenue of the Champions
Richmond 804-285-9495
www.usatf.org

World’s Largest Softball Tournament
6924 Lakeside Avenue
Richmond 804-266-8317
www.softball.net/?page_id=16

XTERRA East Championships
100 Avenue of the Champions
Richmond 804-285-9495
www.xterraplanet.com

 

Racing Attractions

Colonial Downs Race Track
3610 N. Courthouse Road
New Kent 804-966-7223
www.colonialdowns.com
Located in panoramic New Kent County between Richmond and Williamsburg, Colonial Downs brought live thoroughbred and harness horse racing back to Virginia in 1997 and hosts spectacular events.

Richmond Dragway
1955 Portugee Road
Sandston 804-737-1193
www.richmonddragway.com
The dragway sponsored sanctioned drag racing programs are held each weekend from March through November.

Richmond International Raceway
602 E. Laburnum Avenue
Richmond 804-228-7500
www.richmondracewaycomplex.com
RIR supports NASCAR excitement with more than 95,000 reserved seats and draws the state’s largest sports-event crowds.

Southside Speedway
12800 Genito Road
Midlothian 804-744-2700
www.southsidespeedway.com
Each Friday night from mid-April through September, crowds gather to watch Late Model Sportsman, Modified and Grand Stock racing at this venue.

 

Sports Centers & Activities

Adventure Challenge
Various Active Sports
Richmond 804-276-7600
www.adventurechallenge.com

G-Force Karts
4245 Carolina Avenue, Building B
Richmond
804-228-0188
www.gforcekarts.com

Laurel Skate Park
10301 Hungary Spring Road
Richmond 804-67-BOARD
www.co.henrico.va.us/rec

Oasis Sports Park
15300 Cosby Road
Chesterfield 804-739-6833
www.oasissportspark.com

Peak Experiences
Rock Climbing Gym
11421 Polo Circle
Richmond 804-897-6800
www.peakexperiences.com

Richmond Ice Zone
636 Johnston Willis Drive
Richmond 804-378-7465
www.richmondicezone.com

Richmond Area Bicycling Association
Ride and Tour Information
Richmond 804-266-2453
www.raba.org

Richmond Raft Company
Whitewater/River Rafting
Richmond 804-222-7238
www.richmondraft.com

SkateNation Plus
4350 Pouncey Tract Road
Glen Allen 804-364-1477
www.skatenationplus.com

State Park/Forest Camping
Reservations Line
Richmond 800-933-7275
www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/reserve.shtml

 

Getaways

One the most popular destinations in the nation for tourists is less than a two-hour drive from Richmond. Hampton Roads encompasses the vitality of cosmopolitan cities and the serenity of the countryside in a kaleidoscope of attractions and environments. The popular beach resort of Virginia Beach, the revitalized port city of Norfolk, the antiques of Smithfield, and Williamsburg’s famous Busch Gardens are just a few of the possibilities.

The Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, a multitude of creeks, rivers, lakes, inlets and tributaries all add up to the same abundant natural resource — water. Hampton Roads provides excellent facilities for every type of water sport or water-related activity, from windsurfing, jet skiing, and water-skiing to power-boating, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.

Anglers will be thrilled with some of the secluded freshwater lakes, quiet coves, and rushing streams. Equally attractive to many is the chance to enjoy the sea breeze from a fishing pier or troll for the “big ones” on the high seas. Since the Hampton Roads environment brings together the cold-water species from the North and the warm-water varieties from the South, the entire area is unsurpassed for sport fishing.

Outstanding science and nature museums, cultural centers, and dazzling annual events are so abundant in Hampton Roads that you will want to visit often. The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News combines a zoo with nature study and science exploration. The Children’s Museum of Virginia in Portsmouth provides mesmerizing hands-on, interactive exhibits with a focus on science, art, music, and technology. One of the most popular attractions is Nauticus, the National Maritime Center in Norfolk. Here, virtual reality experiences include time travel, a navigational sonar sub hunt, oil drilling, reef diving, and flight simulators. More than 300 animals are showcased at the Virginia Zoological Park, also in Norfolk.

For a retreat from the non-stop cosmopolitan excitement, this region also offers access to some of the most pristine wildlife preserves and unique national parks in America. From wild ponies and secluded islands to sandy beaches and wonderful festivals, explore the many natural and crafted wonders that are waiting on Virginia’s beautiful eastern coastline. After looking over this sample of attractions, contact the appropriate visitor’s bureau for more information.

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
Folk Art Museum
307 South England Street
Williamsburg 800-HISTORY
www.history.org

Air Power Park
413 W. Mercury Boulevard
Hampton 757-727-1163
www.hampton.gov/parks

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
4005 Sandpiper Road
Virginia Beach 757-721-2412
www.fws.gov/refuge/back_bay

Boardwalk at Virginia Beach
2100 Parks Avenue
Virginia Beach 800-VA-BEACH
www.visitvirginiabeach.com

Busch Gardens & Water Country USA
One Busch Gardens Boulevard
Williamsburg 757-253-3350
www.buschgardens.com

Children’s Museum of Virginia
221 High Street
Portsmouth 757-393-5258
www.childrensmuseumva.com

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Maddox Boulevard
Chincoteague 757-336-6122
http://chinco.fws.gov

The Cousteau Society
710 Settlers Landing Road
Hampton 757-722-9300
www.cousteau.org

Chrysler Museum of Art
245 W. Olney Road
Ghent 757-664-6200
www.chrysler.org

First Landing/Seashore State Park
2500 Shore Drive/Cape Henry
Virginia Beach 757-412-2300
www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fir.shtml

Harrison Opera House
160 Virginia Beach Boulevard
Norfolk 757-664-6464
www.sevenvenues.com

Jamestown National Historic Site
Colonial Parkway
Yorktown 757-898-3400
www.nps.gov/jame

Mount Trashmore Park
300 Edwin Drive
Virginia Beach 757-473-5237
www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/Pages/default.aspx

Nauticus National Maritime Center
One Waterside Drive
Norfolk 757-664-1001
www.nauticus.org

Norfolk Botanical Garden
6700 Azalea Garden Road
Norfolk 757-441-5830
www.nbgs.org

Verizon Wireless
Virginia Beach Amphitheater
3550 Cellar Door Way
Virginia Beach 757-368-3000
www.virginiabeach.com/concerts/verizon-wireless-virginia-beach-amphitheatre

Virginia Air & Space Center
600 Settlers Landing Road
Hampton 757-727-0900
www.vasc.org

Virginia Living Museum
524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard
Newport News 757-595-1900
www.thevlm.org

Virginia Marine Science Museum
717 General Booth Boulevard
Virginia Beach 757-425-FISH
www.virginiaaquarium.com

Virginia Zoo
3500 Granby Street
Norfolk 757-441-2374
www.virginiazoo.org

Whale & Dolphin Watch Cruises
Virginia Beach 757-425-FISH
www.virginia.org/Listings/OutdoorsAndSports/DolphinandWhaleWatchingBoatTrips

Greater Richmond Celebrations

Festivals and annual special events create ripples of excitement and a sense of shared tradition that reach out to the entire community.

Up-to-Date Event Information
Richmond Tourism Online
www.richmond.com

Richmond Visitor’s Bureau
804-783-7450
www.visitrichmondva.com

Petersburg Visitor’s Bureau
804-733-2300
www.petersburg-va.org

Virginia Tourism Office
800-VISIT-VA
www.virginiaisforlovers.com

 

Major Annual Events

Civil War Days Re-enactment
804-501-5520
www.co.henrico.va.us
Meadow Farm presents living history and demonstrations of time-honored skills.

Easter on Parade
804-788-6466
www.citycelebrations.org
Richmond’s Fan District is the setting for an old-fashioned Easter parade.

Gardenfest of Lights
804-262-9887
www.lewisginter.org
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden creates a mystical show of holiday lighting.

Greek Festival
804-355-3687
www.greekfestival.com
Four days of Greek food, entertainment, and cultural activities draw more than 35,000 visitors and residents.

The Grand Illumination
804-646-7985
www.richmondgov.com
Dazzling lights blend with holiday choirs, Santa Claus and the Snow Queen, and a gigantic well-lit Ferris wheel.

Historic Garden Week in Virginia
804-644-7776
www.vagardenweek.org
Step through the gates of more than 250 elegant gardens, magnificent homes, and historic landmarks.

Maymont Flower & Garden Show
804-358-7166
www.maymont.org
Virginia’s largest flower and garden show is also one of the nation’s finest.

Midweek Mo-Jo
804-788-6466
www.citycelebrations.org
Don’t miss the liveliest downtown cocktail party in the entire metropolitan region at the Canal Turning Basin.

Musical Mondays
804-358-7166
www.maymont.org
The historic landmark of Maymont offers a delightful setting for the soul-stirring music of community bands.

Richmond Christmas Parade
804-559-6113
www.richmondparade.com
More than 200,000 spectators make this colorful extravaganza Virginia’s largest single-day event of the entire year.

Richmond Home & Garden Show
804-425-655
www.richmondhomeandgarden.com
Literally thousands of products and services to improve the quality of home and yard are on display.

Richmond Shakespeare Festival
804-232-4000
www.richmondshakespeare.com
Two full months of bawdy Bard fun make this a top regional cultural event.

River City Beer & Seafood Festival
804-788-6466
www.citycelebrations.org
Great draft and imported beer combines with seafood and a lineup of live musical entertainment for a lively event.

Riverfront Outdoor Movies
804-788-6466
www.citycelebrations.org
Brown’s Island is the scene of this popular seasonal tradition of family movies on the revitalized and ever-popular riverfront.

Shirley Polo Cup
804-643-7407
Highly skilled athletic ability that includes great horsemanship combine with expertly trained mounts for a heart-stopping event.

State Fair of Virginia
804-569-3200
www.statefairva.org
One of the highlights of living in Virginia’s capital city is the state fair. Enjoy art and craft displays, midway rides, games, top-billed live entertainment, competition, and hundreds of corporate exhibits.

Strawberry Hill Races
804-569-3238
www.strawberryhillraces.com
Daylong outdoor sporting combines horse racing with live entertainment, tailgating, friends, and old-fashioned fun.

SunTrust Richmond Marathon
804-285-9495
www.richmondmarathon.com
“America’s friendliest marathon” meanders through a panoramic course along the James River and historic districts.

Ukrop’s Family Jubilee
804-788-6466
www.citycelebrations.org
Enjoy delicious food, games, charming crafts, and great live entertainment for kids of all ages.

Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K
804-285-9495
www.sportsbackers.org
One of the nation’s fastest-growing races encourages walkers as well as runners and even offers a training team.

Virginia Boat Show
804-425-655
www.gsevents.com
Pontoons, ski boats, runabouts, jet boats, motor yachts, performance boats, bass boats, deck boats, and saltwater fishing boats are all on display.

The Virginia Derby
804-966-7223
www.colonialdowns.com
The horse-racing thrills are exceptional at this equestrian event at Colonial Downs in beautiful New Kent County.

Virginia RV Show
www.gsevents.com
See motorhomes, travel trailers, pop-up tent campers, truck campers, 5th wheels, vans, and hi-line motorcoaches.

Winston Cup Race Weekend
804-228-7500
www.richmondracewaycomplex.com
The Pontiac Excitement 400/Hardee’s Fried Chicken Challenge 250 draws over 60,000 NASCAR spectators.

World’s Largest Softball Tournament
804-266-8317
www.softball.net/?page_id=16
Those who enjoy the game of softball will want to catch the non-stop excitement of this exciting event.

XTERRA East Championships
804-285-9495
www.xterraplanet.com
Multi-sport event combines a swim with a mountain bike and trail run for a triathlon experience for the hearty.

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