So I'm planning a 4 day trip to the Richmond area and appreciate advice from those who know the terrain. What are the best sites to see? How much can one fit in?
Here's my itinerary so far:
Day 1
-Arrive at noon
-Gaine's Mill
-Cold Harbor
-Malvern Hill
-Check into hotel; check out the town-Monument Ave, Hollywood Cemetery, State Capitol (I may do some of these on different evenings)
Day 2
-Petersburg
-Grant's HQ
-Eastern Unit (Crater, Fort Stedman, that whole area)
-Lunch in Petersburg
-Western Unit
-Five Forks
-Back to Richmond for dinner and seeing the town
Day 3
-Tredegar Iron Works Museum
-Confederate White House
-Maybe Shirley Plantation
Day 4
-Yorktown
-Jamestown
-Williamsburg
How feasible is all this? What sites should be added?
40+ year Richmond native here so let me see where I can help.
Day 1. Those 3 battlefields in an afternoon is aggressive, but possible if you move at a somewhat steady, quick pace. I would go to Malvern last. You're visiting in July, and it's been super hot here lately. Malvern has very little shade. Most of the walking trail is full sun with no trees within 100+ yards of the trail. There is a brief woods portion then back out in full sun. Cold Harbor has a lot of trees, and there are 3 trails to pick from, the long one takes a while to get around. It is mostly shade but its also a lot in the woods, up and down etc. Gaines Mill is about half open and half in Boatswains Creek. I would try to make a quick trip to the Glendale national cemetary, or to Fort Harrison. They're all in the same area.
Day 2. I would try to fit in Pamplin Park if you can as part of the western tour. It is the site of the breakthrough and their museum is outstanding. Drewry's Bluff is right off I 95 between Richmond and Petersburg so if you have extra time coming back to Richmond, consider a stop there, it doesn't take more than 30 minutes to see it. If you like BBQ...go to King's BBQ in Petersburg.
Day 3. I would do Tredegar, White House, Hollywood, state capitol and Monument ave on this day since they are all in Richmond in a tight radius. These sites are all less than 5 miles from each other. When you visit Tredegar, walk out the front entrance and go across the road. There is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the James, and it has historical markers on it about the evacuation, and you get a great view of the downtown skyline and the river.
Day 4. Need more specifics here. If you're going to visit a plantation, they are between Richmond and the 3 sites you listed. Shirley is a good one due to the Carter family ties. Berkeley is Harrison's Landing and where Taps was written...and arguably the 1st thanksgiving. Sherwood Forest is John Tyler's home. Shirley is the nicest house, but for pure historical value I would go Berkeley.
Jamestown has 2 sites...there is the actual location and next to it is a recreation site. The recreation site is great if you have kids. It has a recreaction of an indian village, the colony, and the 3 ships that they traveled on that you can walk on. you're not going to have time for both Jamestown sites and see Yorktown and Williamsburg.
Any further questions fire away.