Richmond Luxury Hotels & Destination
Richmond VA Luxury Destination
Steeped in history, serving as a modern city for banking and government affair, Richmond is an exciting destination for the discerning luxury hotel traveler. Whether away on business or pleasure, the gracious southern charm and luxurious modern convenience await you at every turn. Richmond’s proud role as capital of the confederate states, gives it a certainly unique place in the American history books. Discover the phenomenal historic sites, while appreciating the sophisticated modernity that only a small luxury hotel stay in beautiful Richmond can offer.
Richmond Luxury Hotels
Your luxury hotel Richmond experience will be greatly enhanced in one of Richmond’s finest hotels. Attention to detail and courteous personalized service is guaranteed to make your luxury hotel stay second to none. Richmond’s luxury hotels offer that extra touch of personality, a unique trait no other hotel chain could duplicate. From the intimate restaurants to the elegantly appointed lobbies, Richmond’s luxury hotels treat their guests as valued individuals, rather than just another typical tourist,
Richmond History
Richmond lies on territory that was once part of the ancestral region of the Powhatan tribe. The capital was known as Powhatan or alternatively as Shocquohocan.
The first English settlement, at Richmond’s current city site, was established in 1609 by Francis West. This early settlement called ‘West Front’ was abandoned and over the next few years, the site was repeatedly occupied and abandoned. In 1645, the first permanent settlement at the falls was erected and declared Fort Charles.
The area surrounding the fort was granted to William Byrd I, a well connected trader. William Byrd II inherited his father’s land and founded Richmond. Richmond soon grew, becoming the economic center for the region. In 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech in St John’s Church in Richmond. This speech was critical for deciding Virginia’s participation in the first Continental Congress. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington attended this crucial event.
During the American Revolution, Richmond was burned severely by the British. On January 16th, 1786, one of the most influential pieces of legislation in American History was passed-the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom. Diligently written by Thomas Jefferson himself, and sponsored by James Madison, the statute served as they very basis for the separation of church and state. This ground breaking statute was the basis for the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. It’s importance is recognized annually on January 16th as National Religious Freedom Day.
After the Revolutionary War, Richmond became an important center of commerce based on its role in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. During the mid-ninetieth century, resistance to the slave trade was growing and Henry ‘Box” Brown became famous by having himself nailed into a small box and shipped from Richmond to abolitionists in Philadelphia to escape slavery.
Richmond was the center for government for the Confederate Congress during the Civil War, and was the site of a number of key battles. On April , 1865 Ulysses S. Grant and the Union Army captured Richmond. Six days later, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant at the Appomattox Court House, drawing the end of the civil war. Wile largely undamaged during much of wartime, over 25% of the city’s buildings were destroyed by fires set by retreating Confederate soldiers.
After the Civil Was, a period of recovery and reconstruction evolved in Richmond. An electrically-powered trolley was opened in the year 1888, designed with overhead wire, trolley pole and electrical motors in the cars’ trucks, an innovation that is still in use to this very day.
Richmond was chosen as the site of the headquarters of the Fifth District of the Federal Reserve Bank. Between 1863 and 1965, Richmond entered a downtown ‘boom’. Over 700 buildings were constructed. With completion of a multi-million dollar flood wall in 1995, the Sockoe neighborhood became Richmond’s center for nightlife, dining and entertainment. Richmond luxury hotel visitors will see changes each and every stay.
Attractions
The city of Richmond boasts one of the oldest municipal park systems in the entire country. In 1851, the city council voted to acquire 7.5 acres and create Monroe Park. Today, luxury hotel guests will quickly notice the fact Richmond has added more than 40 additional parks, totaling more than 1500 acres. Of note is Byrd Park, a 100 acre converted Victorian estate containing a museum, formal garden, native wildlife exhibit, nature center, carriage collection and educational children’s farm. This will serve as a lovely delight for the eyes and relaxing rest for the spirit nearby your charming luxury hotel.
Luxury hotel visitors can leisurely experience Richmond’s deep history by taking the beautiful Canal Cruise. This forty minute cruise surveys Richmond’s canal system, which was started in 1789 after George Washington lobbied the General Assembly to create a canal and highway system that would link the harbors in the east with the market opportunities emerging in the west,
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden encompasses over 40 acres of magical vistas created to soothe the spirit and with dozens of individual gardens on site, luxury hotel guests can choose a personal favorite for a truly restful retreat.
Museums
Richmond is home to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center Of Virginia. The museum’s ultimate goal is to become a statewide repository for visual, oral and written records, demonstrating the accomplishments of African Americans in Virginia. It also contains an extensive collection of African artifacts forms various ethnic groups throughout all of Africa.
The Richmond Museum of the Confederacy provides a great way to study the artifacts, photos and flags of this key piece of vital U.S. history. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts hosts both permanent fine art exhibits, as well as world class traveling exhibitions. The concierge in your fine luxury hotel will be gladly able to fill you in on what is currently on display.
The Federal Reserve Money Museum, with it’s superb collection of the currency and financial instruments, is currently under renovation and will reopen in June 2010. Luxury hotel guests can visit the museum online via the Virtual Money Museum upon planning a Richmond luxury hotel escape.
Richmond Shopping
Take time to wander from your luxury hotel to experience Richmond’s outstanding shopping. The Antique Village Mall Complex is an antique lover’s dream with 10,000 square feet, hosting 50 independent dealers of Richmond’s finest goods. Luxury hotel guests will also find art restorations and collector’s reference books.
No Richmond shopping experience would be complete without a visit to the fine art shops. At Brazier Fine Art, luxury hotel guests will view artists’ works in the realist, as well as the modern impressionist styles. Chasen Galleries is known for their collection of fine art glass. The Jacey Gallery showcases the art of Nancy Jacey and other local national artists alike.
Richmond’s 17th Street Farmer’s Market is one of the oldest public markets in the entire nation. Luxury hotel shoppers can enjoy browsing through a wide array of offering from gourmet coffees and delectable teas, to homemade cheeses and aromatic, as well as culinary herbs. Fresh local fruits and vegetable can be sampled while strolling through the one of a kind Richmond crafts.
One of downtowns Richmond’s most fashionable shopping and entertainment areas is houses in the city’s oldest mercantile district. The Shockoe Slip, a nine block area located on the southeastern edge of Richmond’s financial district, offers the luxury hotel guest fantastic shopping on either side of its gorgeous cobblestone streets.
For a memorable keepsake to make a truly unique luxury hotel stay, your Richmond luxury hotel concierge is your best resource.
Richmond Dining
Dining in Richmond is a real treat for the luxury hotel dining lovers. Regional dishes such as country ham and grits will be served in gourmet presentations, making your mouth water. Fabulous service and elegant setting can be found to make any evening magical.
Rowland Fine Dining takes a quirky look at haute cuisine. Their motto, ‘Our Food makes comfort food uncomfortable’ sums up the unique and delicious style, deeming their restaurants exceptionally satisfying to the Richmond luxury hotel guest.
Julep’s New Southern Cuisine is housed in the oldest commercial building in the city of Richmond. The restaurant’s philosophy is simple, yet exciting: eat with your eyes first, source local products, and change the menu frequently to keep up with the ever-changing seasons. It will be something to savor each time you make a Richmond luxury hotel visit.
Croaker’s Spot is the soul of seafood and is located in the historic heat of downtown Richmond. Specializing in seafood and Nouveau Soul Cuisine, this eatery is to die for. ‘Hand me down’ recipe are combined with exciting spices to recreate a new experience. The seafood is extremely fresh and luxury hotel guests will greatly appreciate the jazz, world beat rhythm and beautiful blues music featured here.
Richmond is a wonderful blend of old and new, making it a wonderful destination for a luxury hotel vacation. Whether celebrating a special occasion, away on business or looking for a restful, yet fun filled escape, Richmond’s luxury hotels offer sophisticated elegance, striking surrounding landscapes and personal attention to make your stray nothing but absolutely memorable.
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