Out & About: LGBTQ+ Day Trips and Weekend Getaways from Richmond
Updated: Aug 2
One of my favorite things about calling Richmond home is how easy it is to leave — and how good it feels to come back. Within a couple hours of RVA you've got mountains, wineries, two very different beach scenes, and one of the biggest LGBTQ+ communities in the country. So when clients relocating here ask me, "What's there to do on a weekend?" — buckle up, because this is the list I share.
Here are my go-to day trips and getaways, with a few LGBTQ+ notes along the way.
Charlottesville— about an hour west
The easiest day trip we make. Charlottesville anchors the Monticello Wine Trail — dozens of wineries tucked into the foothills, many of them dog-friendly, most with views that make you forget your phone exists. Add the pedestrian Downtown Mall for lunch and browsing, and you're home by dark. C-ville also throws its own Pride celebration each fall, and the town's creative, college-town energy makes it an easy place to be yourself.
The Blue Ridge & Nelson County — about 90 minutes
When we want mountains, we point the car toward Nelson County. Route 151 is basically a greatest-hits album of Virginia breweries and cideries, with hikes like Crabtree Falls (one of the tallest cascading waterfalls east of the Mississippi) nearby to earn your flight. In fall, the leaves alone are worth the drive. Rent a cabin, bring the dog, exhale.
Washington, D.C. — about two hours
Big-city energy without moving to it — this is exactly what I mean when I say Richmond gives you big-city access without big-city stress. D.C. has one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in America, with legendary neighborhoods like Dupont and Logan Circle, a packed calendar topped by Capital Pride every June, and the Smithsonian museums (still free, still incredible). Take the train from Staples Mill and skip I-95 entirely.
Norfolk — about 90 minutes
Norfolk's glow-up over the last decade is real. The NEON District is packed with murals and galleries, Granby Street has a genuinely fun food-and-drinks scene — including LGBTQ+ favorites like MJ's Tavern — and the Chrysler Museum is free and world-class. Every June, Hampton Roads Pride brings one of the region's biggest celebrations to the waterfront, complete with a boat parade. Pair it with Virginia Beach next door and you've got a full weekend.
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware — about three and a half hours
The classic. Rehoboth has been a beloved LGBTQ+ beach town for generations — Poodle Beach at the south end of the boardwalk, drinks and dinner at the Blue Moon, and a community anchored by CAMP Rehoboth, the town's LGBTQ+ community center. It's the kind of place where holding hands on the boardwalk isn't a statement, it's just Saturday. Worth the extra miles for a long weekend at least once a summer.
Quick hits
A few more we love: Shenandoah National Park for Skyline Drive and fall color (about 90 minutes), Williamsburg for history and Busch Gardens (under an hour), and Baltimore's quirky charm if you want a different city fix (about 2.5 hours).
The best part? Coming home.
Every one of these trips ends the same way: crossing back into RVA and feeling glad we live here. That's the real pitch for Richmond — a city with its own culture, community, and pace, sitting in the middle of all of this.
Thinking about making Richmond your home base? I'd love to help. As a Richmond native (and a proud member of the city's LGBTQ+ community), helping people find their place here is what I do. Reach out anytime.
—Steve
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This guide is for informational purposes only and reflects personal recommendations at the time of writing. It is not real estate advice or a solicitation. Hours, events, and businesses change — check ahead before you go.
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