A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Festive City" is from the December 2007 issue of Southern Living.
Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all
information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.
Days and nights in Richmond, Virginia, sparkle during December
more than a socialite draped in jewels. Legions of stringed lights hang
like tinsel on trees. Candy-colored bulbs decorate foliage at Lewis
Ginter Botanical Garden. And James River plantations treat guests to
a
colonial-style Christmas. From candlelight tours to light shows, this
town offers more weekend choices than a travel agent's checklist.
The Beautiful Stays of Christmas
The Jefferson Hotel, named
for Thomas Jefferson, has pioneered grand lodging since 1895 and offers
Sunday brunch with Santa on December 16 ($44). Nonguests are welcome to
attend as well. Room rates start at $235.
In the middle of Shockoe Slip (a historic shopping district near Kanawha
Canal), The Berkeley Hotel dons AAA diamond ratings. Rates start at
$195. For a less expensive option, try the Crowne Plaza Richmond
Downtown, which overlooks the James River and sits within walking
distance of Shockoe Slip. Rates start at $99.
Or spend the night in one of the James River plantations located between
Richmond and Williamsburg on State 5. North Bend Plantation offers four
rooms for overnight guests. Quiet and serene, nighttime brings feeding
deer to the property. Rates start at $135.
Festive Friday
Cute box lunches from Sally Bell's Kitchen
have fed Richmond for 83 years. A roast beef sandwich, deviled egg half,
potato salad, and cheese wafer satisfy even the biggest appetites
($7.45).
Lively lit floral displays, as pretty as presents, illuminate paths
during GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Don't miss
the Conservatory, where beautiful poinsettias steal the show.
Gents and gentlewomen in Victorian garb share Christmas cheer and hot
cider during tours of the distinguished Maymont House Museum. The
100-acre country estate includes a stone barn and mausoleum among its 25
original buildings.
When it's time for dinner, put your money at Bank Restaurant. The
popular eatery offers great shrimp and grits.
