Fun activities for teenage girl in Richmond?

[ny biker]

Some family members will be visiting Richmond next month while my nephew is playing in a baseball tournament there. We're looking for a few activities for my 14-year-old niece so that the trip will be fun for her, too.

So far I've found a few things that look promising -- shopping in Carytown, a canal cruise, canoeing on the James River, go-karting.

They're not hard-core cyclists, but I think a bike tour might be good if it's not too strenuous.

Does anyone have any suggestions, for cycling or anything else?

Thanks!!

[tulip]

What is she interested in? Each kid is different, and there's alot to do in Richmond. You might find the online newspaper useful: times-dispatch.com.

The canal cruise is alot of fun. I don't know of any bicycle rental places; we have exactly 1 mile of bike path, and it runs along the canal, so it will be the same route as the boat. There are Segway tours that are popular with tourists, but I don't know if that would appeal to your niece.

Hike on Browns Island is great. Going over the suspended footbridge is a thrill (to me).

Maybe visiting the University of Richmond campus, which is very pretty. Or VCU, which is very urban. We have a great art museum, and there are several wonderful parks: Byrd Park, Maymont, and the Louis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Carytown is nice for those who like to shop. I've heard that taking a tour of Hollywood Cemetery is a must, but I haven't done it yet. There's a wonderful Farmer's Market at Forest Hill Park on Saturdays.

She'll Probably have her fill of baseball, but the Flying Squirrels minor league team is lots of fun.

Horse country is not far, and the James River Plantations are nice.

Send me a PM if you have specific questions. They do know that it will be hot and humid, right?

[tulip]

Science Museum. Definitely the Science Museum.

[jessmarimba]

Yes, go to an imax at the science museum if you have a chance. The science museum in Richmond has one of the domed-imaxes (omnimax) and I grew up knowing that there are only 7 in the country (which may have changed in the last 20 years). They also do some cool astronomy stuff there.

Possibly also Maymont Park - she's likely too old for the petting zoo area but the house tour is neat and so are the gardens. (I actually used to skip school to go walk around there). There are a number of historic house/building tours around town if she's into that sort of thing.

I'll second Cary Street & the farmer's market at Forest Hill Park, if you're there on a Saturday. Crossroads coffee shop across from the park has good ice cream & coffee, too.

You can also sign up to whitewater raft on the James. And there are lots of hiking/mountain bike trails along the river (James River Park System/Forest Hill Park).

I had a terrible time trying to find rental bikes in town - one raft company has about 4 mountain bikes but I don't know where you would get road/hybrid/cruisers. The guys at the Carytown Bike Shop might be able to provide more info.

[jessmarimba]

Also wanted to mention that Peak Experiences (in Midlothian) is pretty fun if she wants to try indoor rock climbing.