weekend getaway: richmond

The weekend before Thanksgiving Ben and I were able to get away for the weekend (two whole nights!) while our generous friends watched the kids. We love doing weekend swaps with them and the girls are always thrilled when they get to stay overnight with friends.

We ended up back down in Richmond for the weekend and had a great time relaxing, eating, and exploring.

We had a delicious dinner our first night at Europa in the Shockoe Slip neighborhood (a mix of Italian food and Spanish tapas). They had these bacon-wrapped dates that were amazing.

We spent the next morning wandering around Carytown and enjoying some leisurely shopping without the kids (the used bookstore browsing was particularly nice). We also had to make a stop at Dixie Donuts and couldn't resist getting a dozen to sample all the varieties. The surprise favorite was an apricot cardamom donut.

Our quaint, historic hotel downtown.

A stop along Monument Avenue.

We wandered around the Hollywood Cemetery which is a huge cemetery overlooking the James River. It's the burial place for several well-known people, including a few U.S. Presidents and a LOT of Confederate generals. The fall colors were still stunning.

Definitely in the South. A Confederate general with a cannon coming out of his grave.

We had amazing sandwiches for lunch at The Black Sheep.

We did some furniture shopping in Shockoe Bottom and then walked along the canal.

And we made a stop at the State Capitol.

We went to an Indian restaurant in Careytown for dinner and then attempted to go to a movie but every single person in Richmond was at the movie theater and parking was nonexistent. So we gave up and did a little Christmas shopping.

We are so grateful to have friends willing to watch our kids. These little getaways are priceless. Thanks Nielsons!