Richmond
Featuring a historic charm and progressive attitude, Richmond is the capital city of Virginia. Nicknamed the “Creative Culture,” art, history, and a strong sense of community define this eclectic city. Walk through the cobblestone streets to find murals, sculptures, and other forms of public art decorating local businesses and storefronts. From the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to the Poe Museum, the arts are represented throughout the entire city. Not just for art lovers, foodies thrive in Richmond. The city has been crowned as one of the best spots in the country for great eats, and residents can get a taste of all it has to offer through the countless local restaurants that encompass every cuisine from southern comfort to Korean barbeque. With all the hustle and bustle of the city, residents need an escape into nature, and the city certainly provides. The James River runs through Richmond allowing thrill seeking residents to explore the whitewater rapids. For those not ready to make the plunge into the rapids, the Virginia Capital Trail is a hiking trail that follows along the river. Those lucky enough to live in this dynamic capital city have a large selection of rentals to consider.
North Chesterfield
The city of North Chesterfield is one to be admired. It’s a sprawling area near Richmond, VA, and has quite a bit of shopping, restaurants, and park space to go around. Residents renting an apartment in North Chesterfield enjoy its numerous retail opportunities. Stony Point Fashion Park is an upscale outdoor mall featuring retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, and Sur La Table. There’s also a number of restaurants in the mall as well as the surrounding area. The James River partially bounds North Chesterfield on the north and east ends. Powhite Park is a wooded space near Richmond, known for its trails and beaver dams. For fresh produce and unique finds, locals look forward to The South of the James Market, a community farmers market inside Forest Hill Park. Living here, you’ll have direct access to Interstate 95 and other major thoroughfares – plus the cultural attractions of Downtown Richmond. Area events that draw in large crowds include the annual beer expo and community jazz festival. The city is just north of the 8,000-acre Pocahontas State Park, which offers more than 60 miles of trails and lakes for fishing.
Alexandria
Stretching west from the shores of the Potomac River, about eight miles south of Washington DC, Alexandria is a vibrant city rich with history and culture. Alexandria is best known for its picturesque Old Town, a nationally designated historic district founded in 1749. Along Old Town’s charming cobblestone streets and red-brick sidewalks, residents enjoy access to more than 200 independent boutiques and restaurants in addition to intimate historical museums and exciting events held at the waterfront. Del Ray is another well-known neighborhood in Alexandria, offering a slew of eclectic shops, top-notch cafes, and diverse eateries with an artistic vibe along Mount Vernon Avenue. Potomac Yard holds the city’s largest shopping center for the retail-inclined. Residents also delight in numerous scenic parks and preserves located throughout the city, from Waterfront Park to Dora Kelley Nature Park and everything in between. Alexandria was famously the hometown of George Washington, and now contains the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Commuting and traveling from your apartment in Alexandria is easy with access to the Metro’s Blue and Yellow Lines, I-395, I-495, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.