RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Visitors from the West Coast and Central Florida will now have a direct route to Virginia's Richmond Region with the launch of new nonstop flights from Tampa (TPA), Los Angeles (LAX) and Las Vegas (LAS) airports via JetBlue Airways. These flights will be Richmond International Airport's first-ever transcontinental option from Los Angeles, the first-ever service from Las Vegas, and a brand-new nonstop service from Tampa. Visitors who are ready to travel will be able to experience these flights beginning November 19 with the launch of RIC's service to TPA, followed by LAX on December 18 and LAS on December 20.
These new, fast-tracked routes open up an exciting opportunity for travelers from the West Coast and Central Florida. Richmond, Virginia's capital, is located just 90 miles south of Washington, D.C. The destination is known for its mix of big city amenities and small-town charm, vibrant arts scene, eclectic dining, creative craft beer, rich history, and outdoor adventure.
Travelers' safety, comfort and wellbeing while in Richmond is of utmost importance, and businesses and attractions throughout the Richmond Region have strict COVID-19 practices and precautions in place. With many of Richmond's top attractions located outdoors and in easy walking distance within the downtown area, as well as an abundance of outdoor adventure, it is easy for travelers to remain socially distanced while enjoying everything Richmond has to offer. Details about experiencing Richmond safely and what protocols are currently in place can be found at visitrichmondva.com/travel-safely.
With the James River running through the heart of its downtown, Richmond is the only place in the United States to raft or kayak through class III and class IV rapids in an urban setting. The James River offers an abundance of additional outdoor activities including swimming, tubing, and stand-up paddle boarding. The James River Park System that hugs the river is known for its beautiful trails and abundant wildlife, and is a popular destination for mountain bikers. The 52-mile Virginia Capital Trail is a bike path that parallels the James River from Richmond to Virginia's historic capitals of Jamestown and Williamsburg.
In recent years, Richmond has garnered accolades for its exciting culinary offerings and is regularly recognized by national food media as well as the James Beard Foundation. Initially recognized for serving up a contemporary twist on Southern cuisine, the Richmond culinary scene continues to innovate and has been recently lauded for its diversity of flavors. Lehja, an award-winning Indian restaurant; Peter Chang, helmed by the famed Szechuan chef of the same name; and Mama J's, a soul food favorite, have all been James Beard nominees.
Craft beer lovers have a home in Richmond where beer styles vary from West Coast IPA's to New England IPA's to Goses, Lagers, Stouts and more. The Richmond Beer Trail boasts nearly 40 breweries and serves as a guide through the region that was named by VinePair as one of the world's top 10 beer destinations.
A thriving arts community in Richmond provides a beautiful backdrop for visitors. The RVA Street Art Festival has transformed pockets of Richmond, revitalizing neighborhoods with transformational public art from local and national artistic talent. More recently, in response to the social justice movement, Richmond artist Hamilton Glass developed the Mending Walls Project which brings artists from different backgrounds together to collaborate on outdoor murals that address where we are now as a society. Spread throughout downtown Richmond, the Mending Walls murals can be easily enjoyed on foot. In December of 2019, Richmond's Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) welcomed Rumors of War, a sculpture by renowned artist Kehinde Wiley. Rumors of War stands in front of the VMFA overlooking the recently renamed Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Over the summer, neighboring monuments to Confederate generals were removed.
For accommodations, the boutique, art-focused Quirk Hotel is located in the downtown Arts District and features Quirk Gallery inside the property. Another boutique option is the Graduate Richmond, whose design pays homage to local tennis star Arthur Ashe. In conjunction with Visit Richmond, the Graduate is currently offering travelers a chance to win a trip to Richmond, including a two-night stay at the hotel. For a luxury option, The Jefferson Hotel is Richmond's grandest hotel and five-star historic property.
For additional information on Richmond, please visit http://www.visitrichmondva.com.
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About Richmond Region Tourism
Richmond Region Tourism, the official destination marketing and tourism organization for the Richmond Region, is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the destination to meeting, convention and sports event planners, tour operators and leisure travelers. Richmond celebrates diversity with initiatives highlighting LGBT (OutRVA) and Black culture (BLK RVA). The campaigns drive awareness to LGBT- and Black-owned businesses and provide resources for travelers including dining, arts, history, culture, events and more. For more information about the Richmond Region, visit VisitRichmondVA.com.
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SOURCE Richmond Region Tourism
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