Discovering Henrico, Virginia
Henrico County wraps around Richmond on three sides and has grown into one of the most active and livable suburban communities in the mid-Atlantic. From the open-air shopping at Short Pump to the lake trails of Innsbrook and the azalea gardens of Joseph Bryan Park, Henrico offers more variety than most visitors expect. This guide covers ten destinations across Henrico County and the surrounding Richmond, Virginia area, each reflecting a different side of what makes this region worth knowing.
1. Short Pump Town Center in Henrico, Virginia
Short Pump Town Center is Henrico County's flagship retail destination, an open-air lifestyle center on West Broad Street anchored by upscale department stores, national retailers, specialty shops, and restaurants surrounding a central outdoor plaza with a fountain and carousel. It draws visitors from across the Richmond metro area who come for the retail variety, the dining options, and a pedestrian-scaled environment that enclosed malls in the region cannot replicate. For Henrico families, the plaza has become a gathering point well beyond its function as a shopping center.
Best Time to Visit
- Weekday afternoons offer the most relaxed Short Pump experience with lighter Henrico crowds and easier parking across the complex.
- Spring and fall weekends bring comfortable outdoor conditions to the plaza, with the fountain and seating areas at their most inviting.
- The holiday season makes Short Pump Town Center the most active retail destination in Henrico with extended hours through December.
- Summer evenings draw Richmond area families to the outdoor dining and carousel after the peak afternoon heat passes.
Highlights
- Open-Air Plaza and Carousel: A central gathering space that gives Short Pump Town Center community character well beyond standard Henrico retail.
- Upscale Retail Mix: The most comprehensive shopping destination serving Henrico County and the western Richmond corridor.
- Dining Corridor: A restaurant concentration that draws Henrico and Richmond diners on evenings and weekends, independent of any retail visit.
2. Richmond International Airport (RIC) in Henrico, Virginia
Richmond International Airport is the primary commercial gateway for the Greater Richmond metro, located in the Sandston area of Henrico County just east of the city. RIC connects the Richmond and Henrico community to major hub airports across the country through a compact, efficiently designed terminal that consistently earns recognition for its passenger experience. Its scale and location make it one of the most accessible and least stressful airports serving any mid-Atlantic metro of comparable size.
Best Time to Visit
- Weekday mornings see the heaviest business travel through RIC, reflecting the corporate activity of Henrico County and the Richmond metro.
- Holiday travel periods in November and December bring the highest passenger volumes through the Henrico airport.
- Spring and fall offer the most reliable flying conditions at RIC without the summer thunderstorm delays.
- Year-round the airport serves Henrico and Greater Richmond travelers with consistent service to major US hub airports.
Highlights
- Compact and Passenger-Friendly Design: A terminal layout that minimizes transit time and earns high marks from Henrico and Richmond area travelers.
- Regional Business Gateway: The primary air travel connection for Henrico County's corporate community and the Richmond metro.
- Henrico County Location: Positioned east of Richmond with direct interstate access, convenient from across Henrico, Chesterfield, and surrounding counties.
3. Innsbrook in Glen Allen, Virginia
Innsbrook is a master-planned office and mixed-use community in Glen Allen, Henrico County, built around interconnected man-made lakes that give the development a character uncommon in suburban corporate parks. What began as a corporate campus in the 1970s has grown into a full community destination with office towers, restaurants, lakeside walking and running trails, and the Innsbrook Pavilion, an outdoor concert venue whose After Hours summer series has become one of the most anticipated events in the Greater Richmond calendar. For Henrico and Richmond visitors, Innsbrook offers a combination of professional environment, outdoor recreation, and live entertainment that few planned developments anywhere match.
Best Time to Visit
- Summer evenings are peak season when the After Hours concert series brings the Richmond and Henrico community to the outdoor Pavilion on the lake.
- Spring mornings offer the most pleasant conditions for walking the Innsbrook Lake Trail System before the Henrico summer heat arrives.
- Fall afternoons provide scenic lake trail views as the surrounding Glen Allen canopy changes color.
- Year-round, the lake trails are accessible to Henrico and Richmond walkers, runners, and cyclists outside of event programming.
Highlights
- Innsbrook Pavilion Concert Series: An outdoor music venue on the lake that hosts the After Hours series and draws Henrico and Richmond audiences for decades of summer performances.
- Lake Trail System: Interconnected walking and running paths that serve the Glen Allen and Henrico communities as an everyday outdoor recreation corridor.
- Corporate and Community Mix: A development that combines office space, restaurants, trails, and event programming in a way no conventional Henrico business park can match.
4. Westchester Commons in Midlothian, Virginia
Westchester Commons is an open-air lifestyle shopping and dining destination in Midlothian, serving the Chesterfield County community and drawing visitors from across the Greater Richmond and Henrico area. National retailers, locally relevant shops, and a strong restaurant corridor fill a walkable outdoor environment that has become a consistent destination for the Midlothian community and the broader southwest Richmond metro. Its Midlothian Turnpike location gives it convenient access from Chesterfield, Henrico, and the Richmond city community, looking for suburban lifestyle retail.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring and fall weekends bring the most comfortable outdoor shopping and dining conditions to Westchester Commons.
- Weekday lunches draw the Chesterfield and Henrico area professional community to the restaurant options during the midday window.
- The holiday season makes Westchester Commons one of the most active shopping destinations in the southwest Richmond and Henrico metro.
- Summer evenings draw diners to the outdoor restaurant options as temperatures moderate after sunset.
Highlights
- Outdoor Lifestyle Center Format: A walkable open-air environment that sets Westchester Commons apart from the enclosed malls serving the broader Richmond and Henrico area.
- Restaurant Corridor: A dining concentration that draws the Midlothian and Henrico community for evening outings independent of any retail visit.
- Regional Draw: A lifestyle center that serves Midlothian, the southwest Richmond metro, and Henrico County residents, making the short drive for the retail and dining mix.
5. Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia
Pocahontas State Park is the largest state park in Virginia, spanning nearly 7,950 acres in Chesterfield County and centered on the Swift Creek Reservoir. The park offers hiking, dedicated mountain bike trails, swimming, fishing, kayaking, camping, and naturalist programming at a scale that few parks accessible from the Henrico and Richmond metro can match. Its size and trail variety make it a destination for serious outdoor enthusiasts from Henrico and across the region, while its campground and family amenities draw visitors looking for a full-day natural retreat within minutes of the suburban corridor.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring brings the most vibrant trail conditions with wildflower blooms and ideal temperatures for hiking and cycling in Henrico.
- Summer is peak season for swimming and water recreation on the Swift Creek Reservoir, drawing Henrico families and Richmond metro visitors.
- Fall offers the most dramatic trail scenery with the full 7,950-acre canopy turning across the Chesterfield landscape.
- Year-round, the mountain bike trails attract dedicated riders from Henrico and across the Richmond metro in every season.
Highlights
- 7,950-Acre Natural Landscape: Virginia's largest state park, offering Henrico County and Richmond area visitors an outdoor scale that suburban parks cannot replicate.
- Mountain Bike Trail System: Purpose-built trails that draw serious riders from Henrico, Richmond, and beyond to the Chesterfield park throughout the year.
- Swift Creek Reservoir: A reservoir anchoring water recreation for Henrico and Greater Richmond families across the summer season.
6. Brandermill in Midlothian, Virginia
Brandermill is one of Virginia's earliest and most recognized planned communities, developed beginning in the 1970s in Midlothian around the Swift Creek Reservoir with residential neighborhoods integrated into wooded waterways, trails, and community amenities. Its waterfront lifestyle, sailing club, trail network, and multiple pools have made it a model for planned community development in the Greater Richmond and Henrico region for more than four decades. For visitors interested in seeing what a thoughtfully designed suburban community looks like after fifty years, Brandermill is a compelling and well-maintained example.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring and summer bring Brandermill's waterfront lifestyle and outdoor amenities to their peak, with Swift Creek Reservoir activity at its highest.
- Fall showcases the wooded Brandermill landscape at its most dramatic, with the Midlothian canopy in full autumn color.
- Weekend mornings offer the most active view of Brandermill's community life, with residents on trails and around the reservoir.
- Summer evenings bring the Brandermill waterfront community together in ways that give Henrico and Richmond visitors a genuine sense of the daily rhythm.
Highlights
- Swift Creek Reservoir Waterfront: A central reservoir that has defined Brandermill's outdoor identity since the community's founding in Chesterfield County.
- Planned Community Trails: A walking and cycling network woven through the Brandermill neighborhoods that reflects the original planning vision for Midlothian.
- Virginia Planned Community Heritage: One of the first large-scale planned communities in Virginia, a model that influenced Henrico and Richmond area development for decades.
7. Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center in Glen Allen, Virginia
The Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center serves as the primary community arts facility for Glen Allen and the surrounding Henrico County area, offering gallery exhibitions, arts classes, workshops, and performance events that draw participants of all ages from across Henrico and the broader Richmond metro. Its rotating gallery features local and regional artists, and its youth and adult programming reflects the kind of investment in cultural infrastructure that sets Henrico County apart from most suburban communities in Virginia. For Richmond and Henrico visitors interested in local arts, it is a welcoming and accessible entry point.
Best Time to Visit
- Fall and spring bring the most active gallery rotation and class programming to the Glen Allen Arts Center.
- Weekend afternoons offer open gallery visits and family-friendly programming for Henrico and Richmond area visitors of all ages.
- Summer hosts youth arts camps that fill the Glen Allen center with creative activity for Henrico families.
- Year-round, the rotating gallery exhibitions give repeat visitors new content across every season.
Highlights
- Rotating Gallery Exhibitions: A consistent calendar of visual arts shows featuring local and regional artists that give Henrico County visitors ongoing reasons to return.
- Community Arts Education: Classes and workshops serving all ages across Henrico County and the Richmond metro, from youth programs to adult studio instruction.
- Glen Allen Arts Anchor: A dedicated facility that provides Henrico County with cultural programming comparable to Richmond's urban arts institutions.
8. Deep Run Park in Henrico, Virginia
Deep Run Park is one of the most active and versatile county parks in Henrico, serving the western Henrico community with athletic fields, a disc golf course, picnic shelters, playgrounds, a fitness trail, and wooded natural areas across a substantial acreage near the Short Pump and West End corridors. The park's athletic facilities draw league play and organized sports from across Henrico County, while its trails and picnic areas serve the everyday recreational needs of the surrounding community. For visitors to Henrico, it represents the quality of public outdoor infrastructure that makes Henrico one of the most livable suburban communities in Virginia.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for trail walking, disc golf, and outdoor recreation at Deep Run Park.
- Weekend mornings bring the highest volume of Henrico County and Richmond area park users for sports, trails, and family outings.
- Summer evenings provide relief from the peak Henrico afternoon heat while still allowing full use of athletic fields and picnic facilities.
- Year-round, the disc golf course and fitness trail draw consistent use from the Henrico and Richmond community, regardless of season.
Highlights
- Disc Golf Course: A well-maintained course with a dedicated following among Henrico County and Richmond area disc golfers.
- Athletic Complex: Multi-field facilities hosting league play and organized sports for the Henrico community through spring, summer, and fall.
- Natural Trail Areas: Wooded sections of Deep Run Park offering a quiet walking environment within minutes of the Short Pump and West End corridors.
9. Wyndham at Virginia Crossings in Glen Allen, Virginia
The Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center is a full-service hotel and meeting facility in Glen Allen, Henrico County, set on grounds that carry a historic character uncommon in suburban hotel properties. It serves the Greater Richmond and Henrico business community as a primary conference and event venue for corporate meetings, association gatherings, weddings, and weekend retreats, offering both professional meeting infrastructure and the relaxed atmosphere of a resort setting. Its Glen Allen location provides convenient access from across Henrico, the Richmond metro, and Richmond International Airport.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring and fall are peak conference and event seasons at Virginia Crossings, when the Glen Allen grounds are most scenic for corporate and social events.
- Summer brings weddings and leisure travel to the Henrico property, with outdoor grounds fully in use.
- Year-round, the conference facilities serve the Henrico and Richmond business community with a full meeting and event calendar.
- Weekends draw leisure travelers and event guests from across the Henrico and Greater Richmond area to the Glen Allen property.
Highlights
- Conference and Event Infrastructure: One of the most capable corporate event venues in Henrico County and the Greater Richmond business community.
- Historic Property Setting: Hotel grounds that give the Wyndham Virginia Crossings a resort character within the Glen Allen suburban landscape.
- Airport and Corridor Proximity: A Glen Allen location with convenient access for Henrico, Richmond, and RIC Airport travelers.
10. Joseph Bryan Park in Richmond, Virginia
Joseph Bryan Park sits on the northern edge of Richmond near the Henrico County line and is home to one of the most remarkable natural features in the Greater Richmond area: the Azalea Garden, which contains one of the largest public azalea collections on the East Coast. Each spring, tens of thousands of azalea plants bloom in a display that draws visitors from Henrico, the Richmond metro, and across Virginia for a floral event of genuine scale. Beyond the spring bloom, the park provides walking trails, a pond, and picnic facilities that make it a year-round destination for the Richmond and Henrico communities.
Best Time to Visit
- Mid-April through early May is the peak bloom window, bringing the largest crowds from Henrico, Richmond, and across Virginia for the display at full color.
- Spring mornings offer the most uncrowded azalea experience before the Henrico and metro area weekend crowds arrive.
- Fall provides comfortable walking and trail conditions with the surrounding Richmond and Henrico canopy in autumn color.
- Year-round, the walking trails and pond make Joseph Bryan a consistent outdoor destination for the Richmond and northern Henrico community.
Highlights
- Azalea Garden: One of the largest public azalea collections on the East Coast, delivering an annual spring bloom that draws visitors from Henrico, Richmond, and across Virginia.
- Walking Trails and Pond: A natural park environment serving the Richmond and Henrico community year-round for trail walking, picnicking, and quiet outdoor recreation.
- Richmond and Henrico Boundary Setting: A park that serves both communities equally and reflects the connected outdoor infrastructure of the Greater Richmond area.
Why Henrico's Landmarks Stay With You
From the open-air plaza of Short Pump Town Center to the quiet trails of Joseph Bryan Park, from the lake-centered concerts of Innsbrook to the largest state park in Virginia, Henrico County and the surrounding Richmond area consistently surprise visitors who underestimate what the region holds. The Innsbrook concert series on a summer evening. The azalea garden in full bloom in April. The trails at Pocahontas on a fall morning. These are the experiences that stay.
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Explore the region. Take your time. Henrico, Virginia, will introduce itself one landmark at a time.