That’s a trip for the memory books! We started our trip by exploring the abandoned town of Union Level, Va for Jennifer’s & my 20th wedding anniversary. Since we were in the area, we made a stop at Lovers Leap & Mabry Mill where we happened to run into some old friends & spent some time catching up. The next day we celebrated Bailey’s 13th birthday while dispersed camping & then visited Brights Zoo near Johnson City, Tn so she could see their newest addition, a rare spotless baby Giraffe. After that, we spent the rest of the week showing Papa & Nana (from South Dakota) some of our favorite places in Virginia. To top the week off, they treated all of us to a wonderful horseback ride at Skyline Stables just outside of Radford, Va. What a great week it has been and we’re definitely exhausted. But there’s no rest for the wicked. On to the next adventure!

Our first experience to the lavish Maymont Estate, in Richmond, Va, was a colorful one. This gilded era mansion annually hosts an event that is aptly named the “Garden Glow”, a colorful enhancement of the already beautiful gardens located on the property. In conjunction with the properties original Romanesque-style buildings, you begin to feel like you’ve been transported to some far off place or fairytale. Food trucks, venders, facilities and a multitude of fire pits and benches are provided as a courtesy on the main lawn of the property but do very little to detract from the overall experience. This is generally where we encountered the masses as they enjoyed their food, beverages and conversations next to the warmth of the fires. A short hike down the trail though, you are magically transported into a different world and the people almost become unnoticeable, thanks to the immersive effect of the carefully chosen music and artfully placed lighting. They truly make this a magical event to behold. If you’re in the Richmond, VA area between Oct 15th - Nov 7th, we highly recommend experiencing this spectacle.

Website: Maymont Estate