Richmond named one of the world's top queer-friendly destinations
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Richmond is one of the world's most queer-friendly destinations, per a travel guide released last month.
Why it matters: Our underdog of a city is placed in the same league as Brooklyn, Milan and London.
The big picture: "The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide," a hardcover book from Lonely Planet, gives Richmond a seven-page feature that includes where people should go when they visit.
- The recommendations come from local Paige Poprocky, who you may recognize as one of the faces of The Richmond Experience.
- "I feel like queerness has always been in Richmond's DNA. Richmond is so vibrant, very artsy, and diverse," Poprocky writes. "Frankly, it's weird here. It's weird! And we like it that way."
Some of her recommendations:
💃🏻 Start your day with drag brunch at Godfrey's.
🍇 Hit the Saturday farmers markets.
🛍️ Check out queer-owned shops in Carytown like Mongrel or shop at Diversity Thrift.
🚶🏻♀️ Walk over the T. Pott Bridge.
🌃 Cross through the Richmond Slave Trail to learn about the city's history.
🍺 Väsen Brewing Company in Scott's Addition for a beer. The Hof for a rooftop.
🍆 Dinner at phallic-filled L'Opossum, where the queer chef and owner was a James Beard nominee — and which Axios Richmond readers voted as the "best special occasion restaurant" in the city.
🪩 Go dancing at Babe's, one of the last remaining lesbian bars in the country.
The bottom line: "Recognition like this is exciting and helps introduce our community to new visitors," said Katherine O'Donnell, president of Richmond Region Tourism, in a statement.
- "We can't wait to welcome Lonely Planet readers soon."
Go deeper: Richmond named No. 1 best town to visit in 2024 by CNN