One of the most unusual urban parks in America: miles of trails, wooded islands, swimming holes, and serious whitewater rapids running through the middle of Richmond. The James River drops about 40 feet over the granite falls as it passes through the city, creating rapids that attract kayakers and surfers from across the region. The North Bank Trail runs along the river for seven miles and connects the major access points.
The best spots for swimming are the quarry pond at Pony Pasture and the pools below the rapids on Belle Isle. The river is swimmable from spring through fall; in summer, Richmond residents treat it as a public beach. The whitewater is serious — don't wade into the main channel without experience — but the calmer sections above and below are family-friendly.