Date Archives: December 2018

Winter in and around Petersburg, Virginia can be an enchanting time for your whole family. While we cannot guarantee snow and cold temperatures, we can point you toward these five, delightful family destinations to keep your gang happy and feeling warm inside. 

1. Centre Hill Mansion Museum — 1 Centre Hill Avenue, Petersburg
   The Centre Hill Mansion Museum at 1 Centre Hill Avenue in Petersburg is part of the Petersburg Preservation Task Force's four historic buildings. Though you can find plenty of stately Petersburg homes for sale through your local, dependable real estate agent, the Centre Hill Mansion will not be among them. This 1823 mansion, long a historic treasure, has played host to three American presidents, Christmastime carolers, and thousands of visitors. Enjoy history, see genuine antiques, and consider buying a holiday ornament to mark your visit.
   
   
2. Sunday Brunch at Swift Creek Mill Theatre — 17401 Jefferson Davis Highway, Chesterfield
   Perhaps you worked up an appetite searching for Chesterfield homes for sale, or you want to celebrate finding the perfect house! Nothing brings families together like sitting down to a lovely brunch at Swift Creek Mill Theatre. The menu is generous, with a variety of offerings and a minimum of pretension. Consider Low Country Shrimp'n Grits, Pot Roast, or Herb Crusted Pork Loin from among the eight hot buffet offerings. This does not include the groaning board of the waffle and dessert bar ("No, really, I shouldn't ... well, maybe just one ...").
   
   
3. Swaders Sports Park — 4725 Whitehill Boulevard, Prince George
   Swaders Sports Park is the place to take your kids for some all-out, wild and crazy fun. Batting cages, video arcade, laser tag and more all await your children needing to cut loose and move. If wintertime has meant too much time cramped in bedrooms and in front of the television, take them to Swaders. You can let them play in HoloGate (virtual reality) and then later check out the great reality of Prince George homes for sale in the surrounding area.
    
4. Pamplin Historical Park — 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg
   Pamplin Historical Park is a weekends-only spot that can help your kids appreciate the various roles of southern citizens in the Civil War. Let them roam the walking trails, sure, but also take them to Tudor Hall, have them meet the interpreters, and help them put the whole era in perspective. 
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5. Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum — 880 West Roslyn Road in Colonial Heights 
   Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum is a great spot for kids of a certain age (and some adults, too!). You have to like tractors, or antique trucks, or firetrucks, or classic cars, or ... heck, if it has wheels, you'll love this place. It has a gift shop, it has BBQ close at hand, and it is friendly to both trucks and RVs (plenty of parking). If you are not living in an RV, but are looking for Colonial Heights homes for sale, please consider stopping by Napier ERA after your truck-and-tractor museum visit. 

Our real estate agents understand the needs of families. When you contact Napier ERA, you connect with trained professionals who know the Petersburg, Virginia market. We know what families want, from winter wonderlands to serene summer backyard getaways. Our agents can help you find the perfect family home in Petersburg. 

The holiday season always allows us to be grateful for our family.  Your family is constantly changing whether it's with a brand new baby or a rescue dog. Now is the ideal time to document every member of your expanding family. Whether you're looking for newborn photos or lifestyle sessions with the family dog, our real estate agents can recommend their favorite family photographers in the Richmond area.

1. Rebecca D'Angelo Photography - Serving the Richmond area
   Rebecca D' Angelo Photography specializes in photographing animals and their families. She loves capturing the loving relationship each person has with their pet, and how pets are part of the family too.  She also does family and wedding photography but her passion lies with including the animals throughout. While you're in the area, take the time to tour some Richmond homes for sale.
   
   
2. Jacki G. Photography
   Serving the Henrico area Jacki G. Photography covers all the important milestones in your family's life. She offers everything from maternity photos to Fresh 48 sessions, detailing your baby's first two days. She also features newborn photos, first birthday photos with candid's of the cake smashing, and family portrait sessions.  With your expanding family, check out some Henrico homes for sale.
   
   
3. Laura Matthews Photography - Serving the Glen Allen area
   Laura Matthews Photography specializes in senior pictures and family lifestyle sessions. Her one-hour lifestyle sessions occur either in your own home or a preferred location, capturing the candid, everyday moments of your life. However, she uses a minimalist technique with newborns and prefers to photograph them in your home. While you're in the area, check out some Glen Allen homes for sale.
   
   
4. Photography by Nicole Johnson - Serving the Richmond area
   Photography by Nicole Johnson specializes in wedding and baby photography. Since Nicole is usually busy shooting weddings on weekends, she usually schedules her baby and family sessions during the week. She covers everything from maternity photos to newborn photos to first birthday sessions. She works out of her studio but parents are welcome to bring any props or snacks needed to make their baby feel comfortable.
   
   
5. Meghan McSweeney Photography - Serving the Richmond area
   Megan McSweeney Photography specializes in wedding and family lifestyle portrait photography. Some of her clients she's had since their wedding through their evolving families. She photographs babies through senior pictures, along with entire families, aiming to get the little moments of laughter as children grow.

Capturing family milestones on camera means you'll always have these family memories to cherish. Richmond and its surrounding communities include any number of talented photographers and scenic locations for your photos. Contact Napier ERA to learn more about the area and to discuss Richmond real estate opportunities.

Resolutions: We all make them. Unfortunately, according to U.S. News & World Report, we let roughly 80 percent of New Year's resolutions fail. They can be noble ("I'll get more exercise"), or they can be nagging ("I'll go to the gym tomorrow"). If you have the determination to keep a New Year's resolution to get in shape, here are six fitness centers in and near Henrico, Virginia that can help. 

1. Crunch - 5420 Glenside Drive, Henrico
   This Glenside location in Henrico is smack in the middle of some great Henrico homes for sale that reflects the upbeat mix of Henrico residents. Crunch gives out endless encouragement with every class. From cozy homes that may not have enough room for a complete home fitness center to historic farmhouses big enough for your own running track, you can find a great home close enough to Crunch to keep your resolution and your good health.
    
2. Total Training - 7900 Shrader Road, Suite 100, Henrico
   Located on Patterson Avenue, Total Training specializes in individualized strength training for athletes. It also offers a non-athlete or adult program designed for either three or four days a week, for anyone who spends a little too much time behind a desk.
   
   
3. Balance Pilates Training Center - 2123 Staples Mill Road, Richmond
   Balance Pilates Training Center is surrounded by attractive Richmond homes for sale and is here to help you keep your resolutions and your flexibility through year-round Pilates training. Feeling tired and grumpy? Get to the core of your problem with core training and feel better, fast! If you're new to Pilates, consider the introductory series, or simply try a single session.
   
   
4. Mayhem Fitness & Cross Training - 7503 Ranco Road, Henrico
   "Mayhem" may be an odd name, but the attention at Mayhem Fitness & Cross Training is personal, intense, and extremely helpful, starting with a free transformation session.
    
5. Phyzique Fitness & Wellness Club - 3693 Deep Rock Road, Richmond
   Phyzique Fitness & Wellness Club offers helpful, personal training, yoga, and other touches like nutritional guidance and massage therapy.
    
6. Phoenix Fitness & Martial Arts - 3957 Deep Rock Road, Henrico
   You can let your New Year's resolution rise again at Phoenix Fitness & Martial Arts, since you can get the personal training you need and branch out into new ways to feel better about yourself, like Muay Thai kickboxing, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, and boxing. If you feel a little uncomfortable with individual training, consider starting out in a group training session. These are typically three, 45-minute sessions a week. 

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to find a great home in the Henrico, Virginia area, contact Napier Realtors ERA! We serve the Henrico, Napier and Richmond area with helpful, personal attention to your needs. Whether you want a place convenient to a fitness center, or prefer a house that will hold a lot of couches, we can get you into a lovely home just right for you. 

While winter doesn't officially arrive until December 21, our latest Richmond snowfall suggests a different story.

Our real estate agents know that when you are touring homes for sale in Richmond, you want to move to a city that gives you everything you want including activities for your entire family. Richmond has it all!

Whether the thermostat sends you outside (or tells you to stay indoors), here are five of our favorite opportunities for your family to experience local fun.

1. Science Museum of Virginia - 2500 West Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220
   The Science Museum of Virginia is one of the most celebrated STEM-focused museums in the United States. It's a self-described "catalyst for innovation" that focuses on highly interactive exhibits and dynamic programs to capture the imaginations of visitors. You're sure to learn something new – and the museum is conveniently open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
   
   
2. The Byrd Theatre - 2908 West Cary St., Richmond, VA 23221
   Make movie night at Richmond's Byrd Theatre a regular event. The Byrd is open 365 days a year, making it the perfect night out for your family. Their schedule varies depending upon the day of the week, so be sure to check the day you plan to attend. Celebrating its 90th birthday, the Byrd is both a State and National Historic Landmark. The cost of admission at the Byrd is $4/ticket which means the entire family can spend the evening together without breaking the budget.
   
   
3. Off the Wall - 721 West Hundred Road, Chester, VA 23836
   Off the Wall is known as the "indoor bounce and party place" and will have any youngster literally bouncing off the walls! With All-Day Play, kids 17 and under visit for just $8 and adults are free. Leaving and returning is okay: You get full access to the bounce houses and ball pits all day long. You can also explore exciting birthday packages and after-hours private event hosting.
   
   
4. Three Lakes Park & Nature Center - 400 Sausiluta Drive, Henrico, VA 23227
   One of the best parks in the Richmond area is Three Lakes Park & Nature Center is a great place for kids to learn more about the natural world. A visit to the 6,500-square-foot center will open young eyes with interactive exhibits. From there, you can take in the sights at the 50,000-gallon aquarium from noon to 4:30 on weekends. The park itself is open dawn until dusk.
   
   
5. Sledding at Libby Hill Park - 2801 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23223
   Libby Hill Park is an annual destination for winter sledding thanks to terrain that's ideal for a fun, yet safe experience. Open from sunrise to sunset; it overlooks the James River to offer one of the best views of the Richmond cityscape anywhere in sight. One of the city's three original parks, it comes complete with walking paths and benches to relax on.

Napier ERA - Your Richmond Real Estate Area Professionals

At Napier ERA, we strive to find your ideal home. With our expertise in all things Richmond combined with unbeatable dedication to customer service, we know how to make finding your first or next home a joy, not a chore.

Contact Napier ERA to find out more today. Before you know it, you could be moving into the Richmond home you've always wanted.

Local businesses bring a certain "sparkle" to their communities.  They add charm and uniqueness not found anywhere else. Across Central Virginia in areas like Midlothian, Petersburg, and Richmond, you'll discover locally-owned shops and boutiques filled with specialty items and gifts perfect for giving--especially at this time of the year.  Our real estate agents are here to tell you about one neighborhood gem, Orange RVA, found in our Scott's Addition neighborhood.

Visit Orange RVA in Scott's Addition

As Richmond's fastest-growing neighborhood, Scott's Addition has been steadily picking up popularity for being a fantastic place to go for shops, bars, breweries, restaurants, and entertainment. From bowling alleys to cinemas, shuffleboard clubs to arcade bars, Scott's is bound to have something to pique your interest.

On today's agenda, we're here to introduce you to Orange RVA, a unique boutique that works in hand-in-hand with local artisans to sell home decor, works of art, and a variety of gift items. Orange just recently made its move to Scott's Addition, and as owner Cathy Davis has stated, their new location is a perfect fit for Orange RVA: The front of a warehouse in a building full of artists. 

Orange has been in operation for more than five years and partners with more than 120 artists, with an inventory that updates weekly. Davis herself created the boutique as a means to display and sell her own artwork, and the business simply grew from there. Orange is the perfect place to visit for gifts, or if you love to browse until something clicks with you.

From candles and artwork to t-shirts and jewelry, Orange's artisans work hard to produce a broad variety of crafts, and it shows! If you're at all interested in seeing and supporting the works of Richmond's local artisans, by all means, drop in and give Orange a look. And if you're a Richmond artist yourself, Orange is always interested in picking up new talent.

Discover Richmond Real Estate with Napier ERA

Scott's Addition certainly has a lot going for it - but it's by no means the only place worth visiting in Richmond! RVA is full of thriving neighborhoods, places to go, and things to do. That's part of what makes Richmond such a great place to live.

When you're searching for Richmond homes for sale this holiday season--or any time of the year, let us take some of the stress off your shoulders and help make sure you meet your real estate goals. Contact Napier ERA today, and find out why we should be your go-to pro for Richmond real estate.