Written by John Morris, WheelchairTravel.org, August 20, 2025
My travel style is urban — I tend to stick to the big cities, places where public transportation can take me, and rarely venture out into the suburbs. But now, with Stevie and Robert in my life, it has been rewarding to look beyond the urban core as we have sought out nature, small towns and destinations off the beaten path (or off the city bus route).
When our friends at Richmond Region Tourism reached out and asked us to shine a light on the “Region” in Richmond Region Tourism, we jumped at the opportunity. The result of our work is an updated Richmond, Virginia Wheelchair Travel Guide, which now covers the surrounding counties including Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico.
Here, I would like to reflect on three memorable moments that we experienced outside of downtown Richmond (an interesting museum, a fun activity, and a truly incredible meal), then point you to all of the amazing resources included in our expanded travel guide — resources that can help you explore the River City and many of the communities that surround the beautiful James River.
Accessible Museum: Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum
Located in Colonial Heights, just 30 minutes south of downtown Richmond, the Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum offers a fascinating look at more than a century of American agricultural and transportation history. As two self-described car fanatics, Robert and I enjoyed geeking out in the museum’s collection of classic cars, vintage trucks, restored antique farm tractors and a collection of memorabilia.
We got up close to more than 50 John Deere tractors, plus rare models from brands like Oliver, International Harvester and Ford. The truck collection ranges from early wooden-bed models to modern tractor-trailers, fire trucks, buses, and rare delivery vehicles — the Pepsi-branded delivery truck being my personal favorite (I am a Pepsi Zero addict)!
The museum was easy to navigate with our wheelchairs and we found most displays to be accessible. The full-service onsite restaurant and gift shop were both wheelchair accessible, and accessible bathrooms were available.
Accessible Activity: Boating on the James River
We were joined in Richmond by our friends Houston and Katie from Downs & Towns, and their presence made our boating trip on the James River all the more fun. The 26-foot pontoon boat, operated by local non-profit organization Beyond Boundaries, featured plenty of space for me to bring my power wheelchair aboard.
Robert, Stevie and our friends found comfortable seating, and we enjoyed an hour-plus ride on the river just south of Downtown Richmond. We enjoyed conversation, ate snacks, spotted a few Bald Eagles and watched as we passed by public parks and an abandoned power station. It was a fun day on the water!
If you are a wheelchair user and decide to book a boating trip with Beyond Boundaries, be sure to tell them to bring a portable wheelchair ramp. The boat and floating dock at Osbourne Park & Boat Landing have a height difference of several inches and it was initially difficult to get my wheelchair onboard. We managed, but not without some fuss! A wheelchair ramp would have made the outing much more accessible.
Accessible Restaurant: Dinner at the Henry Clay Inn Restaurant
Our final day of exploration in the Richmond Region led us to the small town of Ashland, population 7,565. After seeing the beautiful monument to famed racehorse Secretariat, we stopped in for dinner at the beautiful Henry Clay Inn and Restaurant.
Named in honor of the 7th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and 9th Secretary of State who was born in Hanover County in 1777, the Henry Clay Inn features 13 hotel rooms (one is ADA accessible) and a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Though the present structure was built in 1992, it was designed as a replica of the original structure built in 1858.
The inn’s restaurant was the perfect place to have our final dinner in the Richmond Region, and our table ordered everything from the seared duck breast to the beef tenderloin (pictured above). The meal was absolutely delicious, and we were honored to be greeted by the chef.
When I first traveled to Richmond, Virginia last year, I did so as a solo travel blogger. I had a great time, visiting first-class attractions like the American Civil War Museum, Edgar Allan Poe Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This second trip (for me) was a family affair, and we pursued outdoor activities, a visit to a truly impressive zoo, and a thrilling night at the ballpark with the Richmond Flying Squirrels!
The diverse array of things to do and places to eat in the Richmond Region guarantees that no one will be left out. The continued attention to accessibility by local businesses and the Visit Richmond team made my family feel welcome and it is for that reason that we submit this travel destination for your consideration. If you decide to add the River City to your travel plans, please be sure to tell us about your trip!