Maymont Reviews

I heard this park from a friend and visited the Gardens when I was in Richmond. Spring blossoms were spectacular! Azaleas, rhododendrons and dogwoods are in full bloom. Japanese and Italian Gardens are beautiful. I wish I had more time to visit the rest of the park.

My 4-year-old granddaughter loves to go to Maymont with me. We start at the animal farm where she enjoys feeding the goats. I bring quarters for the feed machine. It costs 50 cents for a handful. Then we head down the winding path to see the cows and the bobcat. Next we stop at the giant eagle telescope at the eagles pen. Then on to the bear habitat. We were lucky to see the bear the last time we were there. It was hunting for food that the trainers had hidden around the enclosure. We decided not to go all the way to the Japanese garden, which we also love, and headed back up the path to have a picnic in a gazebo with wooden benches. The last leg of the return trip is a little steep, but not too bad if you go slow and take breaks to see the animals. There is a donation box along the path to help fund the park.

A beautiful and interesting home. We really enjoyed the guided tour. The grounds are spectacular and a haven for photographers.

What a great park! I was only in Richmond for the day, and being that we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, I wanted to do something outdoors. I’m so glad I chose Maymont! The park is huge, so you could spend several hours there. Lots of people had little picnics set up in the grass (great idea!) and it was very easy to remain socially distant.

I was impressed by how well kept the grounds are and just how much there is to see. I was only planning on being there for an hour or less because I needed to get on the road, but I couldn’t help but explore the whole park and ended up staying for a little over 2 hours. In that time I was able to walk around the entire place and stop a couple of times to rest.

If you’re going on a hot day (it was a balmy 95 when I was there) be sure to bring some water. The fountains were turned off for safety, and the vending machines were spread out. I was very hot and thirsty when I left.
I highly recommend checking out Maymont while in Richmond. Can’t believe it’s free!

Awesome to walk around,I went solo
Super cheap the $5 admission is suggested so you don't necessarily have to pay it but I did was great environment with the animals and scenery

I’ve visited several times and it is very unique. The narwhal dressing table fascinates me every time. It is worth the money.

This is a great place to bring the family and walk around! We visited the animal exhibits and the mansion. This was such a fun way to spend the early part of our day.

We were very disappointed with the animal exhibits. It is so sad to see a fox and then a bear all alone looking so depressed. It seemed more like prison for them. If you can not have companions for the animals, do not have animals.

The park grounds are lovely, even in late fall. The layout of the trails on cliffs overlooking the James River and along the ponds you have the feeling of being in mountains. The house tour is worth the time and nominal ticket price.

We did the Marymount Tour it was great. The tour guide was nice and very informative! We loved it! Highly recommend it! Great history behind the house

I visited Maymont in October 2023. I focused on the Japanese Garden and the Italian Garden. The Japanese Garden was excellent with many photo ops. It involved a lot of steps so beware if that is a problem for you. After visiting the two gardens, I walked to the Maymont Mansion and took a photo. I hope to return to Maymont and spend more time there as it is a very enjoyable place to walk.

Parking is good and ample and when entering the park you see the little mansion (it would be helpful though to have some maps scattered throughout the park to know which way to walk) and just walk on. walking downhill you find the cascades and Japanese garden and some nice views. We expected to see the river but obviously the train tracks hinder access and view. Did not explore the nature park nor animal area. Good destination for some city green and obviously a lot of locals use it - including the drummer with his monotonous beat that started to irritate after a while. this spoiled a bit of the fun .

This is an excellently restored/preserved historical, grand home. Any fans of Downton Abbey will love exploring this home that existed in the same time period as the show.

I have been to Maymont twice now. The first time, I toured the house. The second time, the gardens which were in full bloom. Beautiful day and neat way to get some time outdoors.

This is a fantastic place to visit. The grounds are a wonderful oasis of calm. Trees and shrubs all around with great views of the James River.
The internal tour of the house is a genuine ‘frozen on time’ picture of the ‘well to do’ lifestyle.

Maymont is a Richmond treasure! It is 100 acres of beautiful space! The lawn is beautiful and lots of space to run and play. There are tours of the Maymont Mansion with only a $5:00 donation. There is a playground and petting zoo for the kids. In early spring, there are many baby animals to see and hold. The gardens are lovely with various trees and shrubs in bloom It is a beautiful wedding venue.There are also plant sales and holiday activities that occur.
Donations are requested.Wear good walking shoes to walk on some of the steeper trails. Bring water & sunscreen and plan to make a day of it!

Great place to visit especially on a nice day. Historic house/mansion to visit, beautiful walking trails and gardens and a petting zoo and other animal exhibits. Check their calendar for their nice special events.

Beautiful grounds to walk through , bird exhibit a nice treat .
Entry of $5 is a steal and voluntary .

This is such a great park to have a picnic in, take a long walk after a hard day, relax, and just for fun. The Japanese garden is nice. They have some farm animals for kiddos.

Our tour guide Sandy was amazing. She made you feel as if you were right there with Ms. Dooley for Tea Time. She made our visit worth while and I just loved her. We will be back. The history, preservation efforts, the grounds and gardens...everything was amazing. Already looking to go back for Christmas!

On a recent visit to Richmond with a large group, one of our stops was Maymont.
We had some time to listen to our informative guide and a short amount of time to explore the mansion and English gardens. Would have liked more time to visit, but will come back in the future.
Great upkeep of the property and grounds. Late August still gave us some beautiful blooms.
Glad to hear that so many people use the grounds for picnicking and enjoy its beauty.
Well worth the visit!

My husband and I went to Richmond for a few days to celebrate his birthday. We stopped in at Maymont for a tour of the historic home and a stroll around the gardens. The Japanese gardens were our personal favorite! Lots of beautiful trails to walk here, and all the animals were a plus! If you find yourself in Richmond, I highly recommend you check out Maymont and all it has to offer!

The house and grounds of this attraction are beautiful. The home is gorgeous and the information shared fascinating. Anyone looking for historical homes and a glimpse into life of the rich will truly enjoy a visit to this estate.

We spent the night in Richmond passing through on our way to VA Beach. Looking for something to do with our daughter, our friend suggested Maymont.

There was an event going on for kids that she really enjoyed, and after we got through that we spent time wandering around looking at the wildlife.

We'd love to come back next time we're in the area.

If you're coming with kids, be sure to wear walking shoes (there's lots of walking) and apply sunscreen.

The mansion was closed and flowers a bit disappointing. It appeared we went at a less than popular time. Great old cars and coaches to see. The mansion is beautiful. Disappointed that we could not go in as it was closed on Thursdays.

This is a wonderful place to take children. Our grandson loved the outdoor animals and the fish and snakes.

There were 4 of us and the golf cart holds 6. We had a wonderful guide as well. Worth every penny as it is 100 acres unless you want your exercise!! Loved the bears, eagles, Japanese gardens, Italian Gardens as well as the mansion! Would definitely go back again in different seasons to see the different foliage’s!

It was a Friday and sunny the lil farm animals were out and goats were jumping around. Down the hill I walk to see some of the other animals the big cat and birds very nice stroll. Around the bear encounter and in to the Japanese pond area. I hear kids playing in the bamboo.

Beautiful park with many parts. The Japanese garden was our favorite! Beautiful water, plants, and koi pond. Small waterfall and just beautiful grounds. Lovely afternoon!

The grounds at Maymont are huge. This is an ideal area for playing outside, picnic and taking a beautiful walk. There are turtles, birds, fish and flowers to smell.
The sad part is Maymont mansion was only open on the weekend.

This place brought back a mix of several other places I'd been to before in a good way. Italian garden, Japanese garden, animal exhibit, nature center and the mansion itself are all good locations which would warrant a visit by themselves. The fact that they are in a single location adds to the charm and experience. The most striking feature of the mansion visit is not the life of the owners themselves, but of the slaves and servants who lived only to serve their masters.

Beautiful grounds! Love all the flowers and statues. Lots of animals to see. It's a lot of area to cover. I could spend an entire day there

One of the hidden -or not so hidden- gems in Richmond. Such a great retreat from the concrete of the downtown. I spend many of my days hanging out in Maymont Park!

We love the grounds at Maymont. It really is beautiful whatever season you visit. My son loves the animal area and my husband and I try to spend a good amount of time in the Japanese Garden. It is so serene and peaceful. The Japanese Maples are stunning the the fall. If you plan to go to the Japanese garden, bring your walking shoes.

What a lovely day to explore the mansion and grounds . The gardens are spectacular both Japanese and the house garden . There are guided tours for a $5 donation at each half hours . The guides are volunteers that love the history and it shows . The art and history are interesting as the Dooleys clearly enjoy the American gilded age . The Tiffany glass is gorgeous . Don’t miss the basement self guided tour about house staff . The land is beautiful and has a children’s area with bison and other animals . Parking is convenient and free . There is a lot of walking but it is accessible .

A lot of hills and walking. Beautiful grounds. Must be able to do a lot of walking and hiking. Great day spent with family

We absolutely love Maymont. There are so many photo opportunities for family, engagement or graduation pictures. The petting zoo os a lit if fun, and you can't beat the various gardens!

Unfortunately, we were there on a Monday and the mansion was closed. We visited the Italian and Japanese gardens, unfortunately due to it being December, all the plants were dormant, however I'm sure its beautiful in season. The walk was nice and brisk. Take away; try not to visit on Monday's or in the winter if you want to see the gardens in full bloom.

Outstanding! We visited from out of town and were blown away. Completely free and walked for about 2 hours, could have stayed for days. Loved the Japanese gardens!!!!! Also an epic staircase/hill descent. Great for the whole fam! Can't wait to go back! Must see if in Richmond!

Well maintained property with lots to see including the Japanese Gardens and Nature Center with local fish and reptiles which we enjoyed most. The walking paths with signs around the property made it easy to find the different areas. Even on a hot day, there was a fair amount of shade from the trees and breeze on the property to make it enjoyable.

Built overlooking the James River in Richmond. Expansive and beautiful gardens variously themed. The house tour was a highlight with our guide both knowledgeable and very interesting. The various rooms in the house were striking in their decoration and history. A real treat to visit such an iconic property. If in Richmond should be on the "to do" list. Entry works on a donation system.

Could tell they do not have the funds to keep up the grounds. Very disappointed with the entire gardens.

Incredible treasure. Immaculately maintained museum mansion has stunning works of art and a glimpse into an era long gone. Unfortunately the downstairs and top floor were closed for renovation on my visit but they said they should be open sometime in June. It's a must-see in Richmond and the audio tour was informative and took about a half hour.

My wife and I went here to kill time when we arrived in Richmond. The neighborhood around the park isn't that great but the park itself is beautiful. We first arrived at the nature center which isn't where we wanted to go and were disappointed but once we drove around more and found the actual Maymont Park with the mansion and everything else, we were very happy. The grounds are very beautiful and kept up very nicely. This is also a photographers paradise.

We came on a brief trip to Richmond to celebrate our anniversary. Having our afternoon and evening planned out we realized that we had some time to spare. A quick check of the area showed Maymont and the nature center highly recommended! We too recommend - 5/5 stars!

There is so much property, beautifully designed so that there’s more than one route through. You have plenty of space to picnic, or lounge around, walk miles upon miles, look and FEED ANIMALS!! What!? WHAT!?

There’s beautiful landscaping throughout, water features (currently turned off due to the season), and simply so much to look at, read, or photograph.

The nature center has a wonderful river life theme going right now, at a cost, but the rest of the grounds is free (donations accepted). We gladly paid $10 for our short visit today and will definitely be back in the spring for all the blooms!!

This is a RVA must see/do. Beautiful!

This place is beautiful, but prepare for a good amount of walking. Bring snacks and drinks for yourself and the kids because you either turn around or have to complete the whole loop.

We went in January, so the gardens weren't in bloom, but the tour of the mansion was beautiful and informative! Will definitely be back to visit when it's warm!

OMG! this is free! Please pay the suggested donation though. It is well worth it. petting zoo, nature center, and take the tour of the mansion that Narwal vanity is to die for!

My wife and I loved the grounds of this special place in Richmond. We strongly recommend the carriage ride to really get a sense of the grounds. Amazingly unique trees and the Japanese and Italian gardens were wonderful

There is something for everyone on this 100 acre estate. We could only go on a Monday when the house was closed but it was still worth the visit to walk through the beautiful gardens and see the unique species of trees.

Our family enjoyed a wonderful walk through the gardens. The waterfall, bridge and pond are beautiful! The self guided walk is free, but I strongly recommend that you give a donation for the upkeep. Well worth the visit!

I absolutely loved this place. The home is incredibly beautiful. The audio tour is very imfomative, but not overly wordy. The gardens are lovely. The "farm" was a little meh, but it was a beautiful day to be outside. I was super surprised it was only $8 do go through the house.

If you plan on visiting Richmond, you must make time to visit here. Best times are Spring and Fall, on weekdays.

I've visited here often here recently to combat quarantine fatigue.
In addition to the Japnese and Italian Garden, the mansion is also worth visiting it you get a chance.
There is no entrance fee for the park itslef.

Walked around the upper gardens. The flowers were beautiful!. The gardens were well planned. I will be going bck soon.

What can I say other than its definitely a place to seek out. I fell in love with everything from the animals, to the station that was set up that you can talk to people from all over the word at the time I went it was Paris. I could not get over the waterfall and the beautiful coy pond w/ all the different colored coy fish amazing. The Japanese style was gorgeous I love it. When I say everything I mean everything flowers, the mansion and the old buggy's and cars the land itself was amazing. I would recommend for everyone to at least check this place out its worth it.

Had been to Maymont previously to walk the grounds but had never toured the Mansion. This time, that was our objective. Signed up for a tour and happy that we did. For a view into the opulance of the gilded age right in our backyard, Maymont is an exceptional place to visit in Richmond. Well worth taking the tour as our tour guide was excellent and the house and furnishings were fabulous.

We visited in October 2023 as a last minute stop before getting to the Richmond Airport. We didn't have time to explore all of the grounds or the animals, but we did get to go inside the mansion and make it to at least the Italian and Japanese gardens.

The inside of the mansion is beautifully maintained and is a real step back in time to the 1920's. The grounds are beautiful and we even saw some deer along the way.

Don't forget to visit the basement of the mansion which isn't directly connected to the mansion. This is where the kitchen, pantry, and servants' quarters are.

We just loved the park.
It is huge, diverse and well kept.
Toilets are clean.
The park follows covid rules.
Great place to visit.

It was my first visit to Maymont in probably a decade, and the first visit ever for my boyfriend. We went with some friends and their young kids and we all enjoyed the experience. From feeding goats in the barn to seeing the bear splashing in the water to the waterfall and japanese gardens, it was a great visit.

I wish there were more water fountains throughout the park, but otherwise it's a great place to explore and forget that you are in a city!

Visited Maymont on a cold winter windy morning. And there was a wedding shoot going on. Walking through the Japanese park, walking on water and talking to the ducks, climbing the stone steps to the mansion, and then perfecting the technique of taking selfie in the mirrors inside the house so that i could become part of the room - it was a fantastic experience.

Beautiful park even on a damp cloudy day when we visited in October. Italian and Japanese Gardens were beautiful. Nice place just to stroll and relax. Would love to return and tour the mansion which was closed the day we visited.

Tulips were as beautiful as the photo!! Want to go when the azaleas are in bloom!! Love the paved walkways.

My family and I was able to meet the BEAUTIFUL horses before our exciting ride. We were taken off road through certain grass areas..which made it Super fun for my lil one. It was Well worth the $$$ and we have already booked another ride!!! #CarriageRidingIsFun

This place was surprisingly awesome. When we got here there were people all over having picnics and playing games and just relaxing. The property is huge and has a lot of different things to see including a Japanese garden, a small waterfall, and some animals. They sell things like slushees and they have vending machines. The walking path is nice but it’s is very hilly so don’t carry around a lot of heavy things. I enjoyed it a lot.

Wonderful and picturesque grounds nestled into the middle of Richmond Virginia. A great place to walk, reflect, picnic, play, in short relax without going outside of the city. Great gardens, nature center, house, events. The convenient adjacency to the city is akin to Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath in London.

Definitely worth the time to see. It is a great place to walk and see the Japanese and Italian gardens. There are also some animals there and some historical buildings. They need a bit more upkeep on the gardens though.

The tour, and grounds are beautiful. Huge estate. The grounds are very well kept. Plus animals for petting.

Maymount is a beautiful park, great to walk around on a nice afternoon. Definitely wear comfortable walking shoes, as the park is huge, windy and has hills. There are plenty gardens, some animals and history to see.

Great activity for all. If the weather cooperates you can enjoy all that the park has to offer. The park in general should be cared for in direct proportion to its historical value. It isn't. The place is rough around the edges. Garbage is more visible than desired and the waterways are choked will algae growth and the like. The corraled animals are a tad sad. It really wouldn't take much to step it up.

I have been visiting Maymont for 40 years and I still go back at least 2 times a year. The grounds are beautiful and there is always something new to see. I think everyone that lives in Richmond or the surrounding areas should visit just one. The gardens are beautiful in the spring and the koi ponds are great. Be careful and hide valuables in your trunk when visiting just to be careful. It is a wonderful place to take prom pictures also.

The grounds are gorgeous! I enjoyed the cobblestone walkways.The nature center is full of aquatic exhibits and reptiles. Very interesting and educational. The farm is perfect. There is a hand washing station for those who like to touch the animals.
The mansion is perfect. Be sure to take the guided tour. It is more than informative. The gardens are formal and diverse.
I could easily spend a half day here.

Big open spaces, some animals, great bathrooms and parking, and nicely laid out gardens in a huge free park. If you want a place to take very long walks through nice surroundings then visit Maymont.

When we visited Richmond and Maymont Park years ago, when our kids were little, we enjoyed all the outdoor attractions--the petting zoo, the rescued animals, the various gardens. We never took the time to tour the mansion until this Christmas. Call in advance, make a reservation, and go! I suggest an early arrival, so you can see the exhibits in the basement museum--always helpful to get the background story before the tour. The mansion was beautiful to begin with, and the holiday decorations made it even more enchanting. For $5 a person, this was a bargain! Our tour guide was very enthusiastic and shared interesting facts and stories. I am adding the mansion to our must-see list for when we bring guests to Richmond.

Wonderful park. We had a great volunteer guide in the house, a Mr Wyatt, who truly enjoyed what he did and was an expert. He was very knowledgeable. The house was wonderful and full of treasures and he knew many stories. The grounds are well cared for. It would be easy to spend a couple days here. I like the idea of asking to pay what you can and pay for sections you want to see and not having to pay for others. Very reasonable and a great day. Well worth it.

The park is still nice & well worth a visit ,but it didn't seem as well kept as when I was in the area years ago. I went specifically to revisit the Japanese gardens. Alas, they looked sadly stagnant. The water fountain that used to cascade downhill from the Italian gardens to the Japanese gardens was dry & from other reviews last year I assume this is either ongoing or ..... (hopefully not!) Permanent. This park doesn't charge a fee for entry so perhaps that's the problem?

There's a donation kiosk near the entry & when I was making a donation someone asked if it was to pay for parking in the lot. I said no it's for making donations for park upkeep. He said 'oh' and walked off.

Later when I was leaving, I sat at a nearby bench & watched many people walk in without giving the kiosk a second glance. The parking lot was nearly full. While I'm sure some people genuinely couldn't afford to donate, I somehow doubt that covers most of the guests that day.

If you go there and want to put a dollar or 2 in rather than the suggested donation of 5$, it will let you, even though that's not technically an option. Just select 5$ & enter your dollars. The machine will just stay on the first screen waiting for you to put more money in until it times out. It doesn't return the money after the home screen comes up. I assume of course that you couldn't do that with a debit card.

Thought I'd mention that in case someone wants to help support the park even a little bit. A dollar here and there adds up!

Much of the area was closed to the public for repairs. Some good hiking and some pretty scenery. I would go back when it was fully open again. Approx visit date mid Aug 24

The tour of Maymont Mansion is very interesting and and well worth the $5.00 ticket. The gardens in the spring are beautiful with tulips and daffodils in bloom. We enjoyed seeing the eagles in their enclosure. Be sure to wear good walking shoes. Even though this was spring break for some and a beautiful day, we did not find the grounds too crowded.

The grounds and house tour are gorgeous! I didn’t realize how large this place was and wished we spent more time here. The house is beautiful- if you are a fan of the Gilded Age, you’ll definitely want to see all the goodies inside. Lovely gardens and grounds. Definitely recommend stopping here!

This is a great hidden gem in Richmond. The gardens are in great shape kinda hilly so really not for the mobility impaired. The house itself is also an interesting historical jewel. It is Definitely worth your time

I love Maymont. It is a truly delightful outdoor area. There are fascinating sections, zoo-type animal enclosures, and education centers.

We were thinking of going to the zoo with our kids on our last day in Richmond, but we opted for the kids' farm and nature center at Maymont instead. It was absolutely the right call, both in terms of price (farm is free, nature center charged a small amount) and because it was not that crowded.

There is a fair amount of walking involved, including some uphill climbs if you follow the path down to the wildlife exhibits and back up again, so consider a stroller for young ones.

This fall we had a wonderful experience walking the beautiful grounds of Maymont Park in Richmond, Virginia. It was our first experience and was surprised by the wild animal, farm animal petting zoo, and bird exhibits and the beautiful Japanese Garden and pond.

Very disappointing visit. Nothing looked as it did on the website. The gardens were overgrown with weeds and shrubs not manicured. The Walkways to the Japanese Garden had uneven and unstable stones on the path. The other path down to the garden was washed out and needed to be repaired. The water fountains were not working and hedging around the gardens were overgrown with weeds. Very few flowers in bloom during our August visit but if the lawns and green space was manicured it may have been a relaxing walk. We toured the Mansion which was a plus. The mansion was fully furnished with furniture and articles for that period of time. Would not visit the gardens until they have ground keepers to manicure the garden. Felt sorry for the bears which area was overgrown as well.

What a beautiful place!! A gem close to Richmond!

Easy access and lots of places to visit. Try to go during the weekend and buy the mansion tour in advance!

This place is great for family. You can stroll through the gardens, visit the animals, and take many instagram-able photos. I love the foliage at Maymont. Every time I have visitors, it's my go to place. Summer heat may be too hot but the Fall season is breathtaking. I can't wait until the Spring comes around.

This place is beautiful. So much to see. Gorgeous gardens, buildings, ponds, farm, unique animals. Lots of walking and great way to spend the day oitdoors!

Maymont is a great place to spend an afternoon. You can explore over 100 acres. There are several different garden styles to visit - from Japanese to Italian. There are rolling hills to have a picnic, trees for kids to climb, a free zoo to visit, and more. There are some parts that cost money, like taking a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, going inside the mansion, the education center, and taking a tram ride around the park.
They hold summer camps for kids, host corporate events; and have yearly events, like an Easter Egg Hunt.

I went here on a date with my partner and it was more than I imagined. Not every exhibit was open but we did get to see several farm animals, bald eagles, and a cute fox. The Gardens were my favorite part, very insta-worthy if you’re into that! There’s adventure at every turn and it’s so peaceful being right there in the middle of nature. Highly recommend! *side note be prepared to walk a couple miles*

This is a great public place to wander around and enjoy all the flowers, trees and landscape architecture. You'll be surprised by what you find around the next corner. At this time, the irises are just past their bloom but there are still many flowers to see especially in the Italian garden. The Japanese garden was the highlight for us and the pond not only has koi fish but also a colony of turtles. We had a picnic near the waterfall. There are also plenty of restrooms sprinkled around the grounds.

I've visited Maymont a hundred of more times over the years. The Nature Center (currently being revamped, I believe), the petting zoo and aviaries. The wonderful Japanese Gardens and Italian Gardens (where I proposed to my wife). It is free to roam the grounds where you might see a peacock or two wandering around and the house itself is magnificent. We've even done a 'basement' tour to take in all of the turn of the century 'systems'. They actually had gas and electric lighting at the same time. Really a 'must see' if you're in RVA.

We really enjoyed the audio tour of the mansion. The recordings were well-done and very informative. Touring the grounds on our own was fantastic too. All the flowers were in bloom and it was so beautiful!

It was a gorgeous day to view the Italian and Japanese gardens on the Maymont grounds. This was our first visit so we were unfamiliar with the site. So be aware that parking is outside the gates. No driving inside. There is a highly visible sign with a lot of no this and no that didn’t say a thing about no cars. We were mortified.
That being over: the walks through the park were seriously pretty and many pictures were taken.

Maymont was an impromptu stop on an impromptu trip for me and my husband. We found it here on TripAdvisor and could not have been more pleased. The holiday tour of the mansion was beautiful and interesting. The grounds and gardens were beautiful, but would have been nicer when the flowers were in bloom. So if you can, go for the mansion tour during the holidays and return in the spring or summer for the grounds! The nature center and wildlife exhibits were fun as well. Lots of walking on some uneven surfaces; wear your good walking shoes.

We had a great time at Maymont. The park was very pretty, especially the Italian and Japanese Gardens. We didn't go on the Mansion tour (it costs $5 per person) but we did get to see the outside. This would be a great place to go for a picnic or and outdoor gathering. It does require a bit of walking and there are some large hills.

This is a must see in Richmond. Beautiful grounds with various and differed styles. Great for families and romantic walks as couples.

What can I say but this is a must see when you are in Richmond. The grounds and house and furnishings are totally lovely. Thank you Richmond Va for maintaining this beautiful jewel for all of us to enjoy !!

Unfortunately it was about 100 degrees, but we managed to see everything. The animals including the 2 bears and various birds were great to see too. Lots of walking, would be more enjoyable on a cooler day.

This is a must see if you are in the richmond area, especially when it is not winter. It has an animal farm as well within it and children will love it. We have been here several times and it has always been a place of tranquility and fun.

Our first trip to Richmond my daughter took us to visit during our outing. Parking was a little difficult but once inside the place was simply beautiful. Loved all the flowers and trees. Make sure to visit the Japanese Garden and lake area. The lake fish are huge and colorful. Lots of walking for handicap or elderly but well worth the visit if you are up to it.

Me and my girlfriend went here for a picnic date while in Richmond for business and it was such a beautiful park! The gardens weren’t in bloom but I wish they were because I’m sure it would of made it even more special. Great time! I would definitely recommend this park for anyone who enjoys nature!

Maymont is a huge park with a lot of activities. My family was there for a celebration of one of my brothers who had died a few months before. Catering was allowed, and seats and tables with tablecloths were provided. We were not totally outside for the event, but the threatening weather did get some of the family drenched as they left the event. Lots of steps to get to the parking lots.

Our family spent a Saturday exploring Maymont for my oldest daughter's birthday (it is want she wanted). Been coming to Richmond for years and never new it was here. What a great space in the city! Loved walking the grounds, looking at all the animals, and snooping around the mansion. What a beautiful, interesting place to spend the day.

I stopped here to visit the grounds and hoped to tour the main house......but no tours on Monday. Not sure what that deal is. Very nice walking trails though and animals for kids to see. They even have three bison.

Our friends and I usually meet once a year for a reunion and we decided to met in Richmond Va. this time. What a lovely home to see and experience. Brings you back to the way the wealthy lived in these days. Highly recommend.

We enjoyed this tour very much. This hours is the ultimate example of the gilded age. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We were there on a rainy day, so we didn't spend much time outside, but the house alone was worth seeing! We walked the grounds a little bit, and will definitely return to see them again!

This property has lots to offer for a short or long day visit. A small petting area at the farm (mainly goats that love to be fed and scratched :) Pathways weave all across the grounds connecting you to some birds of prey, a bear, fox, etc. It's a lot of walking which is good if your looking for that. It was a very hot day for us making it not as enjoyable because though some areas are shaded there's long stretches out in the sun.
Our FAVORITE was the JAPANESE GARDEN which was very pretty to explore. Colorful dragonflies, itty-bitty frogs, iris flowers, bridges, koi... Really lovely to spend some time in taking photos or relaxing if you have time. It's a steep hike up from it to reach the main house (or you can take the way longer way around for a gentler slope access).
The majority of the areas are a suggested donation. Only the Nature Center had an admission fee. It was an ok way to kill 30 min.
One downside is there is NO PARKING up at the main house at all, so for those who are disabled it was just too far to get there so that's why we didn't get to do the tour of it. Very disappointing.

Enjoyed an hour walk with a friend from Northern Virginia on Monday. Lots to see, plants, waterfall, fish, even bears. It's hilly so get a good workout.

Unfortunately it was very cold so we didn't get to walk outside much. But the mansion was the highlight of our trip! It's so beautiful. Almost everything is original to the house or family, and it's such a great look into rich Victorian life. Our tour guide Stephanie was super knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Also KUDOS because they did a lot of research on the domestic staff of the mansion and have a large exhibit on them and their lives at the house. It's so nice to see such credit given to them.

It’s a nice place to go for a few hours. To me anything historical is pretty cool. We only went to the mansion and it’s grounds. One visit is enough for me. It’s cool though.

One of the oldest nature preserves in the South. It is especially pretty when the many flowers are blooming.
Lots of historical artifacts and displays too.
Great for kids of all ages.

Maymont is such a cool park when things or in prime condition. This trip was a little disappointing because none of the fountains were running and the Japanese garden was overgrown and the water mucky. It's worth seeing and if you're looking for somewhere to relax and get away from the hubbub of Richmond, Maymont is an oasis.

Overall, this is a nice place worth seeing if you're in the area, especially since admission is free. We arrived just after 10am on a Wednesday in mid-May. We parked near the Historic Estate Entrance. The parking lot was beginning to fill, but the gardens were not crowded.

The paths are generally very walkable. We saw many gardeners around. At the time we visited, some parts were overgrown and not as well cared for as they could be-- this could have been due to COIVD and not having enough staff to keep up with the work. It seemed as though a good effort was being made to get things back into shape.

We saw the Italian garden, Japanese garden, waterfall and mansion. The waterfall was very impressive and a great spot for photos.

We spent about an hour and only saw a fraction of the property. I'd recommend around 2 hours to really get a good view of everything. We saw several people picnicking-- lots of great spots to do this!

We took the tour of the home. It is a beautifully appointed southern home lavishly decorated to show off their wealth. The house while large, is half the size of their summer home. I can only imagine. The home was only occupied from 1893 to 1925 by one couple. Pretty unusual.

Gorgeous and relaxing slice of peaceful bliss! Never knew of this place until last year and wow. We cannot wait to go back!

Beautiful scenery, social distance friendly activity, fairly easy walk through the park with a few slight hills. Would recommend!

I have been going here since I was a kid. It’s always been one of my favorite places in Richmond. Most recently I visited with my sister and her 5 children, and had the joy of seeing another generation enjoy this beautiful place. The main appeal for me is just walking around the beautiful grounds. Hopefully my photos can describe that experience because it’s too pretty for words. There are also some farm animals, bears, birds and a little nature center so plenty for all ages! The kids (from infant to 14) all seemed to enjoy just climbing and running around in the sunshine. The waterfall is off every now and then- I usually just expect it to be off and am happy when it’s on. Wear comfortable shoes and water. It’s fine for strollers, but you may not be able to get to certain areas easily. Bring snacks and drinks. Mask is required for nature center, which you also may need to walk through when you enter so bring one along. Tons of people were not wearing them outside because I think we all were assuming we’d be socially distanced. However, on this pretty afternoon there were MANY areas where crowds convened (bird areas, bears, farm animals, paths around the Japanese garden) so be careful. Overall, this is a must do in Richmond- and it’s free!!

This is a great park to go to! It’s absolutely beautiful this time of year. There are so many cool and unique things to see here outdoors. There are photo ops at every turn. It’s very kid friendly. My only complaint is be careful where you park because one of the entrances was closed (the nature center) despite the parking lot being open. My suggestion would be to enter at 1700 Hampton St.

We walked a hundred yards inside to the entrance, it was closed a sign said knock we knocked for 3 or 4 minutes nobody arrived so we left. On the way out we inquired with two staff members and ask for help and they simply told us to go back and knock again. Clearly they did not want to operate in Misty rain. this looks like a great place to visit, but if Misty rain or any type of weather is certainly not a time to go. I agree with other reviews, the staff is rude and will give only minimal assistance.

As wonderful as ever is Maymont. I haven't explored the grounds in years, but gosh, it was gorgeous even in February (it was a warmer February day)! I disregard the fact that Richmond is home to this charm. I plan to come back soon to see the animals, fields, and gardens again! Box for donations is located at the entrance to support the foundation. Overall, cool place to visit with your family, friends, and whoever you would like. Go try it for yourself, you will not regret it. 10/10 place to visit in RVA.

We visited there with friends and family. We did potluck and it was great fun.

Free entry and parking is free too.

We enjoyed our second visit to Maymont. The grounds are beautiful and well-maintained. We especially enjoyed seeing the raptors and the black bear during this visit.

Very cool place in the middle of Richmond. Beautiful gardens, something for everyone. Kids zoon, Japanese & Italian Gardens, walking paths.... Definitely worth the time!

Visited this park as a family outing. Not all parts of the park are stroller accessible. There is a lot of steps to visit some of the landmarks. The zoo was very disappointing. There were only 2 cows and a few goats. This was one of the main reasons we brought our toddler to the park, and not to mention we walked 2 miles around the estate to get there. The mansion was closed. Not sure if you have to make an appointment for tours or if it's closed due to the pandemic. We at least got to check this off our places to visit list.

What a wonderful park with lots to see and do for families and adults alike. They have gorgeous grounds, farm animals that you can feed, birds, bobcat and fox. There is a playground for kids, historical building for adults and well maintained walks for all. We spent 4 hours here but would love to come back and explore the grounds more.

Was a pleasure to visit. A must go place if you’re exploring the Richmond area. The main building is beautiful same as the rest of the property.

I took my grandson, daughter, and nephew to the park for the day on one of the hottest days of the summer. We had a blast. Enjoyed the falls, the gardens, and the wild life. Would recommend it to anyone.

It is a huge park, in excellent condition and very nice to explore. In spring it must be much more picturesque, especially the gardens. We couldn't enter the Mansion, since it is under renovation, but the tour was worth it!

There is not one thing not to love about this park. Its an all day affair. Plan a picnic, bring a wagon to put in your belongings. Walk the gardens, see the animals, ride the carriage, visit the mansion and see the swan bed. I believe the Dooley's owned the Estate. They also owned the orphanage at Saint Joseph Villa on Brook road. The church is worth the trip there also.

This was much better than we expected, especially for the price ($5 suggested donation). You are not actually required to pay anything to enter, but we donated at the self pay station. What we appreciated the most was how clean the farm animal enclosures were (most animals were in the barn with the fans blasting on them due to extreme heat warnings) and we loved how large,green, and natural feeling the enclosures were for the animals in the wildlife area. We’re from Florida, and sadly, this is not the norm in our area. It was great to see what seemed to be well taken care of animals who have room to roam. The grounds were absolutely beautiful and well maintained. It is quite a hike, but that’s something we enjoy. We had our three kids with us (ages 5, 3, and 8 months) and they had a blast. We brought our double stroller and it fared well. We just stopped by as a little pit stop as we were passing through and so glad we did. What a pleasant surprise.

A guided tour in the house is a must. If you can, plan a picnic on a nice day as the gardens are gorgeous and so large you could explore here for hours!

Gorgeous grounds, especially the Japanese Garden. We only walked near the house and barns and down to the Japanese and Italian Gardens. Would love to have spent a day here walking the trails and seeing the animals. I hope to return when the house renovations are finished.

A good idea for a tour on a day off or Sunday. You can find the wildlife of Virginia, nice gardens and beautiful architecture.

Maymont is a sprawling estate whose grounds are open to the public for free. There is a Japanese Garden, ponds, wildlife and lots of walking paths. Better signage would have been much appreciated, the grounds are so large and the map was difficult to read.

The mansion is quite amazing. Tour 3 floors and get the perspective of the “1%” and the downstairs staff.

The decorations are borderline gaudy—most were built in the 19th century, but crafted to look like European antiques. But it kinda all works well together.

A smaller version of the Biltmore mansion, at a reasonable price and without the unbearable crowds.

Great place for nice, long, uphill walks. Japanese garden is very serene. The caged birds and animals, particularly the black bear, were sad for me. Didn't see inside the mansion and the nature center was closed.

We had a great time walking around the grounds, beautiful but some areas are in need of attention. The mansion offers a tour, which is recommended. James and Sallie Dooley collected an unbelievable amount of treasures, and willed the estate to the city. The rose room, where she would visit with guests, had gold paint over the fireplace. And her swan bed - just doesn’t look comfortable, maybe that’s why they did not have any children. Ha ha. Every room had Tiffany windows that were all beautiful. A great way to spend a few hours.

The gardens and walking paths of Maymont are an enjoyable experience not to be missed when visiting Richmond VA. We were happy to donate the suggested amount of $5 each to this well kept beautiful property. We look forward to returning for a tour of the house when that reopens.

We often took our daughters here for nice outdoor time and the animal exhibits. This location meant so much to our family that we ultimately decided there was not other place for us to get (re)married. So we arranged for an October wedding in the Italin Gardens. Great experience woking with their staff!

Wonderful preservation of a beautiful historic home. Our tour guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable. The beauty and majesty of the Maymont property is incredible. Don’t miss this site.

When going, there are spots for donations, however, it can be a free visit. My 12 yr. old daughter did enjoy the history of the mansion, which was a paid tour for the upstairs. We also enjoyed the farm, wildlife animals & the Italian & Japanese gardens.

Maymont is so peaceful and fun. I've been going there since I was a little girl. Find the perfect spot to sit and embrace the beauty of nature that surrounds you.

This place is a must see. 100 acres of beauty. Wear your walking shoes. The mansion is gorgeous. It only cost $5 to go through the house. This is a must see.

Beautiful park and estate! Looking forward to seeing the waterfall and the beautiful flowers and plants in the spring. Nice to see the animals on the farm. Disappointed that we didn't see the bison or otters. Japanese gardens were the best! The Nature center was nice for the kids.

My family has been going to Maymont for years. There is something for everyone, petting zoo for little ones,with goats, cows and sheep. There are miles of paved walking trails, gardens, buildings to explore fields etc. One of the best and well maintained parking in Richmond. Definitely worth a trip.

Tips: Many of the walking trails are steep, so make sure you know your limits especially if going with elderly folks. To explore the entire grounds easily takes 2-3 hours at a minimum. Figure out what you want to see and use the nearest entrance. Bring water and sunscreen in summer. Great place to pack a picnic lunch and eat under the huge shade trees and spend an afternoon.

A gem of Richmond.

My daughter and I stopped here to enjoy some exercise, enjoy each other's company, and check out the place. Boy, oh boy, did we walk! Be prepared for uphill and downhill, so good sturdy walking shoes are a must! We walked by the critters in their cages, and stopped to admire a few. For you animal lovers, the animals looked well cared for and healthy. (Layman's opinion only) The flora is abundant, so watch out if you're prone to allergies. Lots of shady areas to rest, have a picnic, or in my case, catch my breath! The Japanese Garden is amazing. Worth every step to get to it and wonder at its beauty.
There are restrooms, be prepared to walk a bit to get to them. I plan to go back again and again. Since we live in the area, it's a beautiful spot to remind yourself there's more to life than work, electronics and people's drama.
We did see lots of moms pushing strollers. We went mid-day before I had a doctor's appointment.

I like this place a lot of good clean family fun prices for drinks,food etc too high much too high but it was a nice day overall.Can't remember the exact date I went for sure may have been 2017 in the Spring.

Great event. Wish we had kids! The staff were really friendly and it was easy to book. Social distancing worked well with the new layout. You guys really needed a coffee truck though!

Lovely grounds to walk around and take in nature. Saw a wedding about to happen. Rolled down a hill like a child. We had a blast. Group of 7, ages 38-60

This was the best $10 we have spent sightseeing! The Victorian/Gilded Age home of the Dooley family is stunning, and the guided tour is very informative. Gardens on the property are extensive, we will be back some time to explore more. There are stairs on the tour, one member of our tour left after we completed the 1st floor, very easy to do.

This is a breath taking property and perfect picture of affluent opulence. The mansion has 98 percent all original furniture, artwork, everything and it is a sight to see. The tour guide made our visit especially good with all of her knowledge of the house and the family that owned it. There is alot to see and we only visited the mansion and a few gardens but we will go again if we are back in the area.

Maymont was our last stop on a road trip I planned, for visiting mansions and historic homes in VA. This just happened to be spot on to the old adage, 'save the best for last'. It truly was the crowning point of this road trip. As a retired carpenter, I was in awe of the craftsmanship. The ceilings on the first floor are second to none. The woodwork, simply amazing. The tour guide Diane, brought the house to life for our tour group. This former home of the Dooley's in my opinion is on a par with 'The Breakers' of Newport, only on a smaller scale. The entrance fee/donation is so user friendly in comparison to any of the other mansions I have seen. There are many other things to see and do while on the property, one of which, the Japanese Garden, is a sight to behold.

Our friends brought us here while we were visiting and we liked it so much we returned a few days later. The grounds are so well cared for and beautiful. I could walk in the Japanese gardens all day! We took the mansion tour too and found it so interesting. A wonderful gem in the city of Richmond!

This was a nice place to spend a Sunday afternoon. The grounds cover several acres and include a nature center, the mansion with garden, and a wildlife exhibit. There really is something for all ages and interests.

I was mostly interested in the mansion and gardens. I was disappointed to find out that the mansion tours were not available on the day I visited. The few pictures and associated text were interesting. I would have liked to do the tour and learn about the family who inhabited the house. There was no indication when tours would resume.

The Italian garden and Japanese garden area were not what I was expecting. There were several fountains in the Italian garden but none of them were filled with water and operating. I could not tell if that was because they were just turned off or if they never worked. They would be pretty amazing if they were functional. The Japanese garden was nice but the water fall indicated in several of the maps was not on or working. The rest of the area was nice to walk through but not as impressive as if the water parts had been working.

The day was not a total waste of time. I did like walking around the property. The bald eagle exhibit was pretty impressive and there was a bear exhibit which was interesting.

Maymont has to be experienced in order to be described. Everything they do, they do well.

Garden Glow was spectacular! It was a refreshing autumnal-themed change of pace from the countless holiday-in-lights displays across the country. It was well run and well organized.

Tour the mansion. Everything in it is real. May you be lucky enough to have Evelyn as your guide. The entire basement floor of the mansion is dedicated to extensive exhibits detailing behind the scenes, and the vastly different lives of the help. This is well worth the time.

The guided tour was well worth it, the mansion was absolutely gorgeous and you could tell the people who built it were just dripping with wealth. Nice that they have updated the tour to include information about the servants who worked there as well, since the house is post-slavery but still employed low-wage African Americans for many tasks. Wouldn't recommend the environmental center unless you are traveling with children, it's very small and over-priced for what you get to see.

While there are a variety of activities ( Japanese and Italian gardens, animals,nature center and special events), we did the hour long guided tour of the 1893 mansion. The period furniture and room decor are outstanding. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk the grounds,

We had a fairly disappointing 1st day when visiting Richmond: The Tredegar Visitor Center was closed, as were the Chimborazo Medical Museum and the Maggie Walker site. And although we enjoyed the views from the bridges, Belle Isle & the Canal Walk didn’t really ring our bells. So, it was an unexpected pleasure when, on our 2nd day in Richmond, we visited Maymont and the Tuckahoe Plantation, and they exceeded our expectations. The grounds at Maymont were, simply put, beautiful. The Italian garden and especially the Japanese garden were peaceful and soothing. The winding paths and stonework, the pretty waterfall, Japanese red maple trees, and koi pond, were enchanting. Even without touring the mansion, Maymont was a treat.

Very Interesting step into the Gilded Age. We toured the House and I wish we had more time to see the Grounds. The Tour is very well done and takes less than an hour. I was surprised at how inexpensive the visit is. There is actually no compulsory fee, just a requested Donation of five dollars. even for the tour, no fee. I Highly recommend.

Just about everything you could want in a park. The different gardens are great. Plenty of green space to play with children. Mansion tour was informative and helpful. Donation of $5 make it a bargain. Tour is only a half hour so good children.

We decided at the last minute, to spend the afternoon seeing Maymont's attractions. we couldn't have made a better choice! The day was a wonderful experience for us, so beautiful and relaxing. We were able to take our time strolling around the grounds, enjoying the wildlife areas and the exhibits as well-there were so many different things to see. We enjoyed it so much that we plan on going back again, starting earlier in the morning, to revisit some areas, and to see some attractions that we didn't have time to see at our first visit. We are looking forward to it!

With spring weather here, this is the time to go. Very popular and worth the time. Take your time and stroll around to see the exhibits and animals. If time permits go to the Dooley house. It is a beautiful place to go any season.

The Maymont Mansion exceeded expectations. Sometimes, heritage properties lack many of the original artifacts that were present when the home was being used. Maymont contained much of its original "stuff". The main floor was very formal and ornate. The second floor living quarters were very interesting. The basement (kitchen, laundry, living quarters), were extremely interesting.

The virtual tour was easy to navigate and the explanations were very thorough and easy to understand. The descriptions included the place, the people (owners, workers, quests), and the historical context.

We love visiting Maymont Park because it's an amazing place to spend your time and it's also our favorite place to take out-of-town guests. Here you will find a vast open space with spectacular views to spread your picnic blanket or let the kids run. The Italian garden is breath tasting with flowers nicely planted. Below the Italian garden is a Japanese garden with lots of water features. There's even a waterfall. You can walk around the property and see different birds leading to the zoo. The best part, it is FREE to visit.

The house of the Doleys is open for scheduled tours. Donation is requested. There's a lot of history in this beautiful house. It's so worth it.

An amazing mansion from the gilded age that is step back into how the rich lived during the early 1900s. Great museum in the basement with a film that talks about the servants and their life. Definitely worth a visit. The park is amazing and at times they hold special events.

Plan to spend the day and do a lot of walking. The Mansion tour was wonderful. The grounds are huge. Plan to walk a lot and do a lot of stairs and hills but well worth the effort. It is even a long walk from the parking to the mansion. Didn't have time to see everything

The gardens at Ginter are far better, also the gift shop. But if old houses are your thing, this one, from the Belle Epoque era will not disappoint. Gorgeous restored carriages, but not the old cars. You can see the carriages without paying to see the house. Even though it is on the river, you can't really see the water through the trees.

The review I just left for the museum was actually meant for this one. Museum is fabulous and does have books etc etc etc

We’ve been to Longwood Gardens and this estate has a similar feel to it. But the lavish residence is much more amazing than the summer house of the DuPont’s.

Really enjoyed our visit, it was a really lovely weather and Maymont looked really great. The Japanese garden was beautiful and we stayed for ages, just enjoying these surroundings. We wandered around the grounds for ages. Saw my first bald eagle! Staff were very helpful.

It’s…LOVELY. I visited Maymont recently and for the first time. I didn’t want to leave. I can’t wait to go back. It’s nicely organized and easy to walk around.

I did, however, see a snake! That was an unexpected surprise.

I toured the house and walked some of the grounds. In October flowers are dwindling but it was still a nice walk. There are lots of stairs down and up from one level of the gardens to the next so if you have any problems with navigation you will not be comfortable with some of the challenges but many of the views as well as the mansion can be seen from the level of the parking area so that is no reason to stay home. Parking is free and it was not crowded. There was no fee for the grounds but a donation is encouraged.

We learned a lot about the house and its occupants but felt that
Ian, the British tour guide, showed unnecessary bias against the
Charlottesville in one of his comments, and a misunderstanding of women's lives in two areas of the house. The sculptures in the ladies salon
(both the marble one of the mother and child with drape and the
firescreen bas-relief of Orpheus and Cerberus) are probable references
to miscarriages suffered by Mrs. Dooley which might not even show
up in historical documentation, were there any to begin with. The upstairs spacious
landing, which Ian described as "wasted space" was undoubtedly
used for lady guests with large skirts in their last preparations
before descending the stairs to meet the men, so hardly "wasted"
in a female world. Such biases should be avoided in giving tours to groups
that include women, more the general case for the house in question.
If you want a tour with a fairer view, I would suggest avoiding Ian and taking
a tour with a female guide.

We were able to stop for a little bit. It is a very large park and had some beautiful gardens. The Japanese gardens were very nice and the pond was gorgeous. The mansion was closed due to COVID. Will come back in the future.

We stopped by for our first visit after having lunch in nearby Carytown. It was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. Most all was green, the summer flower beds were in full bloom, the Manson was definitely worth the admission price, and young kids were enjoying the Nature Center.

Beautiful park in the city. Great interactive playground for little ones, farm animals, beautiful vistas.

We visited on a warm spring day. The flowers were blooming. It was a little crowded but hey... there is 100 acres. There is ample parking. We toured the mansion. It was a creative tour!

We were only able to catch this park for about an hour. The color show was sold out for tickets...which I don't really understand. It's a park, just let people in. What we did see of the park we really enjoyed. Next time we're in Richmond, we'll take more time to spend there.

My friends, and I recently toured the house in the gardens, and we were not disappointed. It has been very well-maintained, and the tour was excellent and since it was self guided, you could go at your own pace. I would definitely recommend visiting Maymont when in Richmond… The price was excellent.

A must see if you are in the area. Beautiful grounds. Be prepared for a lot of walking and stairs to go down to the Japanese garden. Wear comfortable shoes.

Maymont is a sprawling estate with much to see (mansion, eagles, buffalos, goats, and fish). We visited while in Richmond for a weekend and found it to be a historically informative, relaxing, and great way to rack-up steps for our Fitbit. Great experience for children as well.

We went to the park today. We traveled an hour and a half to get to here. The front desk agent knew that the main attractions that were open were not working. Such as the water fall and the lion fountain it was very disappointing! Not to mention only one vending machine worked to get water out of which was in the very front of the park.... we tried at other vending machines when running out of water all of which took our money.... i would have appreciated when we told the front desk clerk that we had never been here and, it was our first time her speaking up and, saying that the waterfall nor the lion fountain was working! We will not be traveling back here do to the rude staff who also made excuses when she was confronted about our issues!

Spacious, wandering property with some lovely gardens and a well preserved turn of the century mansion

We had a very informative and nice tour. The house is beautiful. Seeing a Tiffany window was a treat.

Worth every penny of your $8 admission. This is a bargain. Gilded age mansion with (to me) ugly exterior and stunning interior. Move at your own pace with a recorded tour (informative). Bring a zoom camera - so many things to capture. Because you can move at will, there's always time to retrace and visit a room without many people in it. Would not say that no expense was spared, but darn few were :) Elaborate, sometimes a little heavy and dark, but in general this rivals many of its bigger counterparts dotted across the country. Basement currently closed but will reopen as will the 3rd floor as a museum informative space for the first time. September (?) Grounds well worth exploring -possibly a challenge for those with mobility issues, but you should see the waterfall (and if agile, climb up and get wet - almost 60 and I did lol) Carriage collection interesting as well though they are roped off. There was a food truck parked on site for drinks, ices and such - if there are any other options, I missed them. Really a good couple of hours and very much worth your time.

We headed over after brunch and decided to take a long walk around the park and work off all we ate over the weekend. Parking was easy to find as it was early, but we were blocked by several cars when we had to leave and had to call the police to help us get out of the lot. Luckily, we had a SUV and they allowed us to drive over the grass and walkway while they cleared the way of pedestrians. However, Maymont is so walkable and has something for everyone. We saw bald eagles, bison, the Japanese Garden, sat at one of the many park benches and watched the children playing, the water, and other people. There are plenty of bathroom facilities, picnic tables to eat at, and small animals for everyone to gawk over. Some paths are pretty steep and we were glad that we all had on sneakers, but it is a great spot to spend a sunny day.

It was okay. Was not what friends had hyped it up to be. Did not see many animals at all. Water was off to the gardens, which took a little bit away from it. Good if you want a long walk.

My family and I have enjoyed the grounds and sights of Maymont many times over the years, but this past Christmas, my wife and I had a wonderful holiday experience touring the mansion, at night with all the volunteers dressed in period clothing, and displaying that magnificent home at Christmas time.

We were greeted at the gates of the grounds, and what normally would have been a horse drawn carriage ride to the mansion, was changed to auto, due to the bad weather that evening. However, once at the front door of the mansion we were greeted by a group of carolers on the front porch singing beautiful holiday songs.
On entering the mansion, it is like you stepped back in time. Our guide was very knowledgeable about each of the rooms, and the how the Dooley family spent their holiday entertaining their guests.

This is a one of a kind tour, than should not be missed. We were fortunate enough to make our reservations early, as it does sell out quickly. It does put you into the holiday spirit, and I would recommend it highly. We will make it a point to revisit for many Christmas’ to come!

Wonderful tour with lots of history of the area and the lifestyle dur By the Guilded Age. The grounds are beautiful with a variety of trees and other vegetation. Watch out for the goose poop!

We loved our visit here! My kids enjoyed feeding the baby goats. Thr gardens are beautiful! The animals and aquarium are great to see. We enjoyed our tour of the mansion as well. We packed our lunches and had a picnic lunch. We spent almost 5 hours exploring. Highly recommend! Will definitely return.

This was an unexpected and FREE gem. My husband and I had a day in Richmond to explore and LOVED our time here. Unfortunately, the main house was undergoing work so we were unable to tour the house. However, the grounds are massive and we had plenty to see and explore. Highly recommend.

Beautiful gilded age property.

The Mansion was stunning. Let's be real, I saw the swan room on the website and that sealed the deal for me wanting to visit this location. The rest of the rooms do not disappoint. From the stunning ladies sitting room done in pink and gold, to the dining room with gorgeous carved wooden cabin, buffet and sideboards, to the servants working area in the basement to prepare meals and laundry.

The grounds were lovely. I really wish some of the fountains were working.... Neither the Italian garden or the Japanese garden had the fountains running. 😢

Love seeing the animals on the peripheral of the property.... Looks like some rescues in the raptor family as well as farm animals.

We did not do the aquarium but there is also one on site.

Our Mother's Day adventure at Maymont in Richmond, Virginia was an absolute delight for the whole family. Nestled in this serene oasis, we were treated to stunning views of nature at its finest. The picturesque landscapes served as the perfect backdrop for our memorable day.

One of the highlights was the opportunity to interact with a variety of animals. We even had the chance to feed some friendly goats, which was a joy for both kids and adults alike. The peaceful ambiance allowed us to unwind and connect with nature.

While we enjoyed the tranquility, it's worth noting that Maymont does involve quite a bit of walking. Although certain sections of the park are not stroller-friendly, we discovered alternate routes that made our journey more accessible. It's advisable to bring your own food and water, as the vending machines were not very reliable during our visit.

One aspect we truly appreciated was the fact that Maymont offers free admission, with the option to donate if you wish. This generous gesture ensures that families from all walks of life can enjoy this wonderful experience.

This marked our second visit to Maymont, and it won't be our last. The entire family cherished every moment, and I couldn't help but fall in love with this beautiful sanctuary. Maymont, with its natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and welcoming atmosphere, is a gem that Richmond should be proud of. It made our Mother's Day truly special and memorable.

Awesome place to spend the day. Enjoy the gardens and the animals. Always well kept and lots to do. Plenty of places to hike around or sit and just enjoy the scenery. One of Richmond’s best spots. The house is also great to tour when it is open. They have a little nature exhibit that if you want to learn more and only costs a few dollars.

We were in Richmond for a beer festival and didn't want to go home but also didn't want to keep drinking. We also desperately needed exercise to release the toxins. So, I had heard of Maymont a while back and we finally checked it out.

It was an incredible experience and I can't wait to go back in warmer weather. We visited on a mild but rainy February day and still had a blast. The barn animals, especially the goats, and Monty the bobcat stole the show. They are very charismatic and we spent a long time feeding the goats and went to Monty's feeding. I would go back just for them!

The Japanese garden was gorgeous in the rain, so I can only imagine how amazing it would be in the sun and blooms. It was a little treacherous navigating back up the hill in the rain, but you'll be fine if you go slow. I also wish we could have done the mansion tour but we were super hungry and headed out.

What an amazing Richmond institution! Not to be missed.

This is the perfect place to picnic with your partner or friends! Maymont is such a vibrant and exciting place to visit. There is always something to enjoy from the Japanese and Italian gardens to the petting zoo.

My family and I were visiting Richmond and decided to visit here since the weather was so nice. We really enjoyed the nature center and the farm. I would definitely recommend.

Fortunately the grounds are open. It is a beautiful setting with lovely gardens and lots of space for walks. Many were there for picnics. Good small collection of carriages. Only refreshments are from soda machines.
Unfortunately we cannot currently visit the house.
$5 donation requested.
If we lived in Richmond we would visit regularly.

Beautiful Japanese garden. Loved the piped in flute music. Wonderful in autumn with the water, the bridges, the changing leaves.

Something for everyone! Owned by the city of Richmond, so free. SO worth a visit...but even at the suggested $5 donation it is great. Beautiful interior, guided tour of upstairs but go register early, as they only take 12 people in a group. Tours every 1/2 hour, 12:00-5:00. Downstairs is self guided about the domestic help. Visit the grounds too, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden, and animal enclosures.

We did this on a whim and honestly had no idea what to expect. We specifically chose here to do the Maymont Mansion tour for a great price and we learned so much. We can't wait to go back to see it decorated for Christmas! The grounds around it are absolutely stunning. We loved the waterfall and Willow tree in the Japanese garden and were able to see some wild deer grazing near the mausoleum. So for me it's a win all around between the Victorian home, walking trails, waterfall, animals, and more! Excited to explore some more next time we visit!

I only wish we could take our dog here. We enjoy the variety of gardens at Maymont. Pictures are fun to take here any time of year. The house is beautiful step back in time.

I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Maymont with your entire family. It's fun for people of all ages.

I live in Richmond, drive here to walk the grounds a few times a week. There are many options for different paths to try, some w/ steep steps, some flat, but always beautiful changing scenery. Totally safe to walk solo as a woman. Multiple entries and parking areas, good restrooms, water fountains. It is a steep incline back up from almost anywhere you walk downhill so beware, stroller pushers! Happy, wholesome vibe- picnickers, families, people on dates- everyone on good behavior. It's a famous backdrop to come for graduation, quincienera photos. No pets allowed. Free to enter grounds and donations are accepted. I think you might have to pay to tour mansion or Nature Center? The whole place is clean, classy, chill, with a variety of people who are just happy to be out in such a pretty area.

We stumbled upon this place because we heard it would be fun for the kids. We all had a great time. The farm animals were all adorable and the birds of prey were very cool. They also have a resident fox and bear who were both big hits. The grounds are beautiful and we enjoyed walking around. Highly recommend!

You can walk for miles and take in the beauty of this former Gilded Age Estate. Farm animals, native animals of Virginia. Italian Garden, Japanese Garden with waterfall, Koi Pond and stepping stones. All free of charge. Maymont is The Jewel of Richmond.

The area outside at Maymont was beautiful, but Robin's Nature Center was not great.

The cages were pretty dirty. The worst part was that the otter seems incredibly depressed. He floated around, barely moving at all, then buried his head in a rock and stayed there. Otters are usually energetic and playful. His water was super dirty and he looked like he didn't feel well. I have never seen such a thing. Perhaps this center should consult a zoologist or biologist in order to create a better habitat for it. It made us really sad to see this.

Well.....Where Do I start.
Everything was fine in the beginning. I spoke with the sales agaent, book the Italian gardens, and paid eveyrhting that needed to be paid for.

To my surprise, I found out on the day of my wedding that my "package" didn't inlcude chairs. Yes, you read that correctly, there were no chairs present at the wedding. Imagine how I must have felt when my fiance called me telling me this. I understand that I had a small wedding but i had some guests who really did need the chairs. We tried to get them to get chairs but the top "boss" said absolutely not.

After the ceremony I emailed my representative expressing my disappointment over the chair situation. My email was forwarded to Ellen, who is the Sr. Manager of Special Events and Event Sales. She confirmed that I was not well informed that the package that I had booked was the "micro wedding package". Now, I know what you may be thinking, " How does she not know what package she booked?". Well thats because the mico wedding package was never presented to me. The information that I received (the info flyer) did not include a information on the micro package, nor did my sales representative ever state that I purchased that package, AND the contract did not indicate this as well. Also, they had asked muitple times for a final head count, so naturally I thought it was for the chairs. Since per their info flyer, they will provide up to 32 chairs for the Italian garden, but you may have up to 200 guests in that garden.

By the way, for all future brides who may be reading this anytime in the future, per the email that Ellen sent me, the micro packages DOES NOT INCLUDE the following: eremony rehearsal, chairs, dressing room, transportation or event staff. If you get the micro packaged the dressing room and transportation will cost you an extra $100 each.

I will say that they are pretty responsive, but obviously through my experience they aren't very straightforward. My advice, call them out on everything and asked for clarification over every little detail. Because the only thing that they are straightforward about is how to submit your payment.

In thier defense Ellen did claim that they will be updating their flyer info and contracts regarding micro weddings, so this "confusion" won't happen for future brides.

Other than that the venue is beautiful and I got some nice pictures out of it.

Glow garden at Maymont is a special & unique experience. The gardens lit is unlike any other light show. It takes about 90 minutes & to see the whole thing is a lot of walking but well worth the time & money. The food trucks add to the ambiance. The reason I didn't give it a 5 is parking is terrible.

We visited Maymont in July 2019 and we were not disappointed. We walked the grounds ourselves which was quite interesting. We were able to see some of the animals they have in the mini zoo on the grounds. We also visited the home itself which was fascinating. We had a tour guide who was very informative about the estate. Also on the grounds are a number of antique cars that were fun to see. If you go during the summer, stay hydrated. Maymont is a must see!

Beautiful gardens with themes. Technically, there is no fee to visit the grounds, but a donation is recommended, and of course, there is a fee to tour the inside of the mansion. We did go into the Carriage House, but unfortunately, the Mansion was not open for tours the day that we visited. It was magnificent from the outside. We could have spent perhaps an hours more here, but were on a schedule. i would recommend at least 3 hours to see all the grounds, and of course, more when the mansion is open.

This was a grand estate, willed to the city of Richmond and now restored and operated as a park. There is the restored mansion, a farm exhibit and a nature center and a zoo of sorts on over 100 acres. We saw the farm exhibit and the mansion. It being winter most of the gardens were dormant.
Tours of the mansion aware available for a 5 dollar donation and are very worthwhile. A great deal of history and culture are discussed.
This is a wonderful facility. Don't miss it.

Amazing views of japanese and italian inspired gardens. Great for walking and spending a few hours with the family.

Very interesting home tour in Historic section of Richmond. House was historically and architecturally fascinating. The surrounding gardens were just awesome - especially liked the huge waterfall that plunged down to the Japanese garden below. A great place to spend an afternoon in Richmond!

Beware- car was parked at the children’s farm parking lot and broken into- money, iPad, laptop- all stolen. Such a sad way to end what was a beautiful tour of the park.

Self-guided audio house tour was really interesting after watching The Gilded Age on tv. It was a torrential downpour so we did not get to tour the estate and gardens.

the home is just beautiful with grounds and gardens to satisfy everyone the home tour was great and discovered that there were many additions that will surprise you

This is an extremely beautiful and very natural estate. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to go on a nature walk with 3+ hours to kill. Please bring water and nice running shoes. Everything was very nice

This beautiful wonderfully preserved historic mansion with its fabulous gardens is a must see when visiting Richmond. The mansion tour guide was excellent giving the history of the home and the Dooley family. The suggested donation was worth ten times more. What a great way to spend the day.

A very pleasant surprise.  Went here in May without prior investigation, and we were amazed at the scope and breadth of this marvelous estate.  Admission appears to be on a voluntary, charitable basis which was really surprising considering the acreage required for care.  As a result, we all felt the animal exhibits were showing their age.  I was especially put off by the bobcat enclosure, that to me, resembled a glorified corn crib.  It's not a function of abuse.  It's totally a function of funding renovations to display their critters in a modern, zoo type environment.

The Japanese garden rivals the Lewis Gitner Japanese garden.  Even though the total number of plant species doesn't compare with Gitner, the overall flow, scale, and peaceful atmosphere of Maymont's Japanese garden are better.  Again, it shows some wear and tear, but knowing the maintenance requirements for a Japanese garden, these folks are doing an amazing job of keeping things manicured, weeded, and pruned.

The house tour is a must.  We gladly agreed to pay the $5 per person donation.  I found the house to be incredibly forward thinking for the times. The Dooley's had electricity, central heat, hot water systems, and all the modern conveniences of the gilded age of the 1890s.  The house layout is very well done considering the amount of furniture and objects they have displayed.  Rooms had pocket doors which I thought was very innovative for the house. 

I do not believe Mrs. Dooley gets enough credit as a progressive female in the late 1800s.  My impression is that she was forward thinking, innovative, and extremely smart.  The entire grounds are an arboretum but you never get the impression of being in a "collection".  Amazing specimen cedars, oaks, magnolias, etc.  If you are into trees, you will see some magnificent representations here.  Kudos to Mrs. Dooley.  In addition, the fact that the Dooley's left the property to the people of Richmond is very impressive.

We spent almost 3 hours on the grounds, and could easily have stayed longer.  It's a great place to get away and be absorbed into nature.  Definitely worth many revisits.

Visited Maymont with my in-laws and all of us really enjoyed it. Even though there's no kid in the family all of us still enjoy petting the goats and be up close to the animals. Nice and quiet hike throughout the entire visit, will definitely visit again in the future.

Walkways are not easily managed by strollers or folks with any instability issues. There are uneven stones to the gardens, no handrails and a steep grade to Japanese gardens. Very disappointing visit.

A beautifully restored country house in delightful grounds. Excellent tour guide brings the past to life and demonstrated the effette lifestyle of the over wealthy privileged 19th century few. A very enjoyable day out.

A beautiful place to take a walk and see the gardens and outbuildings. The home was a great place to tour. The history of the family was interesting. They had very extravagant tastes. The stained glass was amazing. I would definitely visit again if we are in the area.

I love going to maymont. I have been going to maymont since i was a little kid . I love seeing all the wildlife

There are so many things to do here, by yourself, with your family, with older or younger kids. The mansion offers a free tour (with a suggested $5 donation) that walks you back over 100 years, with stories, decorations, and furnishings that a quite beautiful. There is a petting zoo -- mostly goats when we were there. There are two gardens associated with the grounds. The upper garden is quite beautiful and very traditional. The lower garden is a Japanese garden, which is quite exquisite. Walking down many steps, with a wonderful waterfall next to you, you eventually come to an area that I didn't expect -- so peaceful and so much to look at: the landscaping, the pond, the large coy fish, the bridge with the waterfall behind it. Then, there are the "never-ending" lawns and mature trees, with paths winding their way through acres and acres. I still have not done the visitors center, so I cannot comment on that attraction. There's so much to do outside! If you walk the grounds, there are many hills. If you want to visit the petting zoo, there is a parking lot right next to it. If you want the visitors center, they also have a parking lot. Finally, there's a third parking lot right next to a gate that opens to the stairs to the gardens and the short walk to the mansion and its outbuildings.

We visited Maymont after reading about it on Tripadvisor. The gardens are beautiful. We toured the house as well and really enjoyed that as well. A wonderful place to walk around while in the city.

Gorgeous mansion of the Gilded Age. Plus a neat look at the servants’ life in the basement floor. Knowledgeable guide on the tour. Highly recommend.

It’s one of the few places in our busy lives that seems to slow down time. You can wander around the grounds. Take a picnic under the large trees. Explore the gardens, admire the animals and be amazed by the splendid house with the swan shaped bed in the master bedroom. It’s so peaceful and it’s so wonderful to wander around with no agenda.

SO happy when we found out YOU are OPEN (except for bathrooms) during this crazy time of stay at home.........mostly............We met another couple there and did our distancing, as we saw everyone else was doing.......so MUCH besuty here from all the over 100 year old trees everywhere,the beautiful house (closed for now)all the many trails, so much to explore.......hope the waterfall is turned on soon........we LOVE Maymont as do all Richmonders (we livein Midlo)
Tulips were amazing, I had come2 weeks ago and enjoyed the blooming trees
AWESOME GIFT is Maymont..

I grew up coming here, but it never gets old! From the children's farm to the Japanese garden, there's plenty to explore. Near the mansion are awesome climbing trees for kids (and grown ups!). I can't believe this expansive, peaceful park is in the middle of a bustling city!

I am a photographer so this was like a wonderland of flowers....beautiful grounds and buildings. Worth going out of the way for!

My daughter is studying Photography, when I brought her to Maymont, she could not believe how many professional photographers were there I think we counted 16. and we got some great photos too. Beautiful place to explore

Hubby and I went during our anniversary week. It was a nice outdoor thing to do. It was blazing hot when we went, though, with not a whole whole lot of shade, so check the weather before you go. We really enjoyed the gardens! Beautiful. And the buildings from the outside were cool. However, we went on a Monday when apparently everything is mostly closed. No visitor center, no entering the old house. And we suspect that this was why we didn’t see half the animals advertised. The bear and bobcat were nowhere to be found, perhaps tucked away in their shelters and aren’t out on Mondays? So if you go, be sure you’re on a day when you have all the options to choose from if you want to see everything there. Nice walk, though, and again beautiful gardens!! (Although the fountain was not running...maybe it was just Monday again :P ) Wear good walking shoes and bring water, a hat, and sunscreen (especially if the visitor center is closed because you went on a Monday).

My wife and I - tourists from the UK - visited Maymont as part of a tour of historic Virginia. We love visiting the US and wanted to see how the wealthy lived in the Gilded Age. Our tour of Maymont gave us exactly what we were hoping for.
Main positives:
- The house is very well curated. You tour the house from bottom to top in a logical order. The tour is technically self-guided, but in fact you are given an audio device that explains each room as you go along at your own pace. So it's really like having your own tour guide. And the level of detail provided by the audio guide is just right.
- The explanations don't simply cover the house and its contents. They focus on how the owners (the Dooleys) lived, who they received at home and how they fitted in to wider society of the day. The guide pays equal attention to the lives of the staff of the house. And although this was in the postbellum era, needless to say life was not gilded for them. It was hard, grinding work for long hours for so little pay that they needed a second source of income just to be able to live at subsistence level.
- The rooms at Maymont are full of a mixture of original items and antiques from the period that are similar to what would have been in place at the time. So the house is authentic, it's not a Disney version of history.
Our one gripe about Maymont is the same one we have about so many cultural and historical visitor attractions in the US. Where is the cafe? You can't buy any food and drink here - there doesn't even appear to be a vending machine to buy a bottle of water. When we asked one of the staff, they suggested we go to Carytown for a drink. Really?
Anyway, despite this it's a great day out for those interested in the history of the era. Just remember to take your own bottle of water.

Gilded age mansion. Japanese garden. Nature center with fresh water aquariums. Excellent museum about life in the early part of the 20th century with frank discussions of racial disparities. Miles of (free) walking paths.

On strange thing. They keep the door to the ticket office and museum under the mansion locked. Don’t be afraid to knock.

Museum is free. Mansion tours and nature center charge a reasonable admission. Reservations for the house tours are recommended during busy times.

Lots of walking and things to see. The house wasn’t open when we visited, but the gardens were nice to walk through and we loved seeing the animals along the trail. Wish we could have done the Nature Center which was the only part that cost emission, but due to Covid we would have had to wait an hour for our turn. Beautiful place to explore when it’s a nice day! Wear comfortable shoes and maybe pack a picnic!

We've been coming here for years and just love it! The free or small admission fee makes it a great value, the animals are fun, the trails are great, the gardens are beautiful....it's a wonderful place for the entire family. Pack a picnic and enjoy the afternoon. They've made it even better by adding a small play area near the barn.

Sarah May Dooley and John H Dooley are my ancestors. My last name is even dooley as well. John H Dooley was a major in the confederate army, a lawyer, and a railroad director.

Spent an afternoon visiting this spot. It was enjoyable and informative . Didn’t have time to walk the grounds but the looked lovely

Maymont was almost exactly halfway point on our recent roadtrip. We stopped just to stretch our legs and get our steps in for the day. We stays for hours and walked all around the place. If was a great find. The place is really well maintained and truly peaceful to walk around and experience.

I have been looking forward to stopping at Maymont for a year or two. I was glad to finally make it there. Tucked away, outside the city of Richmond (near the Art Museum).

So many gardens and so little time! I took in several of the gardens, sorry to have missed the tulips, but there were some roses, azaleas, pansies and wild flowers dotted around.

There is really more than one part to Maymont, the section w/ the mansion and some gardens and the Nature Center. I went to the mansion section. The tour was $5. Very reasonable. A guided tour is nice, I like learning about the family who lived here and seeing how they decorated their lovely mansion.

I was unhappy w/ being rushed thru certain parts of the house, especially past the 2 story Tiffany Glass windows. I was not afforded the opportunity to get decent pictures of both sections of it. I realize one must "keep up w/ the tour" and that their are many volunteers and not so many staff, for the entire estate. But I would have appreciated not being so rushed. I realize there is no easy cure for this....but maybe a staffer in the house, for people who have paid to enter and want to spend a bit more time???

The staff and volunteers, in the mansion, gardens, and by other buildings were all friendly and helpful.

Definitely worth the stop. Plan on spending at least an hour or two, no matter what section you are going to visit. The mansion and Nature Center are a fair bit apart, and my knees weren't interested in the hills between the two. There is parking outside each part of the facility.

Maymont is more than a standard passive City park. It is a Richmond institution. As a native son I started going on Sunday afternoon dates while in my teens. More recently, I lead trips there with retirees of a local hiking club. The bears are always happy to see us.
Maymont has rolling fields with ancient trees, situated on a high bluff on the north bank of the James River with river vistas. It contains, a formal Japanese garden, rose garden, Richmond's unofficial zoo, historic carriages, a new contemporary nature center building, and the Dooley Mansion, both open to the public. Something for every interest.

This huge property was donated to the City but is run by the non-profit Maymont Foundation.. Remember to make a donation to keep free admission to Richmond's crown jewel of parks.

We did the christmas tour and it was very fun. The house is filled with real furniture and beautiful artwork. The tour guide was great and knew a lot. I enjoyed the christmas decoration throughout the house.

A surprisingly great amount of green space located in the otherwise very busy neighborhood with an assortment of animals. From predator birds and a black bear as well as some more domestic animals such as horses and cows, this park resembles a urban zoo. Yes, this is a urban park and yes, it could use some updates and some money fueled improvements. That being said there is no admission fee but instead a suggested donation of $5. The park is quite active with bikers, yoga groups, runners, families, ectr. and is a great escape with the Maymont mansion and zoo exhibits open until 5pm and the grounds open until 7pm for wandering. With friendly staff and plenty to see, this is a great escape

Maymont has an amazing house tour and acres of gardens. Bring water and a picnic and take advantage of the immense grounds.

Went here with my wife. Very large open area to walk. The mansion was absolutely beautiful and very impressive inside. The grounds had an Italian and a Japanese garden. Loved the visit.

I went in January about 2 hours before it closed the gates at 5. All I did was walk around the property but was so impressed. It is free to get in with a $5 suggested donation. The grounds are beautiful even in the winter. I loved just walking around.
The mansion was beautiful on the outside. There were old vehicles on display. I saw 8 deer in the field. I walked over to the farm area to see the animals (horse, sheep, ducks, chickens, & goats). There also are 3 bison on the property. There was another animal building that I was not able to see.

My parents and I visited this house in October. We had a super knowledgeable guide that really brought the house and its former owners alive. The tour and entrance to the park are by donation so you really get your value for your money. The gardens were lovely. We tried to visit the zoo but there was a storm coming so all the animals were inside but we did see a few. I thought this was a really great spot.

My wife and I visited the Mansion yesterday and took the Holiday tour of the house with all the beautiful Christmas decorations. Each room was beautifully decorated for the holidays blended in with the furniture from the period the Dooley's lived there. Our tour guide, a gentleman was very knowledgeable of the family history and the facts about the mansion and the staff that supported the family. The exhibits in the basement where the staff stayed and prepared the meals was very informative. The grounds that the mansion sits on are just georgeous. We had a bright sunny day for our visit and it was just a great experience. The Dooleys were truly a generous and great family. Well worth a visit here.

Super place to have a walk through in green. Facilities for roaming with children is good. The tiny collection of some animals are bonus for kiddos who accompany roaming. A must go for nature lovers. The

We had nine members of our garden club travel to Richmond weekend to see The Maymont Mansion, gardens and The Lewis Ginter Garden Lightfest. We took tours of the mansion and the gardens at Maymont. Both were excellent. The home was decorated for the holidays and was beautiful, to say the least. We had a sunny but cool day to walk the grounds which we still enjoyed immensely. It was just enough of a tease to make us want to visit again in another season.

What a magnificent facility, even on a crappy day. We enjoyed walking the beautiful grounds with the Japanese and Italian Gardens, which we assume are even more spectacular in the spring. The mansion was closed during our visit, but what an amazing design. The garden hall, garages, and water towers were of equal beauty. Hope to return in better weather.

Touring the mansion was worth the trip alone. The 5 dollar suggested donation was worth every penny. The full hour tour took us through a period of history of oil and railroad barons. We then spend another two hours touring gardens waterfalls, fountains and paths. Parking was free and we never got to the small zoo for young kids.

My family has been here a few times and we always have a good time. Great for exercising, taking young ones to see the farm animals and just and great place to visit with family. Warning there are some steep hills so if you cannot do much I wouldn’t recommend it.

My wife and I visited Maymont the last weekend of 2018. It was an unplanned weekend but that's usually the best way to have a good time. And my wife's choice was perfect. There are all sorts of animals at Maymont. And were it not for the dead of winter, I'm sure the foliage would be amazing. Also, I highly recommend the mansion tour. It's full of history and the tour guide was a pure delight. The couple who owned this 100-acre property are fascinating. We attended the Christmas version of the tour but we can't wait to return for the regular tour. It's just a great place for a couple to roam around and appreciate nature. I loved the Japanese and Italian gardens as well. Peaceful and fun. We can't wait to go back in the summer. It's history and nature in one great place. Thanks TripAdvisor for guiding us to this place.

To begin with its only $5 a person for a guided tour of the house & you get to wander through other areas like the carriage house with lots of antique cars & the massive gardens. It is filled with 98% original pieces to this family. Great tour guide Also. We’ve toured many plantations, mansions & historical homes. This is one to make time for. The detail of the interior & the beauty of the grounds are amazing.

Maymont is an amazing place, especially because admission is free. Of course, they accept donations. I visited twice during the holidays. They had lights in the garden which was quite nice. They also had a holiday festival with tours of the mansion. In all the years I have lived here, I have never toured the mansion.The mansion was beautifully decorated for the holiday. Maymont is a wonderful place to walk and spend time with family and friends.

The fall walking light tour is beautiful and a great outside movement activity. Well done. The water feature create some outstanding reflections.

Stroll from the Japanese garden to the Italian gardens to the petting zoo to the mansion! A non touristy place that the locals enjoy as much as world travelers!!

Absolutely beautiful estate and gardens in the middle of Richmond with an excellent live-animal nature center. This place was recommended by one of the wait staff at our hotel (Berkeley) and we were glad we went. We started with the Nature Center, which was fun and had a lot to see packed into an easy to navigate space. We saw an amazing giant turtle who liked standing upright on his back legs for his audience. There were more (smaller) turtles, snakes, assorted fish in large tanks, a baby alligator and some really cute otters. There was a place to sit and watch the always entertaining otters. The walking tour route of the other displays had ramps and few steps, so the area was easily accessible for both young and more senior nature lovers.

After experiencing the Nature Center, we headed out onto the estate pathways. Warning - this area is bigger than it seems at first, so be ready for a long walk with your hats, sunscreen, water bottles and comfortable shoes. There are plenty of benches along the way, but there are also a number of steep inclines (or terraces with stairs) on the pathway that can be very challenging for seniors or anyone not in strong physical condition. Fortunately, they can send a car to pick you up if you get stuck somewhere (it was a hot day, and we got stuck at the Japanese Garden, which is low-lying with no way to get out but up), so bring along the little map they give you - the phone number is on it. The map also gives distances between landmarks on the trail, to give you some idea of size of the place. There are more animals to see on the hike, including native wild cats, hawks and eagles, several bear and a resident red fox. There is beautiful green scenery, some photo-worthy mature trees, a farm and a stream. There are also several cultured gardens, including the peaceful Japanese Garden with waterfalls. Above the waterfalls is the terraced and manicured Italian Garden (although any route up to it from the Japanese Garden is steep and challenging). On top of the hill, the Mansion is an impressive building and a hub of activity. When we were there, a band was in the stage shell on the grounds warming up to play, tourists were swarming around and there was an artist working on a painting in one of the gazebos.

Maymont is worth spending the better part of a morning or afternoon (expect 2-3 hours or more) entertaining the family and getting some exercise or a little relaxation from the city. Relatively inexpensive for the Nature Center at $3-$4 (depending on age) and apparently the grounds are free.

Great outdoor place to take the family. Recommend for anyone wanting a good taste of the outdoors. Bring friends

Be prepared to walk. and some of it is hilly. But, very much worth it. My kids loved exploring all the spaces. I wish there was a cafe - I'd have stayed all day! Really beautiful gardens and the goats, etc are very friendly.

What a wonderful treasure in the heart of Richmond! The beautifully manicured lawns and gardens were a sight to behold! We didn't tour the mansion, but we did peek in the windows! It looked amazing! It's free to visit, but you can give a donation at the end, which we did.

Maymont is a wonderful place to learn about history in a natural setting. The park is beautiful. Highly recommend the Japanese garden, the Nature Center, and the wildlife exhibits.

The audio tour was nice to have even though it didn't address all the items. There were staff members on each floor to answer any questions. I agree with another reviewer, the walkways are difficult to walk on. They made me a little nervous.

What a lovely place to visit. Very well looked after grounds. The Japanese garden is gorgeous. There is an inside aquarium, perfect for cooling down. A nice little farm with animals. My little boy enjoyed running around. There’s lots of grassed areas to here you could take a picnic if you wish. A beautiful place for a morning / afternoon.

We toured Maymont on Saturday November 3. We had a guided tour inside Maymont by a knowledgable guide. It is an interesting mansion reflecting the style of the guided age. It was built and lived in by James and Sally Dooley from the late 1800s til about 1923ish. While much of the house is interesting, Sally Dooley's swan shaped bed is particularly fascinating. Some of the furniture pieces from Asia (China?) on the second and third floors are very attractive. We had hoped to see the gardens and we did walk through the Italian gardens, but it was too late to get to the Japanese garden which was a mile and a half away. The museum and grounds closed at 4:00 that day because they were having an event later. Our advice -- if you go, get there early and see the Japanese gardens. There is also an area where one can see animals that might be interesting

We visited Maymount and it was our favorite thing we did in Richmond. We went on a very hot and sunny day. We took the self-guided tour of the mansion, which included a hand held device that you can scan at stations throughout the mansion. I had a question regarding an item in the dining room, which the docent couldn’t answer. A few minutes later, he came back with a notebook giving detailed information on the item. Impressive! We walked around and explored the Japanese and Italian gardens. Both gardens are beautiful. The Japanese gardens along with the waterfall were amazing. We spent time walking along the perimeter of the garden and then spent time in a small shaded hut (with seats) just watching the koi in the pond. It was so serene. I highly recommend a visit to Maymount if you are in the area.

An absolutely beautiful place, with wonderful gardens (especially the Japanese garden with the waterfall). If you have time out in Afton VA (about 100 miles west) is Sawannoah which was a summer home built by the same family also worth visiting.

This was a beautiful garden / park. We wanted a day of getting "out of the city" and a local had recommended this place. It is massive and very easy to walk the entire garden. Not all places are ADA compliant as some paths had lots of stairs or stepping stones on the water.

A great place for the kids to run around.

I went on a Field Trip here A Couple Weeks Ago and I really liked the Gardens and The Rocks and the Waterfalls and The Turtles and It has awesome gardens I will definitely come back here again so I can look at the gardens here again

This place is “My Go To Place”! I love to walk the Park & enjoy it’s beauty. The grounds are well kept and clean. I’m thankful to have such a place to enjoy. I thank God for Mayount and I appreciate the workers that upkeep this place. Thank you!!

We went to see the Maymont mansion you pay a fee for the audio tour. We walked the gardens. It's a beautiful area. Most the furniture is original to the house. I wish we took a pictures of the ceilings in some of the rooms on the main level.

Even though the mansion is closed for roof renovations until the end of 2024, it is worth a visit just to see the grounds and all of the buildings.

The garage has a gorgeous display of antique carriages of different periods. The barn has a display of paintings, swan bed, sculpture and more that belonged to the owners and is free.
The Italian Garden is pretty but the highlight is the Japanese Garden! Even though I was there at the end of March there were trees blooming but from what I know the waterfall is turned on sometime in April which I am sure is impressive. Definitely a peaceful and beautiful place in which to spend time.

Lovely park with lakes and nice walks. Lots to see including mansion and surroundings. Petting farm for the children.

Great gardens and a fantastic English language audio tour of the Dooley mansion. The mansion tour can run between half an hour to an hour and a half depending on how much depth you want.
Great insight into the Gilded Age living.

You could spend an entire day here! Beautiful grounds to explore. Buy tickets in advance for a tour of the house. We loved exploring the Japanese and Italian gardens. The house tour is informative and interesting. Great for families, too, with animals and other attractions.

On my second visit to Richmond, Maymont was first on the list of musts to show the kids. Although spring break made for a bigger crowd than usual, it was still a delight. I love visiting the opulent mansion. On this visit I watched over 20 children run and roll down a grassy hill, and climb a nearby tree - just small groups of strangers sharing the simplest of pleasures. It was delightful, and spring is a lovely time to visit the Italian garden.

We had a busy weekend in Richmond for a wedding and decided to take a day to check out Maymont. What a gem. The gardens are free to wander around and the beautiful house is only $5 to see. Do not miss the Japanese garden. I could spend all day there. The home is a perfect example of the Gilded Age and the opulence amazing. A very good time for relaxing.

Beautiful gardens, fun petting zoo for kids, Victorian house, all lovely. Japanese and Italian gardens are superb! We've gone for 20 years. It never gets old.

The gardens and property were really nice. Wear good walking shoes and know there are some hills up and down along with stairs. I do think they had a gold Cart tour for those not able to walk the property. I bet the Glow Night display would be really fun. The Carrilion Tower near the property is worth driving or walking too, very pretty.

My family and I love Maymont! It's so beautiful and really enjoy the farm and the Japanese garden the most.

Beautiful place to take a walk, in every season. Great photo ops. Lots of different areas to explore.

It is free to spend time on the grounds of Maymont and see the various Gardens and the zoo. I did not tour the mansion. It is clear that the grounds were extremely beautiful at one point but now it is becoming very dated. Due to limited funding a lot of the area especially the zoo is very run down. The prettiest garden area to see is the Japanese Gardens so I would recommend if you have limited time you go immediately to the Japanese Gardens which are to the left as you enter. There is limited parking at the gate so it may be difficult to find a parking space on a nice day.
The grounds are very nice and is a popular spot for picnicking and playing outside. I would not recommend spending a lot of time in the zoo area which is in the far back of the grounds unless you haven't been to any other zoos. There is also a museum in the far back right of the grounds which I did not tour. If you are looking for beautiful gardens in the Richmond area and then I recommend the Ginter.

I, like many others, are at home a lot now. Today I really need to see something different and beautiful so my husband and I went from our house in Williamsburg to Maymont. Thank you for keeping the grounds open. The landscaping is absolutely beautiful. The dogwoods are in full bloom, the tulips are too. My husband and I walked, had a little picnic and walked some more. We feel so much better. We are looking forward to touring the Mansion again sometime soon.

Nice park to enjoy a solo walk or walk with the family. Park has open walking area leads nice animal park with in door area. Beautiful water fall in the Japanese garden. Must visit Richmond location.

Walked around for awhile, really enjoyed the Japanese gardens. It had rained recently, so there was barely anyone in the huge park.

This place is so beautiful. And we had great weather. Really enjoyed being out in nature. Great for family or date or something to do with the kids.

The Maymont is an estate turned park. There are several buildings, but we were not there to explore the buildings so we're not sure which ones were open to visit, if any. The residence is available for paid tours, which we did not do.

There are two large gardens, the Japanese garden and the Italian garden, offering the expected flavor of those two countries.

The grounds are beautifully maintained, with many interesting trees (however, no signs or tags giving you any information about them).

There is a long flat walkway to enter leading to the residence, easily accessible. However, the walkways to the gardens are rocky and sometimes steep, not appropriate for anyone with limited mobility.

There is no required admission fee but there is a payment kiosk on entry to pay the recommended minimum of $5 per person.

Our 5 year old grandson our 30ish son hubby and I throughly enjoyed our visit to this beautiful park and are planning to go again when the Madison is open.

We were empty nesters looking for a good vigorous walk. We used to bring the kids here so often. The parking and park itself has expanded and improved. We did the big loop - down through the farm animals, passed the raptors and bear, through the Japanese garden, up the strenuous hill, passed the mansion, cut across the grass to get back to farm area parking. About 20 floors in total and rapid heart rate. All while walking past families having a great time with their little kiddos and the beautiful hilly scenery. Only warning is to wear shoes you don’t like as the geese have left many, many gifts in the ground.

This beautiful place spreads over 100 acres. We Spent almost 4-5 hrs here during our last trip to richmond. Gorgeous views and beautiful botanical gardens won my heart. It has historical Mansion too.

Wonderful to take a stroll here on a Sunday afternoon. Lovely surrounding with an interesting little zoo. Free entrance and great to visit the Italian and Japanese gardens.

Old Crow was very entertaining, as always. This is a great place for an outdoor concert. The sound system at outdoor concerts is often poor, but this was perfect!

We took our 11 month old great-nephew here the other day. While we never made it past the farm and petting area, it’s clear that it’s a very popular spot. It’s easily accessible very friendly and has great signage. It is kid friendly as well. The entire park is easily a full day experience which we hope to do in the Fall. We did see a thing called The Portal and spoke to two university students in Kenya.

Beautiful, peaceful and full of history and great architecture. My husband and I wanted to go here as part of of an anniversary and tour the mansion, but they are unfortunately not conducting tours on a weekday, so we took our three kids 10, 10, and 12 with us on a weekend. The night prior to going there seemed to be plenty of tickets (you have to pre purchase online) so I figured I'd make sure there were no kid issues in the morning and all were in a good mood before taking a day trip out there. There were still plenty of tickets around 7a on the day of, but all of a sudden at 8, most of the times were gone and I could only get tickets for 4, but needed 5. At that point, I had already told everyone we were going so I took the chance of just getting the 4 tickets and hoping they'd have mercy on us once there. All this to say, buy them a day or so before or if you are doing the somewhat spontaneous thing with kids, buy by 7ish in the morning. Either there were a lot of early risers and they all filled up quickly in the 7a hour or Eventbrite closes tix for time slots at a certain amount of hours before the ticket time. Either way, we wanted to take the kids there for the outside parts at some point anyway because we figured the mansion would be boring for them.

Although it is fall, it was pretty much full sun and hotter than we would have liked. I thought maybe you couldn't bring water with you on the grounds so we left it in the car. You can bring water on the grounds and in the mansion so long as you keep it sealed in the mansion. There were also vending machines and restrooms midway along the path to the mansion.

The gardens were beautiful and fragrant. I also really liked the carriage house. It was a great display. The medieval looking parts of the architecture were enchanting and I loved that aspect. Initially when we arrived there was a wedding and a section roped off so we did not make it to the bottom of the waterfall where the bridge was. Unfortunately, due to plans to visit a farm that day as well, we also did not make it to the wildlife section, but again, so much of it is free (very odd for today and truly a gift) that we knew we could go back next time we were traveling through or nearby to Richmond. In fact, it would be a great side stop while traveling to let the kids run through the big green field and explore while taking a break on a road trip.

We arrived a half hour early to the mansion so we could see if we'd have an issue with being down a ticket. I explained the situation and kind of held my breath while awaiting a response. Thankfully, they let us buy one more ticket since we were related and together and were nice about it. A warning though: our tour group was only 9 total people and a couple arrived who did not have tickets and (maybe due to COVID and/or tight quarters in mansion) they could not get in.

To the best part: Loved, loved, loved the mansion! I was like a little kid in a candy store standing in awe of the beautiful architecture and interior design. I struggled between taking pics and trying to listen to the story, both of which were engaging. Our tour guide was great, but a little political leaning came through and could have been less so to be inclusive to all perspectives. I'd prefer to hear a story and not know the opinion, but form the full picture for myself based on all aspects of the information and facts. Either way, we appreciated her and tipped her. I rarely see anyone tipping on tours. If they do a good job, tip them! There are also donation boxes on the property worth considering. While I would not recommend for kids under 8 because it is just so darn tempting to touch, but you can't, surprisingly aside from a unique tree on the property they were captivated by, all of our kids loved the mansion the most and participated more than any adult in answering the guide's questions. When you get down to the employee/servant quarters, the kids may squeal with delight because there was finally something to touch. It was like they were so good and finally at the end could touch informational signs and such. I thought the tour was 1/2 hour but we had to be in there for maybe 1.5 hours. So glad we went! If it is for a special date, of course best to go just the two of you, but if that isn't possible or even if it is for family fun, I'd recommend for all ages with again, mansion being for 8+.

Maymont has to be one of my favorite places for breath taking landscape photography, and portrait photography. There is over 100 acres to explore, with incredible views, gardens, waterfalls, lush rolling hills, mature trees, and plenty of butterflies and birds. First time taking the tour of Maymont Mansion and was amazed at the original artwork and hand crafted, imported furniture from around the world. A true treasure for Richmond and the State of Virginia.

Awesome scenery, difficult distancing as groups of people pass you on the trails, many without masks. It's a trek for disabled. I think Japanese garden made it worth the walk.

On the plus side, this is a very large, well-maintained green space with several beautifully cultivated areas, with the Japanese Garden being a particular highlight. It is truly a Richmond gem. On the downside, there is a distinct lack of water fountains throughout the park. We started at The Farm and proceeded through the animal section to the closed mansion to the bathrooms near the old garages, where we found the water fountains out of order. Thank God we were able to buy some ices at the concession truck that was parked there (coincidence?) because we then trekked to the Nature Center (which was unexpectedly closed) in 100 degree heat and then back to the Farm where we drank our fill like desert refugees. I think the Maymont executives want its visitors to die.

Also on the downside, the website is very confusing. Never having been there, I couldn't exactly make out what this place was all about or how to tackle it. It was just a jumble of unrelated facts which didn't mesh into a complete whole. It seemed to demand that you buy online tickets for each area in the park, when in reality there is no "ticket booth" per se and just a kiosk requesting a suggested donation. In addition, the website map doesn't indicate any parking areas, so I had no clue where to park, or if there was parking, until I drove there. Thirdly, this place is . Weird feel to the place. It's been taken over by carpetbaggers just like northern Virginia. Lastly, the animals are probably unnecessary. It was nice to see some of these exotic animals, but there really weren't that many and they would probably be better off in a large zoo somewhere. Still, it's a must see if you visit Richmond.

Great for small kids! My 21 y/o and 19 y/o daughters and I went to the Robins Nature Center to see the River Otter. It is a pretty small facility, but geared toward younger kids. The layout is nice. Not too pricey. Unfortunately, the AC had shut down when we arrived. We had tickets for 2pm. They told us we would receive a refund, but we could go in anyway. Since it is a small facility and we were really only interested in the River Otter, that was ok with us. It was nice that they let us in.