D O :: Maymont Estate

One of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice is to go on drives and explore new places.  Usually I am the one with ideas but it is always a special treat when Rob comes up with a specific idea.  Sunday morning Rob and I woke up and got lattes from Panera and drove to Richmond.  Rob said he remembered a place from when he was a child that he thought I would like.

We arrived at the gorgeous Maymont and just walked around and enjoyed the scenery.  The weather was a little cool but the sun was warm making it the perfect spring day to explore.  This amazing estate spans over 100 acres and includes the mansion on the hill, numerous gardens, and live animals.  Just five miles from downtown Richmond, this place seems like a world away.  And it is free!

How incredible are these purple flowers?!  Springtime in Virginia is always breathtaking and Maymont was perfect proof of this!



As we started to make our way through most of the estate and back to the mansion, we came across the Italian Gardens.  These were my absolute favorite!  There were rows and rows of all different varieties of tulips and their colors were incredible!




While Rob was checking out the sundial and seeing if he could tell time using it (of course he figured it right out...he is so good at stuff like that!), I was falling in love with the quote.  "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be"  I just love that.  Completely by chance, the next picture I took was of the most adorable old couple who had popped up lawn chairs right outside of the gardens and were reading and enjoying the weather.  I got chills when I read the quote again then saw that picture!


Maymont also offers carriage rides through the estate.  While we did not take one, we did go over to see the beautiful horses!  Overall, it was such a perfect way to spend time together before Rob went back into the field and I love my husband for thinking to share this place with me.  I definitely want to go back this summer and picnic on the lawn!