B Labrie's Home Improvement

The Metro Richmond Zoo lets your kids get up close to the animals. They'll marvel at the towering beauty of the giraffes as they get a chance to actually pet them. They'll giggle uncontrollably when they hear the orangutan whistle or watch the monkeys monkey around with each other. The kids will have plenty to see as the zoo features more than 400 animals in their natural habitat attraction. It'll be a day full of wild fun, so be sure to stop at the zoo's gift shop to pick up a neat souvenir to commemorate your family's very own safari.

Buddy's is actually the perfect name for this bar, as you will more than likely be "buddies" with several of the people here because of both the venue's popularity and its unusually small size. Actually, this popular under-30s crowd watering hole is five times longer than it is wide, so you will press the flesh quite a bit, even if you are just heading to the bar. Buddy's serves a light menu early in the evening, but if you wait until later to try and get in, you might be facing at least a 15-minute wait outside. Then again, you might make a new "buddy" before you even enter the bar!

The State Fair of Virginia seems to encapsulate all that's great about the state. Come and see competitions, horticulture and crop exhibitions, livestock shows, horse shows, as well as an unbelievable selection of arts and crafts and food, too! Plus, the world-famous carousel will be there, so don't even think about leaving before taking a colorful, musical spin. The festival is held in late September into early October.