After my wife and I got married, we knew we’d have to put off a true honeymoon because of work schedules and other obligations.

In the meantime, we sought out weekend excursions that wouldn’t totally crash our travel budget. Virginia’s capital, Richmond, felt like a perfect getaway. Neither of us had been, it would only take about three hours to get there and, importantly, we had a friend who could suggest places to visit.

It ended up being a relatively affordable trip: We spent less than $700 over a weekend, which included our stay at the hotel and dinner for four people.

When we asked our friend what we absolutely had to do in town, she said that being outdoors is an integral part of living in Richmond.

She also told us the city has a good food scene and suggested some of her favorite restaurants. We arrived on a Friday night and left midday Sunday.

Here’s a look at how we spent our time.

Where we stayed

Rather than stay somewhere super-fancy right downtown, we opted for a Holiday Inn Express near the Richmond airport. Since it was cheaper than other options, it allowed us to spend more on activities and dining.

As far as mid-budget hotels go, it was perfectly fine. The room was clean and spacious. It also had a blackout shade that we could pull down at night to block the light from the parking lot.

There were a few amenities, like a continental breakfast, fitness center and pool that we didn’t take advantage of, but looked nice.

What we did

Our first activity was an excursion to the downtown Richmond Riverfront Canal Walk along the James River. The canal featured sculptures in the water and wide garden beds. Though it’s kind of tucked under a highway, it’s still pretty and reminded me of the riverfront promenade in Frederick.

After our short outdoor trek, we stopped into Fountain Bookstore, a charming local shop stuffed with all kinds of books and gifts. Yes, we spent a bit more than we needed. Please don’t ask me how much.

Later, we visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Parking was cheap and admission was free. In addition to a relaxing outdoor sculpture garden, a few indoor exhibits stood out.

I was especially taken by an exhibit of Art Noveau posters from the late 19th century that featured absinthe, among other products . The museum also has a stunning collection of Fabergé eggs and other Russian decorative arts that I can’t recommend strongly enough. A since-closed exhibit on the work of Willie Anne Wright was interesting, but not our favorite.

Our Sunday in Richmond was much less busy. After another quick breakfast, we drove to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, about 10 to 15 minutes from of downtown. Even in the offseason, it was a ton of fun to walk around. Tickets are $20 each, but between a rose garden, beautiful sculptures and a greenhouse with orchids, it’s worth the price of admission.

What we ate

Eating in a new place is almost always my favorite part of traveling. Richmond was no exception. Here’s everywhere we ate.

Saturday breakfast: WHISK

WHISK is a cute little cafe on Richmond’s Main Street with a cool mural of Nina Simone on its side. Located in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood, the eatery served a tasty cold-brew iced coffee and my wife got a truly massive apple-flavored macaron that was delicious and expertly made.

Saturday lunch: Amuse Restaurant

Overlooking the sculpture garden in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is Amuse. It’s a narrow room with a fully stocked bar and wall-to-wall windows. The menu is a bit pricey (you’re paying for the ambiance) but is also seasonal, so I would certainly visit again.

I had a chicken sandwich (it was fine — again, paying for the ambiance) and my wife had a cheese plate (#GirlDinner). We split some juicy fried green tomatoes and both had a well-crafted cocktail. Her drink was similar to a French 75, served in a champagne flute and with a light, fruity taste. Mine was mezcal-based, smoky and served with coarse black salt on the rim.

It was packed when we went, so I was glad we had made reservations.

Saturday dinner: Brambly Park

Outdoors, but cozy. Elevated, but not pretentious. That’s how I’d describe Brambly Park, where we met up with some friends for drinks and dinner. I had a spicy and filling chicken parmesan, one of our friends had an Italian sandwich and everyone else ordered personal pizzas.

The real standout was the antipasti board. At just $26 (way cheaper than what I’d expect in Baltimore), it came loaded up with cheeses, meats, crackers and other accoutrements. Though the board wasn’t topped with anything unexpected, the amount of food for under $30 made it the meal’s star. The specialty wine and beer were great, too.

Sunday breakfast: Stir Crazy Café

We chose Stir Crazy because it was between our hotel and the botanical garden, and I was so glad we did. I got another solid iced coffee, and my wife sipped on an iced green tea. We were both really happy with our food, too: She had an egg and cheese on an everything bagel, and I had a breakfast burrito the size of my skull.

Best of all? We spent less than $20 (before tip) and weren’t hungry until after lunchtime — which meant we didn’t need to stop on the way back home to Baltimore after a quick, fun trip.