Welcome to Discover the James

For over 24 years, Discover the James remains a source for the best wildlife adventures in Richmond, Virginia. "To educate and inspire" while viewing wildlife and history on the river has always been the main goal. The James, in many ways, is as it has been for 15,000 years, but to find it you have to look and listen to the elements around you.

DiscovertheJames.com shares our river adventures through text, images and stories. Discover the majesty of the James!  

For more information or to book an excursion:

Contact Capt Mike at 804-938-2350 or Mike@DiscoverTheJames.com

Top Photo: This collage, combining wildlife and history, is a mixture of an eagle photo and a very old map. The map, created in 1612, by Capt. John Smith, offered such detail and accuracy for they time, it was used by captains sailing to the area for 150 years.  The photo, entitled, "Varina and the Evening Moon", was taken by Richmond photographer, Lynda Richardson. Varina, a resident bald eagle, is still on the James River. I started to follow her in 2009, and as of today, late 2024, Varina still flies and protects her territory. Her nickname is "The Old Girl", as she is oldest eagle of Jefferson's Reach. At the moment of the photo, she was perched on top of a favorite tree as the evening moon was lowering in the southwestern sky, offering up the perfect background. The artwork and accuracy of the map from 1612 is remarkable given the tools Captain Smith had to work with over 400 years ago. --Photo by Lynda Richardson, Collage by Discover the James