Virginia is home to many great vacation destinations from Williamsburg to Washington, from Virginia Beach to Shenandoah National Park. One of her greatest gems is Charlottesville, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and beloved home of Thomas Jefferson. I’ve lived only three hours from Charlottesville for the past twelve years, but just made my first trip to this charming town. I definitely plan to return!
A one day drive from just about anywhere east of the Mississippi, Charlottesville should be included on everyone’s vacation bucket list. “Why?” you ask. Let me give you 3 reasons to visit Charlottesville.
The History!
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, that majestic home on the back of every nickel, is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking the city of Charlottesville. The home and museum are open to the public, preserving objects that reflect Jefferson’s passion for knowledge, exploration and discovery. At Monticello, you can learn what made this writer of the Declaration of Independence so influential to the development of the United States.
Nearby, explore the shops and buildings after enjoying lunch at Michie Tavern (circa 1784). The dining room, called the Ordinary, offers a menu inspired by 18th-century southern cuisine. The servers dress in period attire to add to the charm. After lunch, head to Ash Lawn-Highland, family home of President James Monroe, whose life was dedicated to serving this country.
What better place to discover early American history than Charlottesville?
The Arts!
Whether interested in theater, music, visual art, or written works, Charlottesville has a festival or event to meet it. The University of Virginia offers theater performances throughout the year and a major festival each July. Downtown Charlottesville is home to the Festival of the Photograph, the Festival of the Book and the Virginia Film Festival, to name a few. A number of galleries, museums and performing arts centers add to the arts scene.
For those who prefer to discover the arts by doing, studios throughout the city offer one-time classes or a series of classes. On my visit to Charlottesville, I tried my hand at throwing pottery at City Clay. My first attempt using the pottery wheel didn’t go too smoothly, but Randy (City Clay’s owner and teacher extraordinaire) patiently coached me through it. City Clay offers “date night” and “friend night” special events, one-time pottery classes to explore the art of clay. At one date night event, a couple got engaged right there in the studio!
Since “throwing pottery” probably isn’t my strong suit (though I hope to try it again), I also tried my hand at making a pendant at The Glass Palette. This studio, located in a renovated section of an old warehouse near the downtown mall, offers walk-in hours for spur of the moment creativity. The only thing I struggled with at The Glass Palette was deciding how I wanted my pendant to look. The glass is beautiful, Cara (the owner who helped me) is tremendously patient and encouraging, and the studio is just a fun place to be.
The Food!
Charlottesville, with a number of award winning wineries, cideries and a number of independent, quality restaurants makes it a great foodie destination. I only had two days to explore the food scene, and enjoyed every dish I tried. I’m not one to eat to the point of getting stuffed, but in Charlottesville, I found myself taking “just one more bite” more than a few times! It’s hard to go wrong when dining in Charlottesville, but this guide to the best restaurants in Charlottesville might help you decide.
And there you have it, 3 GREAT reasons to visit Charlottesville.
Have you been there yet? What do you love best about Charlottesville?
I am ALL ABOUT seeing historical places, and seeing Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello may be worth the trip to Charlottesville all on its own. What an exciting thing to be able to see. I also need to make it to Key West, Florida one day so I can finally, finally see Ernest Hemingway’s house!
Holly, start in Charlottesville and pick me up on the drive to Key West!!!! It might take a few days to get from one to the other, but I’m always up for a road trip! 😉
I’ve never been there, but I’d love to visit. Not sure I’ll make it out that far though (I live in VA Beach). Actually, I MIGHT have driven through there on the back of a motorcycle a few years ago =D
I live in Raleigh. It’s an easy drive from either of us! And in October/early-November, the mountains are so beautiful, especially in Charlottesville. The trees there turn a vibrant red. And then there’s the cupcakes…
I could’t think of THREE better reasons =) The Art is stunning
Thanks! It’s got something for everyone.
This looks like a great place to visit. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome. It’s one of my new favorites.
My idea of a perfect getaway! Gladly, Hubby too shares my interest for history thus will add this to our bucket list for vacay.
It really is a great place. There’s something for everyone… and I didn’t even talk about the wine trails, hiking trails or cideries!
You did such a great job with the clay pot. Wish I had the skills, hehehe. I have had my eyes on Charlottesville for a while now….and now I have added 3 more reasons to visit someday soon!
I had LOTS of help with that pot, though I did make the top curl out by myself. I’ll post the finished photo when they mail the pot to me. Can’t wait to see it!
I am a history fan. I can only imagine the rich history here! Would love to hop over the country and visit someday!
It’s harder to cross the country, that’s for sure. Make it part of a Virginia tour to see early American history and Civil War history all in one week! I’m thankful to live in such a history-rich area.
I love the history of any city like this! I like to travel with my children over the summer with education always in mind.
I knew about Monticello before my visit, but I didn’t realize how much early American history is in Charlottesville. The kids on our Monticello tour (elementary age) were thoroughly engaged by the docent’s presentation, but it wasn’t kiddish. I enjoyed it too. Living history!
Love your pot, well done! I would love to do pottery date night with Adam. Looks fun. And I LOVE history! I went to Williamsburg when I was 14. Loved it. I am sure I would enjoy Charlottesville too. 🙂
Pottery on a wheel is really hard to do, but it was so much fun! It would make a memorable date night…. shall I toss a hint his way? 😉