Seeing & Doing:
- Monticello : Thomas Jefferson’s estate, now home to hundreds of varieties of historic fruits and vegetables)
- Michie Tavern: Originally built in 1784 on a well-traveled stagecoach route, this tavern was reconstructed in 1927 and moved to its present location a mile or so from Jefferson’s Monticello. Today it is a museum and a great place to enjoy a lunch of southern comfort food or a pint of local brew served by staff dressed in colonial garb. Learn more here.
- Also nearby Monticello and Michie Tavern is Carter Mountain has some of the best views in Charlottesville and the most amazing apple cider doughnuts you’ll ever have in your life. There are plenty of pick-your-own opportunities for apples, peaches and nectarines between August-Nov and they have a special Easter event.
- Visiting the University of Virginia‘s campus is a must. It’s historic, gorgeous, and makes for a lovely walk. Edgar Allan Poe’s old dorm is now a shrine to the author’s legacy. If you’re in the mood for an amazing salad, Roots on the UVA campus is excellent.
- Daedalus Bookshop: If three floors of out-of-print book sounds like heaven to you, then you must visit the Daedalus Bookshop, which The Washington Post describes as “A three-story temple of secondhand lit, a bibliophile’s church tucked away on a curling side street.” Don’t miss this chance to find a great old copy of your favorite book or discover a new one
- Check Helen Storey Antiques and Comer & Co if you’re in the mood to browse stunningly curated selections of fine antiques.
- The historic Downtown Mall has some of the best shopping in town and there are also some amazing restaurants there, so it’s a great place to visit any time of day/year.
- Ivy Nursery is a plant nursery and a gorgeous gift shop in Ivy, VA. The views on the way there are part of the experience.
- James Monroe’s Highland Tour
- Montpelier.
Charlottesville has some of the best vineyards and wine around…
- Veritas Vineyard & Winery: You can horseback ride through their vineyards with Indian Summer Guide Service, and, of course, they also make great wine.
- Stinson Vineyards: Gorgeous views and interesting, boutique wines that are still accessible to the casual wine drinker.
- Flying Fox Vineyard & Winery: Really interesting and dynamic wines. Their tasting room feels like Garden & Gun meets Brooklyn art gallery.
- King Family Vineyards: Good wines, good views, polo on Sundays.
- Bonus: explore the Barboursville Ruins – the former mansion of James Barbour, a wealthy American lawyer, statesman and former governor of Virginia, which was designed by Thomas Jefferson. The home was destroyed by fire on Christmas day in 1884 but the ruins are on the grounds of Barboursville Winery, one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Virginia. Take a self-guided tour of the ruins before heading over to the winery’s tasting room and restaurant.
The Appalachian Trail: head west to Afton Mountain, north to Shenandoah National Park, or south to George Washington National Forest. The hikes range from the popular (Humpback Rock) to the relatively unknown sections of the Appalachian Trail. The level of difficulty ranges from a stroll with views (Dripping Rock to Overlook) to The Priest or Three Ridges Wilderness loop, which have 3,117 and 4,290 feet of elevation gain, respectively. The easier walks with overlooks are between Reed’s Gap and Afton Mountain.The best places to go for a scenic drive are out through Keswick to Gordonsville, Ivy to Staunton and the Valley, and The Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway is the best place to drive around, see the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, and visit some of their pull-offs where you can take beautiful scenic photos.
Eating & Drinking
Breakfast …
- Marie Bette: A delicious bakery and restaurant in the heart of Cville, they make every single baguette, pastry, dessert, and bread from scratch on-site. Best French pastries I’ve had outside of France!
- Hot Cakes: Yummy spot for quiche, egg sandwiches, coffee, pumpkin muffins, and any delicious side you can think of.
- The Bluegrass Grill: One of the best brunch spots in town & best biscuits money can buy. Always busy thought and they accept cash only.
- Bodo’s Bagels
Lunch:
- Feast: a luxe grocery store and shop and also makes some of the best ready-made foods in town. Salads, sandwiches, artisan wraps, and soups. You can also pick up local cheeses and charcuterie items while you’re there to snack on later.
- Ivy Provisions: A yummy sandwich shop in lovely Ivy that is both a student and townie favorite.
- Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie has some of the best pizza you can eat (a fifteen-minute drive out of town)
- A great place for vegetarian/pescatarian folks is The Local – everything is made with ingredients from nearby farms.
- Bellair Market: All of the sandwiches are named after places nearby and they have a great array of yummy options for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike.
- Marigold for something a little more chic, great outdoor dining too.
- Public Fish & Oyster
Dinner:
- Ivy Inn: One of the best sit-down, fine dining places in town for any of these events, they also have some of the best food.
- Broadcloth: go for the tasting menu – it’s local, seasonal thoughtful
- The Alley Light: Talk about a gorgeous hole in the wall (literally, there is no sign and you walk through an alley into an unmarked, pretty door–off to a fun start!). They make some of the best cocktails in town, as well as some delicious small bites that are fun to share. This is a low-lit, lounge-like atmosphere that may not be the best for older folks, but it’s a fun place to catch up with friends!
- Oakhart: