10 Reasons to Visit Charlottesville, Virginia

Images of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe on the downtown mall.

Upon reflection, there really are more than ten reasons to visit Charlottesville, but it seemed like a nice round number. Historically, C’ville (as it’s known locally) was home to three presidents as well as Lewis and Clark of the famed expedition. Today the city boasts America’s top public university in addition to a host of cultural and culinary attractions. Sitting in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there is much more just minutes from downtown.

So let’s run down my top-ten list and maybe I’ll come up with a few bonus suggestions as additional incentive to work C’ville into your travel itinerary.

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 with both James Madison and James Monroe sitting on the original board of visitors. This historic institution consisted originally of the rotunda and pavilions, which housed students, faculty, lecture halls and formal gardens. Edgar Allen Poe was one of the school’s famous alumni and his room is permanently on display for visitors.

Today the university comprises a sprawling campus (referred to as “the grounds”) with eight undergraduate and three professional schools. It has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Historic Downtown

One of Charlottesville’s central features is the downtown mall, which is the longest pedestrian mall in the United States. It is a lovely district filled with dining, shopping and entertainment options. Anchoring one end of the mall is a pavilion that hosts free concerts on Friday evenings.

A short walk from the mall take you to the historic Court Square and some the city’s charming old brick neighborhoods.

Food and Shopping Districts

Oh the food! I was once told that only New York City has more restaurants per capita. This may be urban myth, but you will be amazed by the number and quality of C’ville’s eateries.

The downtown mall is only one section of the city that contains a cluster of shops and dining options. Just across the tracks from downtown, the historic Belmont Neighborhood with a concentration of dining near the intersection of Hinton Avenue Monticello Road.

Two more areas worthy of mention are the newly developed shops along Main Street between downtown and the university. Continue down Main and it turns into University Boulevard where you will find the Corner District just across from University of Virginia.

City Market

The place to be on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm, is the seasonal City Market offers more than produce. Among it’s other offerings are artisan stands and numerous food stalls offering an array of local and ethnic options. When the produce season ends in October, the space transforms into a holiday market that is equally fun and a great way to do some of your seasonal gift shopping.

IX Art Park

The IX Art Park (not the Roman Numeral, it is pronounced “icks”) is adjacent to downtown. It is a space filled with colorful murals, sculptures and an indoor immersive art museum all created by local artists.

Wineries

There are more than 50 wineries within 20 minutes of downtown. These are serious producers of wines that range from crowd-pleasing to cellar-worthy. A few wineries of note are Barboursville, Veritas, King Family, Afton Mountain and Stinson, but you really can’t go wrong.

Monticello

Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello offers an opportunity to learn more about America’s third president and author of the constitution. Moreover, this UNESCO World Heritage Site also provides a view of plantation life and the institution of slavery. One can easily spend an entire day exploring everything this site has to offer.

Ash Lawn Highlands

Just beyond Monticello, you will find the home to James Madison—founding father and fifth president of the United States. Tours of Madison’s home tell a story of the statesmen who passed through, craftsmen who left their mark and enslaved laborers who worked in the home and the fields.

Montpelier

James Madison’s home—Montpelier—provides one more opportunity to learn about America’s founding fathers. Exploring the grounds and a tour of the home can take at least half a day. The property is also home to an annual steeplechase event.

National Parks

Looking south along the Blue Ridge Mountains from a vantage point in Shenandoah National Park.

When you look west from any high point in Charlottesville and see the Blue Ridge Mountains, you are also looking at Shenandoah National Park. Just minutes from town, you will reach the park’s southernmost entrance. Driving north will take you along Skyline Drive and along the 100 mile drive that follows the ridge line through the park.

Driving south, the road leads through the northern section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that begins at the Shenandoah National Park and terminates at the Smokey Mountains National Park.

Other Suggestions

If you run out of things to look at here are a few more things to consider:

Art spaces abound. The first Friday of every month the galleries conduct an open house with light refreshments.

Craft beverages. There are numerous cideries, breweries and distilleries with their own exclusive trails.

Paddling. The Rivanna River borders C’ville and offers opportunities to escape the summer heat to paddle or tube a section of this scenic river.

And the list goes on. For more information or to plan your visit check out the Visit Charlottesville site.