Charlottesville has many things to do
Explore the World of Exploration Monticello Wine TrailSeveral wineries are located near Charlottesville. However, each has its own rules. Some allow only adults and others do not. Most close at 5pm, and some have special events scheduled. And do the tastings—especially try the region’s signature grapes Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, or Meritage. Dress code is still casual, with jeans and a tee-shirt. It’s a college town. Keep in mind the winery you’re visiting may not serve food—if they don’t, check the activities calendar for food truck visits or bring your own picnic, which is generally encouraged.
You can travel around WorldPride. King Family Vineyards Free Sunday polo matches resume on May 25 until October. King does not have a restaurant, but it does offer light snacks. Picnics and food trucks are scheduled throughout the week. No matter how much you know about football, matches are always fun to watch. Locals have their own opinions Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard has the best wine in all the land, and if you want to visit make your reservations well ahead to taste them—veranda tables provide mountain views and much of the seasonal food in the restaurant is grown on the estate.
Charlottesville is a college town with its own unique history. These lessons are revealed on rambling vacation walks, like those at Monticello. The rustic trails of Jefferson’s former plantation are less well-known. James Monroe’s Highland. Through the glass doors, you can see Edgar Allan Poe’s 1826 original restored room. University of Virginia‘s West Range of dorms—of course it’s room 13. Locals send more rugged hikers Humpback Rocks Trails, Blue Ridge Parkway: A 35-40 minute drive, an hour up and back and a panoramic view of the mountains. Shenandoah Valley and jagged rock formations are all visible. Make a day out of it by joining Old Rag CircuitAbout 75 minutes from town, you can hike nine miles or more in Shenandoah National Park. If you want to avoid the sweat and get straight to the scenery, drive along a stretch the Blue Ridge ParkwayThe scenic overlooks and waterfalls are all here, as is the 215 foot-high arch at milepost 61.4. The Natural BridgeThe 30-story formation is over 500 million-years-old.
Charlottesville restaurants: Where to eat?
Charlottesville’s food scene has been boosted by affordable campus town decadence and a surprising baking culture. Virginia fields also produce a lot of delicious foods. Farmland in the surrounding Albermarle County supports an independent dining scene that includes student favorites, international cuisine, farm-to table restaurants and European bakeries. Some of these restaurants can be found on the downtown pedestrian walkway, which is a collection of renovated buildings that has a distinct college-town mixture of smoke shops and traditional haunts. Clothing stores are also available, as well as Miller’s Bar where Dave Matthews first formed his band along with jazz musicians LeRoi Moorhead and Carter Beauford.
