 |
|
 |
| The view of Charlottesville from Carter's Mountain. |
A few years ago, Charlottesville (known by the locals as C-ville) earned the title "The Best Place to Live in America," according to several ratings services.
That's no longer as true...because the word got out! Enough people moved to C-ville that housing prices took a jump up, thereby knocking this beautiful small city from its perch at the top of the list.
For those of us who are blessed to live here, however, it's still the best place to live in America! It's also home to the University of Virginia (UVA), founded by our second president, Thomas Jefferson.
C-ville has several excellent sights that are a great way to learn a little history the fun way. Here are our reviews and visitor tips of these attractions:
Thomas Jefferson's Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Ash Lawn-Highland, home of James Monroe
Carter's Mountain Orchard (best view in Cville)
Why We Love the Charlottesville Downtown Mall
Like most college towns, Charlottesville has its bohemian parts. The Downtown Mall is where you’ll see them. One of our favorite things to do is go for a walk on the mall, grab a bite at Christian’s Pizza, and sit on the stools at the front windows to people watch. (My favorite pizza at Christian's is the tomato, feta, and avocado pizza. Mmmmm...delicious!)
Depending on the time of day, you’re likely to see all sorts of interesting characters—black-robed Goths, bearded and bespectacled college professors, guitar-playing street performers, and upwardly mobile yuppies pushing expensive strollers and bearing Whole Foods bags. And lots of UVA students.
The brick-lined outdoor mall runs several blocks, bordered by the Omni Hotel on the west end and stretching to the Virginia Discovery Museum on the east. Along the mall are a variety of quaint restaurants, boutiques, book stores, art galleries, antique stores, soda fountains and gelato spots, and outdoor cafes.
Our favorite stores:
- Quilts Unlimited – not just quilts, but one-of-a-kind jewelry, art-to-wear, knick knacks, and a huge variety of Vera Bradley bags. Our favorite buy there? A key-ring with a little cow that moo’s when you push the button.
- The Needle Lady – everything you can think of for knitters.
- Studio Baboo – Even if you don’t make jewelry, you should stop in just to see the huge variety of distinctive and funky beads.
- Alakazam - A quaint and cosey toy store with really distinctive and hard to find toys.
Stuff to do:
- Visit the Virginia Discovery Museum
- Ride the little carousel outside the museum
- Make a fused glass frame, plate, or set of coasters at The Glass Palette
- Browse the art galleries and sample free goodies on First Fridays (first Friday of the month)
- Go ice-skating at the Charlottesville Ice Park
- Go for gelato at Splendora, ice cream at Chaps, or an old-fashioned soda float at Timberlake's
- Take a free ride on the trolley
If you want a complete look at downtown Cville and UVA, you can take the free trolley for the whole loop which rings the outside of the downtown mall, goes to UVA Medical Center, the UVA village shops, the Rotunda and the Lawn, loops down into the faculty “ghettos,” and then returns to where you started outside Christian’s Pizza.
This can take a good 45-minutes to an hour, by which time the thrill of riding the trolley has worn off and you’re just waiting to get off. So if you just want a little trolley “experience,” catch the trolley outside Christian’s pizza. Ride it about three stops and you’ll be at the east end of the mall.
Recommended Itineraries
What do you do if you only have one day in C-ville?
Here's what I'd suggest (but keep in mind, it will make for a really packed day!)
Morning: Tour Monticello's house and grounds
Mid-Day: Have lunch at Michie Tavern's "The Ordinary," then take the Michie Tavern tour and browse the Michie Tavern shops
Afternoon: Go to nearby Carter’s Mountain Orchard to pick peaches or apples, or just enjoy the view of C-ville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Take a late afternoon tour of Ash Lawn-Highland
Evening: Go into C-ville to tour the Downtown Mall. Dinner at Christian's Pizza, Hamilton on Main, or The Shebeen.
 |
| Monticello. |
As I said, this would make for a really packed day, so only do this if you just have one day in C-ville. If you have longer, spread it out and add a tour of the University of Virginia and more time seeing other C-ville attractions, including The Virginia Discovery Museum, the UVA Art Museum, and the McGuffey Art Center. Or head out in I-64 West toward Staunton to enjoy the views on Afton Mountain and begin a tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Return from Charlottesville to Virginia Beach Family Vacation Getaway
Go to Site Index
