We love living in Charlottesville! It is a quaint college town with great restaurants, arts/culture, and is the home of the University of Virginia - founded by Thomas Jefferson himself. Some things worth checking out in Charlottesville: - Downtown Mall - many years ago Charlottesville's main street was turned into a pedestrian-only walking street. It's home to tons of great restaurants and unique shops. - UVA Grounds - one of America's oldest universities, the campus (locally called "Grounds") is gorgeous and worth a visit. - Monticello - Thomas Jefferson's home and farm, located just outside town. Tours are interesting and worth it. - Carter Mountain Orchard - an apple and peach orchard on a mountain that overlooks the city of Charlottesville and the surrounding area. Tasty foods and amazing sunset views!
Central Virginia is like the Napa Valley of the East. There are at least 40 amazing wineries in the area around Charlottesville. Some wineries we like: - Gabriele Rausse - Veritas Vineyard & Winery - Afton Mountain Vineyards - King Family Vineyards - Barboursville Vineyards
Shenandoah National Park and the surrounding area is full of great hiking, and the October weather in Virginia is usually perfect. There are so many different hikes that offer amazing views. Here are a few causal hikes that are great way to spend an afternoon: - Humpback Rock - Dark Hollow Falls - Jones River Falls - Blackrock Summit
If wine is not your thing, the Charlottesville area is home to many amazing craft breweries, both in the city and in the surrounding area. Some of our favorites include: - Three Notch'd Brewery - Blue Mountain Brewery - Random Row Brewing Company - Champion Brewing - Pro Re Nata - Devil's Backbone
Charlottesville is full of great restaurants and dining options - in fact, it has the most restaurants per capita of any city of its size in the country! Here are a few of our favorites: - Bodo's Bagels ($) - a Charlottesville institution serving hot, fresh NY-style bagels at very good prices. 3 locations to choose from. - Ace Biscuit and Barbecue ($) - small spot with delicious biscuit sandwiches and excellent BBQ. - Maharaja ($$) - a locally owned Indian restaurant with a great lunch buffet - Ivy Provisions ($) - a contender for best sandwiches in town - Marie Bette ($$) - local bakery and cafe with excellent pastries and brunch dishes - Brasserie Saison ($$$) - French/Belgian, try the mussels - C&O ($$$) - New American fine dining with European influences; menu changes frequently with seasonal ingredients - The Bavarian Chef ($$) - closer to our venue, this is an old-school German restaurant serving up massive portions of hearty classic dishes family-style