Things To Do
Downtown Mall
First things first: for guests who are not staying at the Omni on the Downtown Mall, you should absolutely stop through at some point and walk around (it's a street, not an actual indoor mall!). Our beautiful brick pedestrian-only street is nearly ten blocks long and filled with restaurants, bars, and shops of all kinds.
Bodo's Bagels
Still our favorite bagel place in the world (and Kate has lived in NYC!). You don't grow up in Charlottesville without growing up on Bodos. Kate's favorite order is the sausage egg and cheddar on an everything bagel with a large lemonade. Matt's favorite is a lox and cream cheese on sesame with a large lemonade. Don't fret if there is a line! It moves quickly and is very worth it.
Marco & Luca Dumplings
Marco and Luca is another Charlottesville staple that Kate and Matt grew up on and still make sure to visit every time they go back. The noodles and pork bun are both good, but there's no need to overthink it - just get the dumplings!
Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint
Kate and Matt both love a good burger and a good dive bar - fortunately, you can find both at Jack Brown's, a fantastic burger bar right off the Downtown Mall.
Humpback Rocks
If you have access to a car, this is a quick and very lovely 2-mile hike about a 35 minute drive from Charlottesville. The trailhead is also very close to one entrance of Skyline Drive, a gorgeous road that runs through Shenandoah National Park. Stop by Blue Mountain Brewery, one of our favorite spots, on the way back!
Monticello
The largest tourist attraction in Charlottesville - Thomas Jefferson's estate is very much worth a tour if you have the time. Stop by the adjacent Carter Mountain Orchard on the way for some of the best views around without any hiking necessary!
Moo Thru
Anyone who has had to drive north of town along Route 29 for soccer games (as Matt and Kate both did perhaps hundreds of times) is familiar with Moo Thru and its iconic cow statue. The Northern VA ice cream parlor recently opened up a branch in Charlottesville proper! Feel free to try it and compare to the Chaps, the original Charlottesville ice cream parlor.
Chaps Ice Cream - Downtown
Conveniently located right on the Downtown Mall, this is the OG ice cream parlor in Charlottesville - the diner-style, old-school ice cream joint hasn't changed a bit in 40 years. Kate's order was always the chocolate chip cookie dough and remains her favorite to this day while Matt usually opts for a chocolate shake.