Charlottesville, Virginia: Mountains, Wineries & Monticello

Charlottesville, Virginia is a treasure trove of weekend fun. There's it's beautiful setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, lots of farm-to-table restaurants, dozens of wineries, the University of Virginia, the downtown pedestrian mall and Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. We recently spent a long weekend there. Here's how we spent our time.

Downtown Pedestrian Mall
The Downtown Pedestrian Mall is one of the longest in the United States and also one of the most successful. There are several restaurants - Red Pump Kitchen, The Whiskey Jar, and The Nook, where we ate a delicious brunch on the patio - shops - make sure to check out the Bookstore and it's back patio garden - along with a concert pavilion at the end. These aren't your usual chain shops either - there's a candy store, two book shops, and a Ten Thousand Villages store. You can also visit the Memorial to Heather Heyer and the 19 other victims of the 2017 White Nationalist Rally.

Unfortunately, it was pouring rain when we were there so we cut our visit short. But I'm sure it would be a fine place to stroll on a sunny day and pop into a few shops ending with a drink or meal. (Unfortunately, the downside to the mall is parking can be a bit of a problem and there have been complaints of panhandlers)

Monticello
Monticello was the plantation home of our 3rd President - Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson inherited the land that Monticello is on from his father and spent years designing and building it. After a few years of building using enslaved labor, indentured servants and paid laborers, Jefferson's wife died and he began serving as Minister of the US to France. There he became influenced by French architecture, particularly their use of light, and made plans to redesign Monticello. It was completed in 1809 though Jefferson continued to change it up to his death in 1826.

Today you can visit Monticello and tour the grounds and house. Starting at the Visitor Center,where you purchase your timed entry ticket, you can watch a film about Jefferson, and view various interactive exhibits about the plantation. Here you pick up the shuttle bus that drives you to the top of the mountain to visit the house.(You may also choose to walk up or walk down) You take an interesting tour of the house giving you insight into not only the house but also the man who designed it that lasts for about 45 minutes (No photos are allowed of the interior) You can also take tours of the gardens or learn about slavery at the plantation.

 The topic of slavery is very much at the forefront of Monticello currently as the room of Sally Hemmings, a slave and mother of Jefferson's children, was recently uncovered and excavated. In the past, the topic of slavery might have been swept under the rug but I believe that the foundation at Monticello now knows they cannot ignore it.

  
Thomas Jefferson was such an interesting and complex man who accomplished many things in his lifetime. You can easily spend an entire day visiting Monticello and learning all about him and his life. We spent about 3 hours here - which is the minimum recommended - and I could have spent more. Don't miss it if you visit the Charlottesville area.

Wineries
There are more than 35 wineries within a 30 mile radius of Charlottesville. Surprised? I know many have that reaction as they don't know that Virginia is not only for lovers, but wine lovers also. And those 35 wineries are known as the Monticello Wine Trail - Thomas Jefferson was one of the first vine growers in Virginia. 
We hit up five wineries - most in the rain - and enjoyed the uniqueness, and wines, of each. I'll cover them individually in future, along with some of the places that we ate. For now, here's a few photos of some Monticello Wine Trail winery visits.

Cideries
Apples are king in the Blue Ridge Mountains around Charlottesville and there are several cideries you can visit to enjoy a pint of cider. We visited two - Albemarle Ciderworks and Bold Rock Ciders - for a refreshing flight.

Albemarle Ciderworks
Albemarle Ciderworks started by growing apples. They grow some 200 varieties of apples including heirloom and more recent types. You can visit their  tasting room and outdoor patio in North Garden, Virginia to enjoy a glass or flight of cider, listen to live music or try some of their food options. We tried a flight and listened to some jazz on a very rainy afternoon.

Bold Rock Hard Cider
Bold Rock is the nation's largest independently owned cider company. In 2010, a farmer in Virginia called a cider maker in New Zealand asking if they could make cider together. And Bold Rock was born. Crushed and crafted in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bold Rock has five locations in Virginia and North Carolina.

We visited their Carter Mountain location- it's official name is the Tap Room at Carter Mountain Orchard - and deemed it the best views of the trip. We tried a flight at the outdoor picnic tables taking in the scenic views and even sat through a few sprinkles, too. 

How about you? Have you been to Charlottesville?


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