Charlottesville, VA visitor tips (1 Viewer)

[Tom Servo]

I'm taking Mrs. Servo and my 12 and 13 year old boys to Charlottesville in late August. Obviously, we're going to see Monticello, but are there any interesting/cool sites? Anything for my boys is a bonus. TIA

EDIT: Already have my accommodations locked in.

 

[matttyl]

Lots of good wineries around there, if that's your thing. I can recommend a few if you'd like.

If you're going to Monticello, check out Ash Lawn (James Monroe's place) - it's right next door.

Check out UVA if you'd like - any interest in that from your boys? Lots of great places to eat, what your liking?

 

[Don Quixote]

In addition to Ash Lawn, Madison's home of Montpelier is not far away.

I'm not sure how much time you have, but also lots of Civil War sites about an hour drive away in any direction: Appomattox, Lexington, Fredericksburg/Wilderness/Chancellorsville, Richmond.

 

[dgreen]

Downtown has a pedestrian mall which the wife will probably like.

Crozet's Pizza is one of the few restaurants I've been to in Charlottesville. IIRC, though, no a/c (they do have ceiling fans) so it can get a bit uncomfortable. Or maybe the one time I went in Summer was just a bad day for their a/c.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Crozet pizza is in Crozet. Which is about 15-20 miles from C'Ville.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I loved living in C'Ville, but I have no idea what I'd tell tourists to do while there. The stuff I liked to do (go out and play disc golf or chill at Shenandoah Joe's) are things that made living there nice. I didn't really care about Monticello. Lots of places to hike or fish or whatever if that's your thing.

 

[zamboni]

I go there quite a bit on business, and have taken my family (boys aged 15 and 12) with me on occasion.

Most of the tourist stuff has been mentioned - UVA, Monticello, Ash Lawn, wineries.

There's not a ton to do outside of that, but even taking a drive in the surrounding countryside is nice. And a lot of really good restaurants.

A cool town about an hour west is Staunton. Or if the boys are into Civil War stuff, just a few weeks ago we went to Harboursville (an hour towards DC), which has a cool Civil War hospital museum.

That's all I got for now - will post if I think of more.

 

[matttyl]

I assume you'll be driving there - if so from what direction?

 

[Fat Nick]

After spending 4 years in undergrad down there, I really can't think of too many reasons I'd go back aside from Monticello and just the UVA campus. The campus is beautiful, and really nice to walk around on. Be sure to check out the lawn and range rooms. The one range room was Edgar Allen Poe's room, and it's plexi-glassed off and decorated in period decor. A buddy of mine lived in the room right next door. Check out the gardens off the lawn too. Pretty cool. It's been ~5 years since I've been back down there, so I'd be hesitant to recommend any restaurants because I bet some have changed.

 

[The_Man]

We're going down next weekend so my kid can look at UVA. I was kind of surprised to learn that Monticello is $25 per person - not sure if that's really the best entertainment value I can get for $100. But it doesn't look like there's a ton of other stuff to do.

 

[FUBAR]

I loved living in C'Ville, but I have no idea what I'd tell tourists to do while there. The stuff I liked to do (go out and play disc golf or chill at Shenandoah Joe's) are things that made living there nice. I didn't really care about Monticello. Lots of places to hike or fish or whatever if that's your thing.

yep. it's not a top tourist destination but it is a cool place to live. Be sure to check out the Phi Kappa Psi house and warn your boys to stay away from crazy college chicks.

 

[Fat Nick]

We're going down next weekend so my kid can look at UVA. I was kind of surprised to learn that Monticello is $25 per person - not sure if that's really the best entertainment value I can get for $100. But it doesn't look like there's a ton of other stuff to do.

Be sure your kid gets an understanding of the culture down there. The general culture of UVA is significantly different than many public universities. I loved my time there for the education, but I didn't click socially. My 2 years at Penn State for my MBA were much more fun in that aspect. Not trying to deter anyone, it's just not something that's on the "campus tour."

 

[Tom Servo]

I assume you'll be driving there - if so from what direction?

NW PA - across 80, down 322 through State College to 99 to the turnpike.

I used to live in Martinsburg and Ranson, WV and Leesburg, VA but never got that far west in VA.

 

[dgreen]

Make sure you buy some khakis, a white dress shirt, an orange tie, and a blue blazer.

Did I get that right?

 

[Tom Servo]

Lots of good wineries around there, if that's your thing. I can recommend a few if you'd like.

If you're going to Monticello, check out Ash Lawn (James Monroe's place) - it's right next door.

Check out UVA if you'd like - any interest in that from your boys? Lots of great places to eat, what your liking?

Boys are a little young for college, but if there were kid-friendly, hands-on stuff that will help keep their interest.

Food-wise, I'm down for anything and my oldest is a tad adventuresome...but then again he says his favorite restaurant is Olive Garden.

 

[The_Man]

We're going down next weekend so my kid can look at UVA. I was kind of surprised to learn that Monticello is $25 per person - not sure if that's really the best entertainment value I can get for $100. But it doesn't look like there's a ton of other stuff to do.

Be sure your kid gets an understanding of the culture down there. The general culture of UVA is significantly different than many public universities. I loved my time there for the education, but I didn't click socially. My 2 years at Penn State for my MBA were much more fun in that aspect. Not trying to deter anyone, it's just not something that's on the "campus tour."

I appreciate that. He already thinks it's probably "too fratty" but my best friend lives in C'Ville and the whole family has Good Friday off, so it's a chance to take a quick road trip.

My wife (then my girlfriend) and I went to a a UVA football game with my best friend the fall after she and I graduated from college - he was on the 5+ year plan and was still a senior. Almost 25 years later, she still can't believe she ever had to put on a dress to go to a football game.

 

[Fat Nick]

I assume you'll be driving there - if so from what direction?

NW PA - across 80, down 322 through State College to 99 to the turnpike.

I used to live in Martinsburg and Ranson, WV and Leesburg, VA but never got that far west in VA.

Dude...I lived in Berryville most of my life until I moved out here to NJ.

Just hang out in State College. It's better than C-ville IMO.

 

[Fat Nick]

We're going down next weekend so my kid can look at UVA. I was kind of surprised to learn that Monticello is $25 per person - not sure if that's really the best entertainment value I can get for $100. But it doesn't look like there's a ton of other stuff to do.

Be sure your kid gets an understanding of the culture down there. The general culture of UVA is significantly different than many public universities. I loved my time there for the education, but I didn't click socially. My 2 years at Penn State for my MBA were much more fun in that aspect. Not trying to deter anyone, it's just not something that's on the "campus tour."

I appreciate that. He already thinks it's probably "too fratty" but my best friend lives in C'Ville and the whole family has Good Friday off, so it's a chance to take a quick road trip.

My wife (then my girlfriend) and I went to a a UVA football game with my best friend the fall after she and I graduated from college - he was on the 5+ year plan and was still a senior. Almost 25 years later, she still can't believe she ever had to put on a dress to go to a football game.

The outfit dgreen described was the typical football attire for guys. I refused to wear it. I liked to just go sit on the (then) grass hill with the town folk, away from all the preppies.

 

[Flying V]

Hop over to Schuyler and visit the Waltons.

 

[Don Quixote]

Another thought is you could locate hiking options in the Shenandoah, if that would interest your kids. I've hiked Crabtree Falls (probably about an hour away). I'm sure there are other options, particularly off the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I don't know those offhand.

 

[avoiding injuries]

I used to go for business a lot. My gf was still in college at the time and she would come with me sometimes. There wasn't much for her to do besides hang out at the hotel pool while I was working. Is Arch's still around? We would go there.

 

[chauncey]

Not sure which direction you are coming from but a little over an hour drive from Charlottesville is a great little restaurant owned by a fellow FBG. It is an old fashioned diner with good dogs, great pulled pork, and green chile cheeseburgers.

 

[FUBAR]

Bodo's Bagels.

Get the bacon egg & cheese on an everything bagel. Sublime.

Yep

Breakfast - Bodo's

lunch - forget the name of the noodle and dumpling place downtown

dinner- Boylan heights (great burgers)

dessert - Arch's (wife loved the brownie batter ice cream)

 

[houston]

I hope by late August you don't mean move in weekend.

 

[Fat Nick]

Anybody who lives in C-ville or has been there lately know if Big Jim's BBQ is still open? It was behind the KFC off 29, North of the bypass interchange, next to a mini-mart. I think there was a Best Buy across the street.

We used to go there weekly...$4.50 got you the biggest hamburger you've ever seen, and a HEAPING plate of fries. Another $0.50 got you a drink. So for $6.00, you could get more food than you could eat, with a drink, AND a tip. Miss that place...

 

[zamboni]

lunch - forget the name of the noodle and dumpling place downtown

Think you're talking about Marco & Luca, right next to Christian's Pizza.

 

[matttyl]

Anybody who lives in C-ville or has been there lately know if Big Jim's BBQ is still open?

or Durty Nelly's Pub? It was either there or a place right next to it that had the best fried chicken.....

 

[Fat Nick]

Anybody who lives in C-ville or has been there lately know if Big Jim's BBQ is still open?

or Durty Nelly's Pub? It was either there or a place right next to it that had the best fried chicken.....

Loved Durty Nelly's...never had the fried chicken place though...

I lived over in the Hereford dorms and would order Chinese from Yuan Ho...$4.00 lunch special WITH delivery. How did any of these places stay in business? I bet it's 2x that now.

 

[tom22406]

No clue if you golf or not but Birdwood is a really nice course if you're into that.

As others have said besides Monticello,Ash Lawn and the wineries you really won't be missing much.If you have the time a visit to Shenandoah National Park is always good for some hiking and outdoor fun the kids may enjoy.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Big Jim's BBQ was still open, and still awful when I went to law school. The fried chicken place is Wayside. Still open.

 

[matttyl]

Big Jim's BBQ was still open, and still awful when I went to law school. The fried chicken place is Wayside. Still open.

Right by the railroad tracks on JPA? Man that place was (and hopefully still is) great! Thanks, and now I'm hungry and contemplating a 2 hour drive for lunch....

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I liked living in Cville, and think it's a nice day trip. Couple ideas...

A guided tour of the main grounds is worthwhile.

I took my wife to the pedestrian mall a few Christmases ago and we had a great time. There are some really excellent glass/craft shops that are worth the trip on their own -- very unique.

Eat lunch at the South Street Brewery (assuming it's still there).

You can do all that in 3-4 hours and the kids might even like some of it.

And no idea if it's feasible or you're interested, but if you're up for a (full) day hike you could climb Old Rag Mountain. By far my favorite hike in this region. It's straight up for 2-3 hours with some scrambling along the way (strenuous), but the views at the top and the scenery/features along the way are awesome. And you can come down the back side of the mountain, which is much easier. Your boys would love it.

 

[matttyl]

Have the renovations of the Jefferson library at UVA been completed? Last time I was there (and it's been a while) they were under some pretty serious renovations.

 

[FUBAR]

A guided tour of the main grounds is worthwhile.

or at least take the trolley.

 

[Tom Servo]

I hope by late August you don't mean move in weekend.

I checked to the extent that UVA was at UCLA the day before we're coming & home the day after we leave.