Charlottesville VA
 

Hi
Our trip to Charlottesville and DC is coming along. We leave in a bit less than two weeks. Here is my plan. (original planning thread: https://www.fodors.com/community/uni...tober-1655263/)

*Friday, drive Pittsburgh to Charlottesville, stay at Comfort Inn Monticello.
We'll probably plan nothing more than dinner that night. Perhaps the central dining area, mall area? Any suggestions?

* Saturday
Barring rain, we would like to go to City Market in the morning, then tour the University of Virginia. Perhaps add on The Corner.
Need a dinner rec

* Sunday
Monticello and need a dinner rec

We plan to leave early on Monday morning and drive Skyline Drive toward DC.

Of course we need dinner recommendations. Nothing too fancy (I hope not to dress up and hopefully not too twee.).
I would also like to know if this schedule is too light, or if I'm missing something.
Do we need advance tickets or reservations for anything?
Is there a visitor center at UofVA?
Where does one enter Shenandoah Park for Skyline Dr from the south?
Best route into DC? Staying at L St between 9 and 10 NW.

I'm not moving very quickly these days but if I perk up, I could visit some other sites. No wineries or brew pubs please.

Skyline drive will take up most of the day, I think the drive alone is at least 3 hrs. There are only a couple places you cn enter it anyway, so not a lot of choice, I think they have maps on their website. The southern point near Charlottesville is the Rockfish Gap entrance at Rt 64 and Rt 250 (you take Rt 64 west from Charlottesville). Then you'd get out at the northern entrance at Front Royal. You just go north a bit on Rt 522 from there to hit I66 which takes you into DC. Luckily, that direction isn't too bad during evening rush hour and you don't need a special permit (I66 is restricted going west during evening rush hour closer in to DC). There are other ways you could get to DC, but that's the easiest. I've never done the other way which is get out at the Thornton Gap entrance earlier and then go east on 211 then 15 and then I guess you still hit I66.

Traffic in DC will be bad during rush hour no matter where you are, but the downtown area is quite a slog. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time in the car. Lots. Basically, you'll take I66 into the city and go across Roosevelt Bridge, then go east on Constitution Ave, then go north on 6th or 7th St NW. then west on L St to your hotel. I'm not sure which is better, 6 or 7, both will be crammed. I think you can turn left onto either but not positive, I know you can onto 6th. OR just turn left onto 14th St NW earlier from Constitution and take it up to L St, but there is a jog in L St around a park that may be tricky at 11th St. Be prepared that this trip from the end of Skyline Drive to that hotel in the densest part of the city during rush hour is NOT going to be pretty. Just from the Roosevelt Bridge to that hotel could be an hour, unless you are lucky. Maybe a little less.

There are tons of restaurants just south of that hotel, so it really depends what you want in terms of cuisine and prices. No place is too dressy nowadays, at least hardly any. Matchbox is good for pizza or casual fare and isn't far.
chinatown ? matchbox

Christina, thank you for the excellent directions. My plan is to leave Charlottesville very early in the morning and get to the DC area before heavy traffic, but now I'm reconsidering the plans.

We could drive to Charlottesville on Friday, stay Friday and Saturday nights, and drive Skyline Drive to DC on Sunday. I would have to move hotel nights but perhaps we would rather have all day on Sunday to see some of the National Park and drive into DC on Sunday rather than Monday.

If you're following, I would love your opinion.

Years ago I visited Montpelier, the Madison home a little north of Charlottesville (highly recommended but I don't think you would have time for it) then went on to the Shenandoah Park Swift Run Gap entrance off highway 33 which is quite a bit farther north than the Rockfish Gap entrance. I stayed at the Big Meadows Lodge, an historic rustic lodge which has some spectacular views looking out over the valley and a good short hike from the parking area. It would be a place to consider having a meal.

I took a tour of Herbert and Lou Hoover's camp, Raridan, from the nearby Byrd visitor center via a shuttle bus and found it very interesting. You can also hike in, and the ranger said it was his favorite hike in the area. Either option takes several hours so might not work for you.
https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/histo...apidancamp.htm

I work in Cville, tuscan--what are you looking for on your restaurant recs (type of food, atmosphere, and budget can help me give you some direction)? But really, just walking along the downtown mall will offer you tons of choice. You can look at menus and take your pick. I like Citizen Burger Bar and Himalayan Fusion, and Fleurie is a good French restaurant (they have a wonderful and reasonably priced pre-theater tasting menu that you needn't be going to the theater to enjoy). Hamilton's is on the mall and is chi-chi. Just off the mall is Monsoon Thai, which is one of my favorites. If you want to eat breakfast out The Nook is fabulous (and filling!).

In other geographical areas: Beer Run (not just a beer place, great local food) and Mas (tapas) are excellent. Continental Divide is a local favorite (I have never been there, though). And Lampo is a well regarded place as well (again, I haven't been but heard it's great). The IX Park (pronounced "icks" not "nine") has some food options as well--people love Brazos tacos and there's a cupcake shop in there as well. They may also have some events going on like music or art.

Marie Bette bakery has tasty baked goods (pretzel croissants are outrageously delicious). On the mall is a place called The Pie Chest and though I am not overly fond of their pies, I am in the minority on that as everyone else seems to love it (I do think they make the best hot chocolate I have ever had). There's another pie place not too far from the mall called Quality Pie that I have not yet tried but looks like a cool place to stop. Splendoras on the mall has amazing gelato and Chap's is the go-to for a more old-fashioned scoop.

Your overall itinerary looks fine. I wouldn't add to it. You can leave out The Corner unless you particularly want to see the hub of UVA student life. It's just shops and restaurants geared toward students and it's very crowded and difficult to drive and park around there. I think you'll get your enjoyment taking it a little slow and people watching and browsing on the mall.

You don't need a reservation for a historical tour of UVA. But this weekend is going to be a Home football game so no tours on Saturday. This will also create a LOT of traffic so be prepared.

Christina advised you on the Skyline Drive location--take Exit 99 (one of the Waynesboro exits) off of 64W, Turn right, then right again by the creepy abandoned buildings and popcorn cart to see where the Skyline Drive goes North and the Blue Ridge Parkway goes South.

Oops, sorry, I see you are coming the weekend of the 20th, not the 13th so no home game to contend with. Phew.

Ah, thanks so much everyone. It appears that eating in Charlottesville is easy and choices are abundant. If I must name a price, no more than $50 pp without drinks. I prefer to wear my tourist/walking clothes, and DH doesn't travel with a sports jacket, but he could, since we will be in the car.

I am SO GLAD that I rearranged the schedule for more time in Shenandoah NP, even though we won't be hiking. A little strolling is more my speed. Big Meadows Lodge is in my plan for a stop.

You'll have a great time. And you won't hit your price limit at any of the restaurants on the mall I mentioned except Hamilton's and Fleurie. Most places are casual and everyone will be out in casual clothes. Have you previously been to Cville? If the weather is nice most of the restaurants on the mall have outdoor seating and people will be walking along with their dogs and their kids and such. Friendly atmosphere all around.

schlegal, (I may have told you before that the Schlegals in Howard's End are my favorite fictional family), no we haven't been to Cville. This part of the trip grew out of some tickets I bought for a ballet in DC, and my desire to see Shenandoah NP (or any NP for that matter; anxious to use our Senior Pass). I've heard nice things about Monticello and read a few trip reports here about visits to the area. Thanks for the tips. I'm quite happy to be going there.