Short Get-Away to Charlottesville, VA
 

I have always have wanted to visit Monticello - and now I'm going!

Taking Amtrak to C-ville - mainly to view some of the state of West Virginia along the way - towards the end of this month for a short mid-week get-away. Basically, I have 1 later afternoon-into-evening, 2 full days and 1 full morning (Amtrak - if on-time - doesn't depart until 2 p.m.).

With respect to dining for lunch and/or dinner, a couple of restaurants have caught my eye: The Shebeen and Maya. Has anyone recently dined at either? If so, your thoughts? Any other suggestions for places nearer the UVa?

I don't need to worry about breakfast/brunch, as I'm staying at a B&B.

Has anyone hiked the Thomas Jefferson Parkway up to Monticello? 2 miles in length, it appears.

Also, I was looking into talking a tour of the UVa - the Rotunda, grounds and/or gardens. It appears that the tours for the Rotunda are free and you just need to be there at one of the scheduled start times. But I cannot find the specific information about the others - are they self-guided?

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

Based on the information in the following link, it doesn't appear that any tours will be given this summer, but maybe you can arrange one by calling the number given: http://www.student.virginia.edu/~ugu...me/welcome.php

Did you see this link--http://www.virginia.edu/uvatours/gardens/gardensExplore.html It's a map and description of the on-campus gardens so you could do a self-guided tour of them.

I was looking at this page of the UVa's website about the Rotunda tour: www.virginia.edu/uvatours/rotunda/

It appeared to me from it that they are giving tours in June for the Rotunda. I'll have to give them a call to clarify this.

Re: the gardens. Yes, thank you. I did see that - but didn't know if it was just for self-exploration or if you had to be escorted by a guide. I couldn't tell from the website.

The Shebeen and Maya are both great. You'll enjoy either or both--they are popular local places. You can also walk around the downtown pedestrian mall and check out other restaurants and shops.

Enjoy C-ville!

Monticello is a fantastic place to visit. Ten miles down the road is James Monroe's more humble abode. Skyline Drive is a wonderful drive as well.

We were sent to a very good classic steak house .. can't remember the name. We enjoye dour meal.

Thanks for all the information, folks. Greatly appreciated.

The first day (late afternoon into evening) I was going to wander down to the Downtown Pedestrian Mall. I'm traveling coach on Amtrak (as it's only overnight travel) so I'm probably gonna call it a day kinda early. Does anyone know of a nice, independent bookstore in that area? I usually pick up a special book for my personal library as a reminder of my travels.

The next (full) day is pretty much devoted to Monticello. I'm hoping that this rainy spell will be out of the way when I go so all I have are blue skies.

I had considered going to Michie Tavern as well, but...not sure at this point.

The other full day, I'm kinda playing it by ear. I'd rather do the UVa tour(s) in the morning and then leave the rest of the day available for whatever I feel.

Again, thanks for all of the help.

Here's some information for others: I called UVa. The Rotunda tour only is still being given during the summer months 7 days a week at the times shown on the UVa website. They do have maps available for the others.

Thanks for this - we're going to be there in early July.

I like Michie Tavern. It is NOT fancy food, just fried chicken, rolls and sides served on tin/pewter plates. It costs more than I would pay in a restaurant (last time I think I paid $12 or so) but it is all you can eat and the atmosphere goes right along with the Monticello visit. Maybe not something for every trip but fun once in a while.

I would also do the Monroe house (Ashlawn-Highland) as that is nice also.
http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/

If you are there on Friday they have free concerts called Friday at Five in the amphitheater near the mall. Good music, it's a fairly large social event for the "townies". You might even check if they have any major acts there while you are visting.

Any other great restaurant suggestions (I don't eat fried chicken!)?

Daedalus Bookshop, on 4th Street, is a remarkable secondhand book shop that's been in C'ville forever. It's three wonderful levels of books stacked floor to ceiling. You can spend hours there. New Dominion (I think that's right) is on the pedestrian mall and is also a very good independent (new books).

Do not go to Michie Tavern to eat. It's an abomination.

obxgirl, any <i>good</i> restaurants to recommend - we'll probably be there 2 or 3 days.

Thanks, obxgirl, for that info on the bookstores. Also, that's the general impression I got from reading about Michie Tavern and why I hesitated to include it in the itinerary. I was only considering going for the historical tour - not the cuisine.

I've had a grueling past couple of weeks at work/home - and looking forward to more of the same once I return - and that's why I'm hesitant to "fill up" that itinerary. The last thing I need is to run myself more ragged when on vacation. I'd rather just take it low-key this time around.

Besides, when I visit these destinations that center around historical sites, I truly feel that you really need to take your time to appreciate them and soak in the atmosphere.

I have a list of "Must Do's" and a list of "Might Do's". Monticello is, of course, on the first, as it is the whole purpose of the journey. Touring UVa, as well.

I might be visiting the Paramount Theatre. The day I get into C-ville there is what sounds to be a very interesting photographic exhibit and the Tuesday is the free Charlottesville Municipal Band concert. Unfortunately, there's nothing scheduled for the Jefferson Theatre during my time frame.

Actually, I'm coming at the time of the Summer Solstice Festival. Sheryl Crow is playing at the Pavilion and the free Ice Cream Social Party sounds pretty tasty to me. It's actually the day I go to Monticello, though, so I'll see how it all falls into place when I return.

Bluegrass Grill & Bakery might an option on my last day in C-ville. ZoCaLo appears to be an almost definite option - no one ever accused me of not loving a good mojito!

Zocalo sounds great - I'm making a reservation!!

Oops! Forgot to mention Zinc as well as an option.

sf, are you going to the opera when you are there?

Don Giovanni is playing when we're there. We're not "natural" opera fans (would have loved to have been there when Harry Connick is there, but no dice)...but I think we might attend anyway -- it's just the kind of thing we do when we're on vacation!

Exiled, are you taking the "Behind the Scenes" tour? I just reserved that for the morning of July 5th.

sf7307, I wasn't ignoring your question but hoping that some of the board's experts would comment.

The friends I visit in Cville are tremendous cooks so we almost never eat out. I was at the C&O for dinner last winter for perhaps the 3rd time in five years. I really like that place. Other than that, for me, it's been the occasional lunch. Christians Pizza and Hamilton's (both on the mall) are good.

C'vile has a really sweet farmers (and crafts) market on on the downtown mall Saturday mornings spring through fall.

<<<The friends I visit in Cville are tremendous cooks so we almost never eat out>>>

Darn those friends :-)

No, I'm only taking the House Tour.

Not that I'm adverse to walking up a narrow winding staircase. (I walked up those in the tower at Notre Dame in Paris - just like Quasimodo! - well, maybe with slightly less of a limp.) But I really couldn't make the earliest "Behinds the Scene" tour and I wanted to spend the entire afternoon for the gardens and plantation tours, so the second was out as well.

I hope the weather cools a bit for you. I just looked at weather.com and it's predicting 90 degree plus heat for me the first couple of days, at least.

I wish I could remember the name of the steakhouse. I think it might have been Aberdeen Barn.

>>it's predicting 90 degree plus heat for me the first couple of days, at least.<<

That thought occurred to me when you mentioned the possibility of walking to Monticello. The road there isn't made to accommodate walkers (or wasn't my last visit) but it is walkable. Up hill going there, obviously.

I loved the gardens and the garden tour.

One of my favorite Monitcello books I purchased there the first time I visited: Visitors to Monitcello. (http://www.amazon.com/Visitors-Monti.../dp/0813912326)

It's edited by Merrill Peterson, a penultimate Jefferson scholar and long time history professor at UVa. I'm kind of a Jefferson geek.

Hope you have a great trip and I'll be looking for your trip report!

obxgirl, this is to what I was referring:

www.monticello.org/parkway/trail.html

I figure that whatever goes up must come down. If it's too hot when I'm there, I can always descend instead of ascend.

exiledp, I have been to M. since that path was built and did not know it was there. Thanks for something new. I'll bet it's an especially beautiful walk in the fall. Again, hope you have a wonderful trip!

We just returned from a weekend in Charlottesville. We went for the Harry Connick Jr. show and, yes, it was very good. We roasted in the heat but it was worth it to see him.

It was the first time I had seen a show at the Pavillion and I'll definitely look for other concerts to attend. It's just so nice to wander through the downtown mall after the show. We stopped at Enoteca for glasses of wine. If you are at all interested in wine, this is a must do. They also offer small plates which look fabulous.

I can also recommend Duner's which is just past the Boar's Head Inn on Rt. 250. It's a funky little place. Very casual but with an interesting menu and very good food.
http://www.dunersrestaurant.com/

DH and I stayed at the Boar's Head which was fine but I think I'll go back to Keswick before I stay there again. If you play tennis, though, Boar's Head is the place. Their tennis facility is amazing.

The menu at Duner's looks great!

Let us know where you end up, sf7307. We'd love to read a trip report. I hope both you and exiled princess have great trips.

Oh, I forgot to mention one of the highlights of my trip. DH was playing golf and most of my favorite shops were closed so I ended up at the UVA art museum (not the aboriginal one). I enjoyed it very much. I love small art museums anyway and this one did not disappoint. It was a peaceful, cool (temp-wise) way to spend some time on a Sunday afternoon.

Story about Jefferson's garden
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/ga...general&src=me

Birdie - I'm wondering if you (or anyone else who went!) happened to get a photo of the Harry Connick Jr. concert. I was one of the string players, and sadly didn't get a single photo that night. :( I would love to have something to help keep the memory!

Exiled, not sure when you're going, and I haven't written a trip report, but wanted to tell you about a couple of places:

-Duner's, which is just west of town on Rt. 29, was very good (although the salad was overdressed for me). We were there on July 4th weekend and had no wait on a Saturday night.
-We also ate at Petit Pois on the pedestrian mall, and enjoyed the food and the ambiance (good people-watching if you sit outside).
-We had a great breakfast at Blue Moon Diner (excellent bacon, fruit, coffee, french toast and potatoes -- eggs and toast were "okay")
-and an an excellent pulled pork sandwich at Blue Mountain Brewery (both the bacon at Blue Moon and the pulled pork at Blue Mountain, come from Edward's of Surry, VA -- a well-known and sort of local purveyor).

No, ZeusHoney, I didn't I'm sorry. We were in the very last row. I wonder if you could find one online somewhere. You weren't one of the string players in the wine bar afterwards were you? You all did a lovely job in that horrible heat.

It sounds like you ate some great food, sf7307!

I returned on June 23. As I mentioned in my trip report, I didn't rent a vehicle; otherwise, I think I might have gone out to Mas as well.

As it was, I was quite happy in the places I chose for dining.

A couple of the people in the B&B (recent grads from UVa) and their parents went to Petite Pois the night before I met them and they said they enjoyed it. However, they liked a couple of other places better.

And I walked by the Blue Moon Diner (assume you mean the one on W. Main) several times. But, since I was staying in a B&B, I had no need for outside breakfast options.

Well, I hope this helps someone else on a future trip then :-)