Charlottesville, Va., is a natural and cultural small-town treasure that is best enjoyed in the fall. The Charlottesville fall experience begins with the journey, a drive straight down Route 29. As you escape D.C.’s suburbs, 29 opens onto lush meadows, rolling farmland – now framed in fall colors – and, eventually, views of blue mountains.
Be sure to book a hotel near the historic downtown mall. The charming strip features a movie theater, an ice rink, countless trendy bars and restaurants and a large pavilion for free concerts. Maybe you’ll be lucky and cross paths with a big name like Bruce Springsteen, Passion Pit or Phoenix, all of whom have played the pavilion in recent years.
Best of all, Charlottesville’s downtown mall is open to pedestrian traffic only, making it a good destination for simply hanging out and enjoying the passing scene.
When you get to town, head for the University of Virginia. Take a self-guided tour and get lost in a maze of Thomas Jefferson’s wondrous neoclassical architecture, marked by white columns and red Virginia brick. With a Frisbee, you can make the most of the majestic Lawn, bordered by rustic dorm rooms constructed in the early 1800s. The rooms have fireplaces, but no restrooms or showers, so look out for students rushing back from the bathroom in the cold in their towels.
If you’re in Charlottesville on a Saturday this fall, check out the university’s prepsters in their coats and ties and their Lilly Pulitzer sundresses – which come out no matter the temperature – on Scott Stadium’s grass hill. UVA’s team has a so-so record this season, but the game is as much about people-watching as sport.
From there, you can take a quick drive up to Jefferson’s home, Monticello, a beautiful estate that overlooks the entire town, inspiring Charlottesville’s cult of the third president. The property offers lessons in history, mechanics, architecture and more, with a sumptuous mansion, slave quarters and exhibits featuring some of Jefferson’s self-made gadgets.
After learning about one of the country’s founding farmers, visitors can follow the Monticello Wine Trail, a string of vineyards and wineries that leads to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Taste some of the best reds and whites on the east coast with stops at Pippin Hill Farm and Winery, Blenheim Vineyards and even Trump Winery.
If you’re traveling to Charlottesville between Nov. 14 and 23, seek out the Cider Week specials, including cider cocktails at the Petit Pois restaurant, free tastings at the Market Street Wineshop and a workshop on making cider at home at Fifth Season Gardening. More information is available at www.ciderweekva.com.
Get down to Charlottesville before winter’s chill takes hold. For only a two-hour trip, there is much to behold in this charming and historic university town.
