Charlottesville Virginia owes much of its character to
Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States
of America and author of the Declaration of Independence, among other
things, founded the University of Virginia. His famous plantation, nearby
Monticello, is one of the most famous private residences in America
and is on the back of the U.S. 5-cent piece. Naturally Jefferson designed
the building himself.
UVA is a respected college with exceptionally attractive grounds (never
campus) that feature a rotunda that is a scale replica of the Roman
Pantheon. The university is the home of the Bayly Art Museum, which
hosts world-class traveling art exhibits. The students of UVA make “C-Ville’s”
nightlife particularly hip and diverse.
Outdoors adventure in and around Charlottesville Virginia is available
in a number of areas. The Rivanna Trail is an “Urban Wilderness”
that winds 20 miles along Charlottesville’s streams and rivers,
passing throughout the city and connecting 6 parks. There’s excellent
fishing to be had at the 980-acre Ragged Mountain Natural Preserve,
but you’ll have to carry your boat, because motors aren’t
allowed (the same goes for bicycles, fires, dogs, and several other
prohibited flotsam and jetsam). Hunters can bag some deer or wild turkey
on the 1,034-acre Hardware Wildlife Refuge.
The crown in Charlottesville’s jewel is, of course, Monticello.
Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful and ingenious Roman Neoclassic manor
contains 43 rooms, 13 skylights and 8 fireplaces and is still 60% furnished
with Jefferson’s original furniture. Visitors should get there
early and be ready for crowds.
