A Day in Charlottesville Virginia

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Hey there! You’re reading my third travel post ever (wahoo!). You can catch my previous travel guide to Charleston, SC here. If you’re in Maryland & looking for a fun place to go that doesn’t require putting a ton of miles on your car, than check out Charlottesville, Virginia! It’s such a beautiful place. I’ve been visiting for a while and it gets prettier and prettier each time. My best friend went to University of Virginia and I have very fond memories of visiting. It’s historical, fun, and filled with lots of great activities. So if you’re thinking about visiting, you can use this guide to plan out a day in Charlottesville, Virginia!

To Eat

Bodos – #BreakfastAtBodos should be its own thing if it isn’t already. They’re famous for their bagels which are AMAZING!! Whether you order a sandwich or get a dozen bagels to bring home, you need to stop by. It’s cheap and delicious!

Benny DeLucas – Slices as big as you + your best friends head. Literally. And tasty! TBH, this pizza is better than expensive pizza I’ve had in restaurants. If you get an entire pie, make sure you have plenty of people because they’re 28″!

La Flor Michoacana – The perfect place to stop by for dessert on a hot day! They make really unique and yummy popsicles that are also quite instagram worthy. This is another great place to eat that won’t cost you a fortune!

Honorable mentions – Roots, Citizen Burger Bar, Hamiltons

To Drink

Wineries – There’s SO many wineries in Charlottesville! I can’t list them all here, so this Monticello Wine Trail is a great guide to the best wineries in the area. It includes Jefferson Vineyards which is where we went over the weekend! I’ve never been much of a wine drinker (probably because I’ve only ever drank cheap wine) but the wine we tried during the tasting was soooo delicious! We bought a bottle and split it between the group. Sipping chilled wine, having a picnic in a vineyard, soaking up the sun and relaxing atmosphere…Ugh, I wish I could go back!

Breweries – If you’re not a wine drinker, then exploring the breweries is another great option. There’s a lot of breweries in Charlottesville as well, and this Brew Ridge Trail is a great guide to some of the popular ones. I’ve been told that Devils Backbone is an especially popular one. The views, the live music, and the tasty beer…it sounds like absolute paradise. I definitely want to visit the next time I go back!

Related: Fall Road Trip

To See

UVA Grounds – Take a walking tour of The Grounds or rent scooters and cruise around. Scooters really would be the best way to get around if you don’t want to walk all day! Like I said earlier, I’ve been visiting UVA for a while because my best friend went to school there, and it constantly amazes me how gorgeous the grounds are. If you visit during Halloween, you can see trick-or-treating on the lawn and see families, kids, and pets dress up! Tons of people from all over come to the grounds for the event. It’s a lot of fun!

Carter Mountain – Drive on pretty winding roads (that are gorgeous in the fall!) to the top and you’ll be greeted by breathtaking views. You can see for miles and glimpse the top of UVA’s Rotunda. There’s also an orchard on top of the mountain where you can pick apples depending on the season. Order a flight of Bold Rock cider, grab a some food from the grill, & you’re all set!

Skyline Drive – Skyline Drive is a 105-mile road that runs the entire length of the Shenandoah National Park. It’s long and incredibly scenic! It would be so fun to pull off somewhere safe and watch the sunset!

Downtown Mall – The downtown mall in Charlottesville is a nice area filled with cute shops, good restaurants, and of course great places to drink. One year my friend and I grabbed dinner in the middle of the square and it was so fun! It’s a bustling atmosphere which makes it fun to people watch!

Monticello – Tour Thomas Jefferson’s home and the stunning grounds. Tickets vary in price so make sure to check out the website before you go! The gardens and grounds are beautiful. This is one of the few activities you can do that doesn’t involve drinking or eating, haha!

Obviously there’s tons more you can do during a day in Charlottesville, so this is merely a guide to give you some ideas. I hope this post has inspired ya’ll to plan your next trip, and to my Charlottesville readers, I hope I’ve done this city justice!