Every duty station presents an opportunity for adventure, excitement, and growth. For military families, we call this a bucket list! Even duty stations you may not know much about can bring some fun adventures!
Charlottesville, Va., is an ideal weekend getaway, but also a great duty assignment, with some amazing things to add to your bucket list. It is hardly a military-heavy community, but the University of Virginia draws graduate students from the ranks each year. Additionally, Charlottesville is home to the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and The National Ground Intelligence Center. This college town is also about two hours from Washington, D.C., and military bases in Hampton Roads, Va., making it a great weekend destination.
Whatever brings you to town, you will find it welcoming and full of many great restaurants and attractions to fill your days. And if you find yourself in the area longer, there is always another hike, another UVA sporting event, another winery to try. To get started, here are my top 4 choices for a bucket list for Charlottesville, Va.
1. Learn first-hand about the life of a Founding Father.
Tucked at the bottom of the mountains of Virginia, Charlottesville has found itself home to prominent citizens since the early days of our country. Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and worth a visit no matter how short your stay in town. Tour his iconic home, walk among his expansive gardens, and learn what life was like for the enslaved people who called the plantation home. Monticello is family-friendly, with an excellent family tour and a hands-on discovery room. Just down the road from Mr. Jefferson’s home is Highland, home to another Founding Father, James Monroe. Author of the Constitution, James Madison, also made his home nearby at Montpelier, about 30 minutes away. Today, all of these homes offer an excellent opportunity to learn about the lives of these founders and the birth of our nation.
2. Take in a sunset at Carter Mountain Orchard.
Right down the road from Monticello, you will find Carter Mountain Orchard. Open from April – November, this family-owned orchard provides ample opportunities to pick peaches, nectarines, and apples. Yet the highlight is attending on the sunset events in the warmer months. Buy some ice cream and some of their famous apple cider donuts. Check out the country store and sample some local wine. Then set up your picnic blanket with a spot to listen to live music and watch the sunset over the valley below. This is Charlottesville wrapped up in one event.
3. Hike through Shenandoah National Park.
Charlottesville is situated just outside the Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains, so a good hike is always right outside. Don’t miss peak fall foliage towards the end of October. There is a hike for everyone in every season. Check out C-ville.com’s top 15 Charlottesville area hikes for a quick start guide. If hiking is not your speed, take a drive down either the Blue Ridge Parkway (free) or Skyline Drive (entrance fee) to take in the many colors of the season.
4. Wander the Downtown Mall.
Outside of hiking and history, plenty of time must be made for wandering down the pedestrian-only Downtown Mall in the heart of historic Charlottesville. Old Main Street is now home to many restaurants, boutique clothing and gift shops, and independent book stores. There is a small but wonderful children’s museum, the Virginia Discovery Museum, for the smallest of visitors. Make sure to check who is playing at the Sprint Pavilion, which anchors the historic strip, as part of the free Fridays After Five concert series.
