Charlottesville Virginia, located in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers Virginia visitors the opportunity to enjoy the many historic and contemporary tourist attractions such as Monticello, the University of Virginia, Ash Lawn-Highland, Historic Court Square and the historic circa-1784 Michie Tavern. During your stay you can also enjoy the Charlottesville Ice Park as well as many fine Charlottesville dining options.

When you fly into the Charlottesville airport take the opportunity to pick up some tourist information and area hotel guides if you haven't already made your reservations. The Charlottesville airport is an excellent information resource for visitors and can be a great place to pick up coupons and discount offers for area attractions. The Charlottesville airport also offers great traveler's tips for Virginia newcomers, so take a moment before retrieving your rental car or calling a cab to peruse all the free information. Many of the Charlottesville hotels will also have tourist informoation and brochures available. 

Once you've left the Charlottesville airport and settled in at your hotel, you'll want to visit the Charlottesville Ice Park, located in Charlottesville's historic downtown promenade. The Charlottesville Ice Park is a state-of-the-art facility offering ice skating lessons, hockey games, and the latest equipment for rental. The Charlottesville Ice Park also offers banquet and meeting facilities, perfect for family reunions, parties, or business meetings. Take a day during your stay in Charlottesville Virginia and explore the Charlottesville Ice Park; kids and adults alike enjoy the transformation back to childhood with the thrill of ice skating or the excitement of watching a pro hockey game.

Virginia Map

During your Charlottesville Virginia stay don't miss out on one of the biggest draws to this Virginia city: Monticello. Historic Monticello is the treasured former home of Thomas Jefferson, one of our country's founding fathers. Often referred to as an architectural masterpiece, Monticello will awe you by its grandeur. Guided tours of the house are offered daily throughout the year; outdoor gardens and plantation tours are offered daily April-October. Admission fees vary, depending on what kind of ticket you purchase and in what season you visit. Simple admission to the ground floor of the house is quite reasonable - from about $8 for children 6-11, to about $25 for adults (chilren under age six are free). Prices increase from about $15 to about $50 for various special passes, such as entry to the second floor, tours of the revolutionary garden, and special event evenings. The Monticello Visitor's Center features exhibits of Jefferson memorabilia, and artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations. There is also a large gift shop offering unique souvenirs related to the lifeand times of Jefferson. There is no fee to visit the Monticello Visitor's Center. 

After a day at Monticello, stomachs will be rumbling and Charlottesville dining options will be the only thing on your mind. Travelers are in luck, as Charlottesville dining options run the gamut from fast food to family friendly to five-star fine dining. For travelers not on a strict budget, try The Ivy Inn Restaurant, a Charlottesville Virginia favorite, located inside a 220 year old home. The restaurant utilizes what used to be bedrooms and a living room as dining area and there is a large tented garden patio off of the main dining room for guests to enjoy as well. For Charlottesville dining that won't break the bank, try Michie Tavern, a Virginia Historic Landmark including a dining room.

Charlottesville if a southern gateway to the beautiful Shenandoah National Park, and reaching its scenic Skyline Drive takes only about 45 minutes. This is also about the amount of time it takes to reach the equally scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.