Weekend Getaway: Charlottesville, Virginia
Explore one of America's original college towns through country ham biscuits, choripollo tacos, and modern Turkish dining.
Welcome to the weekend!
Spring is here and for April’s Weekend Getaway newsletter, we’re headed to Charlottesville, Virginia. The college town in the Blue Ridge Mountains is home to the University of Virginia and makes for a great getaway for folks in D.C. It’s also a short drive from other cities and towns in the Mid-Atlantic region. Kenney grew up in central Virginia so we’ll be visiting some classic C-Ville spots that have been around for decades, but we’ll also take you to some new favorites, like The Alley Light, just off the city’s downtown pedestrian mall. Our Weekend Getaway newsletters are always reserved for our paid subscribers, and we’ll be talking about all of our favorite places to eat and drink around town.
We’ve also organized all our C-Ville recommendations into our Charlottesville Field Guide, a 40-page, three-day itinerary to the city that includes our favorite spots for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and more. The downloadable guide is for sale on our website, but paid American Weekender subscribers get this guide, plus free access to our full library of guides and our American Weekender Google Map.
Before we sign off for the weekend, our Weekend Reading list will share stories on the Mayflower Cafe’s makeover, Top Chef star Shota Nakajima’s next chapter, kitchen mistakes that led to knockout restaurant dishes, and more. Thanks for being here — now let’s go to Charlottesville.
— Amy Cavanaugh & Kenney Marlatt
Blue Ridge Bites
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. — Located in Central Virginia at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville makes for a beautiful long weekend getaway. The historic town has plenty to keep you busy, from visiting nearby wineries to touring presidential homes like Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. The Jefferson-designed University of Virginia is located here too, and the college defines much of the city.
While we stay with family on our frequent trips, there are many conveniently located hotels. If you stay at the Graduate Charlottesville or The Draftsman, you’ll be walking distance from many of the restaurants, bars, and shops we recommend. Or, for a more luxe getaway, you have Keswick Hall, where we will also be sending you for cocktails and pizza. Either way, Charlottesville is a small city that’s easy to navigate and has more excellent restaurants and bars than you can possibly visit in a two-day weekend. A three-to-four-day stay will give you plenty of time to soak it all up, explore the campus, and start to understand what this lovely part of the country is all about.