As a home designed and inhabited by a former president and author of the Declaration of Independence—recognized for its architectural innovation, natural beauty and, at one time, unequivocal support for slavery—Monticello is unparalleled. This month, visit for a Spring Wildflower Walk or the 275th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth, and get acquainted with the cultural riches of surrounding Charlottesville, from the University of Virginia (founded by Jefferson) to the Paramount Theater.
Built in part during the Revolutionary War, Monticello sports 33 rooms in the house proper, eight fireplaces, historic artifacts and artwork, custom furniture, an array of gardens and the graveyard where Jefferson is buried. The Virginia-born dignitary—who owned roughly 600 slaves in his lifetime and is believed to have fathered children with Sally Hemings, the enslaved half-sister of his wife Martha Jefferson—also housed slaves on the property, who helped build it and tended to the estate’s wheat and tobacco crops. Well-informed guides are on hand to provide tours and discuss the home’s storied past.
For lodging that’s a bit cozier than the area’s chain offerings, choose from several bed and breakfast options in downtown Charlottesville, such as the Inn at Court Square. This B&B provides the comfort and charm of a restored 18th-century home, with one of its two buildings considered the oldest still-standing house in Charlottesville, and scrumptious food to boot. (Definitely sample the quiche.)
Among Jefferson’s lesser-known accomplishments is his winemaking. Luckily, his legacy is now celebrated in the Monticello Wine Trail, a collection of 33 wineries, including Jefferson Vineyards. The roughly 34-year-old winery is built on the premises of Jefferson’s original vineyard.
A Charlottesville visit must include a taste of its art, shops and food. Among the rows of storefronts in the outdoor Downtown Mall lies the C’Ville Arts Cooperative Gallery, sharing the work and wares of dozens of local artists. Darling Boutique offers consignment clothing and artisan pieces, and Roxie Daisy is ideal for shabby-chic home decor. C&O Restaurant, named for the railway that once served the city, serves upscale French and American cuisine in an interior partially constructed from reclaimed wood from an Albemarle County barn.
