This university town nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is synonymous with Thomas Jefferson. His creative ideas about architecture are evident on the lovely grounds of the University of Virginia, which he founded. Jefferson's pleasing design was for an academical village—two rows of neoclassical buildings face a long lawn, anchored at one end by a Pantheon-inspired rotunda. Try to take one of the official tours of the university. You'll see the university's West Range, where Woodrow Wilson and Edgar Allan Poe both lived when they were students. The university's influence on the town of Charlottesville is evident in the number of art galleries, musicians, bookstores and trendy restaurants lining the brick streets of downtown.
Charlottesville loves festivals. You're virtually guaranteed to bump into one in any given week of the year. Besides small celebrations to honor treats such as apple butter or salsa, individual wineries in the area host special events at least once a month. Some of the more notable events are the Virginia Festival of the Book (March), Historic Garden Week (April) and the Virginia Film Festival (October). The town has even adopted the university's famous honor policy: Yellow bikes are left at major intersections for anyone to use, provided they return them when they're finished. (Biking is actually a great way to get around Charlottesville.)
Although Charlottesville and UVA are worth visiting in their own rights, many visitors go to the area to see Monticello, one of the greatest architectural treasures in the U.S. Just 3 mi/5 km southeast of town, Monticello was designed by its owner, Thomas Jefferson. It embodied his ideas about the importance of public and private life and was one of the nation's first examples of neoclassical design. Don't miss Mulberry Row (named for the surrounding trees), a collection of plantation buildings including former slave quarters, storehouses, a smokehouse and a dairy. The Row was a hub of activity in Jefferson's day, a veritable small city within the boundaries of Monticello. There are ingenious little inventions throughout the estate, such as a seven-day calendar clock, semiautomatic glass doors and a built-in bed that he could enter from his bedroom, on one side, or his study, on the other. Take plenty of time to marvel at all the little details—by tour's end you'll understand why the knowledgeable guides, with a special reverence in their voices, call the architect Mr. Jefferson. If you follow the path down to the family cemetery, you will see his grave.
A few minutes' drive past Monticello is another presidential estate, Ash Lawn-Highland. This expansive plantation was the home of President James Monroe, a good friend of Jefferson. These days it hosts tours, concerts and occasional wine tastings. 70 mi/110 km northwest of Richmond.
