Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [55]
The C & O Restaurant offers fine dining in an unexpected venue, a century-old diner across from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad station, saved from ruin in 1976. The three floors offer different atmospheres, the formal upstairs, the cozy and quiet Mezzanine, and the lively Bistro. The food is French Provincial, but with southwest and Pacific influences. (515 E. Water Street, tel. 434-971-7044, www.candorestaurant.com)
Rococo’s is an upscale, hip, Italian restaurant serving homemade pasta and fabulous desserts. (2001 Commonwealth Drive, tel. 434-971-7371)
On the Downtown Mall, Immigrant Soul serves healthy food from all over the world (310 East Main Street, tel. 434-977-8200). Michael’s Bistro & Taphouse is a fun and lively place for microbrews and good food on the Corner (1427 University Avenue, tel. 434-977-3697).
Out on Barracks Road is Wild Greens, an American grill where all entrees include the signature wild green salad. (2162 Barracks Road, tel. 434-296-9453)
For the finest of dining, nothing around beats The Old Mill Room at the Boar’s Head Inn. It may be a restored gristmill, but the dress is semi-formal. The fare uses local ingredients with Southern and Continental themes. (200 Ednam Drive, Route 250 West, tel. 434-972-2230)
Lodging
Guesthouses Bed & Breakfast, Inc. is a reservation service for 60 private homes and estate cottages offering accommodations to guests. (tel. 434-979-7264, www.va-guesthouses.com)
To stay right where the action is, 200 South Street Inn is actually two restored houses right in the heart of downtown. (200 South Street, tel. 800-964-7008, www.southstreetinn.com, $$$) The Inn at Court Square in the historic area has five guestrooms with working fireplaces and private baths. (410 E. Jefferson Street, tel. 434-295-2800, www.bbonline.com/va/courtsquare, $$$)
Farther out in the country are several manor homes offering lodging. Sunset Mountain Bed & Breakfast is on top of a mountain. (3722 Fosters Branch Road, tel. 434-973-7974, www.sunsetmt.com, $$$)
Clifton – The Country Inn and Estate is an 18th-century manor house with 40 acres of gardens and a wine cellar. (1296 Clifton Inn Drive, tel. 888-971-1800, www.cliftoninn.com, $$$$)
Foxfield Inn is an elegant 50-year-old country home with five guest rooms. (2280 Garth Road, tel. 434-923-8892, www.foxfield-inn.com, $$$)
The Inn at Monticello, just a mile from Jefferson’s home, is an 1850s manor home with five guestrooms. (1188 Scottsville Road, tel. 434-979-3593, www.innatmonticello.com, $$$)
Pet-friendly: Keswick Hall at Monticello is a magnificent 600-acre estate of Italianate architecture, rolling lawns and elegance. There are 48 guest suites, several restaurants and bars, indoor/outdoor pools, a spa, and golfing at the adjacent Arnold Palmer-designed course. Pets are allowed with a $50 non-refundable cleaning fee. (701 Club Drive, tel. 800-274-5391, www.keswick.com, $$$$)
Pet-friendly: For more modest accommodations, the closest to Monticello, Holiday Inn Monticello is just off I-64 and accepts pets (1200 5th Street, SW, tel. 800-977-9991, $$), and, near UVa, Quality Inn University Area takes pets with a $10 charge. (1600 Emmet Street, tel. 434-971-3746, $$)
Information
Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, Main Visitors Center, Route 20 South, tel. 877-386-1102, www.SoVeryVirginia.com.
Charlottesville/Albemarle Downtown Visitors Center, located near the Historic Downtown Mall, 108 Second Street, tel. 434-977-6100.
Charlottesville Downtown Foundation, tel. 434-296-8548, www.cvilledowntown.org.
University of Virginia Information Center, Route 250 Business, tel. 434-924-7166, www.virginia.edu.
TIP: For the latest in fashion, rumors, art and music offerings, pick up a free copy of C-VILLE Weekly. Published every Tuesday, it’s available on nearly every street corner.
Events
Covering books, wine, film, horses and nature, Charlottesville’s festivals offer many opportunities to discover what makes this city exciting and lively.
There’s Virginia Festival of the Book in March (tel. 434-296-4714