Why I Love Living in Charlottesville, Virginia

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“There is no quarter of the globe so desirable as America, no state in America so desirable as Virginia, no county in Virginia equal to Albemarle, and no spot in Albemarle to compare to Monticello.”

These are the very words of none other than Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers, the third President of the United States, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and the man who introduced wine-making to the New World. Jefferson’s home, known as Monticello, lies just outside of downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.

You don’t have to take Jefferson’s or my word for it, but Charlottesville is, indeed, a great place to live in America. I will let the rest of this article speak for itself. You may think I’m biased since I’m living in Charlottesville myself, but I’m really not. I didn’t grow up there. I don’t have to defend or promote it.

5 Reasons Why I Love Living in Charlottesville, Virginia

Moving to Charlottesville was a conscious decision, though, albeit a pretty spontaneous one, a major life change that’s definitely paid off. Living in Charlottesville is, it turns out, pretty awesome. And it is for many reasons. You can draw your own conclusions after reading this post, but I think it’ll become pretty obvious why anyone would love living in Charlottesville.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Home to roughly 50,000 people, Charlottesville is by no means a large town. Its atmosphere is inviting and laidback, its spirit young and progressive. A lot has to do with the presence of the University of Virginia, one of America’s best universities and, not incidentally, founded and designed by—who else—Thomas Jefferson. He did that, by the way, as a retirement project.

Both Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the University of Virginia are now designated as World Heritage by UNESCO. (Just to illustrate the significance of this designation: the only two other man-made UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Eastern United States are Philly’s Independence Hall and NYC’s Statue of Liberty.)

This alone would make a small town like Charlottesville an interesting place to visit or live in. But there’s more, of course. In addition to Monticello, there’s another former home of a U.S. President in Charlottesville. James Monroe, one of Jefferson’s closest friends and the fifth President of the United States, lived essentially just across the road from Monticello, in a plantation called Ash Lawn-Highland.

And we’re not done, for James Madison also lived near Charlottesville, a short drive north of town. Madison was the fourth President of the United States and lived in Montpelier. So, to summarize: three of the five first U.S. Presidents lived either in or just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia.

They were all well-off people, owning plantations (including slaves) and traveling regularly. It’s by no means a coincidence that they and their families chose to base themselves in the Charlottesville area. The region had plenty to offer two and a half centuries ago, and still does today. Perhaps even more so than before.

Vineyards and Horse Farms

Situated in Albemarle County, in the heart of Virginia, Charlottesville lies in heartachingly beautiful countryside. This is a region characterized by gently rolling hills, peaceful farmlands, horse farms, patches of forest and meandering rivers. It’s one of the most inspiring rural regions I’ve ever seen (and I’ve spent time in Tuscany, Italy and the Cotswolds, England).

Vineyards and wineries dot the countryside around Charlottesville. This is, in fact, the very place where wine-growing originated in the United States—effectively the oldest wine region in North America. Although much less famous than California’s Napa Valley, the viticultural area in central Virginia is much prettier, and its vibe unquestionably more relaxed and welcoming.

A Fantastic Craft Beer Scene

If you’re not really into wines, that’s okay. In addition to the numerous wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail, there are also no fewer than eleven craft breweries in the Charlottesville area. Some of them are part of the Brew Ridge Trail. From the four downtown breweries to the mountain breweries near the Blue Ridge Mountains, they all have something to offer, whether it’s mouthwatering barbecued food, amazing mountain views or live music. And refreshing craft beers, obviously.

I’d like to give a shout-out to Champion Brewing Company, my absolute favorite craft brewery in town. If you only have time to hit one brewery in Charlottesville, let it be this one.

The other three breweries in Charlottesville are Random Row, Three Notch’d and South Street. Further afield, I recommend visiting Pro Re Nata, Starr Hill and Devils Backbone at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Breathtaking Mountain Roads

Talking about the Blue Ridge Mountains; that iconic—almost legendary—mountain range lies a mere 30-minute drive to the west from downtown Charlottesville. Once you reach the mountains, in Rockfish Gap, that is, you have two fantastic options. Turning right takes you onto Skyline Drive and into Shenandoah National Park while turning right means entering the Blue Ridge Parkway, which leads all the way to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, 469 miles southwestward.

This proximity to one of the greatest national parks in the United States, as well as the country’s favorite mountain road is yet another great perk of living in Charlottesville, one of America’s best national park gateway towns. Needless to say that the potential for outdoor adventures is exceptional.

The number of amazing hiking trails within an hour’s drive is mindboggling. Some of my favorites are Humpback Rocks and Crabtree Falls on or near the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Bearfence Mountain, Doyles River-Jones Run Loop and Dark Hollow Falls in Shenandoah National Park.

Historic Downtown

Lastly, downtown Charlottesville is not only home to the University of Virginia. It also has one of America’s longest pedestrian malls. The historic Downtown Mall spans eight city blocks, a fun tree-lined and car-free street, a great place to go for an evening stroll or a happy-hour drink. This pedestrian mall is the focal point of tourism in the town’s city center.

This is where the visitor center is located, where you’ll find the densest concentration of shops, bars and restaurants, and where you can catch shows and live music at the Pavilion, the Jefferson, or the Paramount. It’s basically where everything happens in Charlottesville.

So there you have it. From presidential homes, to wine and beer, to hiking and road tripping, to live music and local food, Charlottesville has everything you could possibly need in a small town. It still blows my mind how such a small town manages to pack this big a punch.

And this why I absolutely love living in Charlottesville. If you still don’t believe me, come take a look yourself!

Charlottesville Visitor Information

Tourist Board

Visit Charlottesville

Attractions

University of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
James Monroe’s Highland
James Madison’s Montpelier
Historic Downtown Mall

Outdoors

Shenandoah National Park
Blue Ridge Parkway

Suggested Breweries

Champion Brewing Company
Random Row Brewing Company
Pro Re Nata Farm Brewery
Starr Hill Brewery
Devils Backbone Brewing Company

Suggested Wineries

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
King Family Vineyards

Accommodation

Dinsmore House Inn
Oakhurst Inn
Omni Charlottesville Hotel

Charlottesville also has its fair share of AirBnb accommodations. If you don’t have an AirBnb account yet, you can sign up here by clicking this link. Doing so will give you (and me both) $35 in travel credit to be used toward a booking. Nothing to lose, everything to gain!

Booking.com

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Have You Ever Been to Charlottesville? I’d Love to Hear What You Thought in the Comments Below!