Take a sunset walk on the mallCheck out Guides above for more ideas
Explore great wedding venuesCharlottesville is one of the top wedding destinations
Feel like getting fit in 2024?Charlottesville has great yoga studios
Shop at one of the great BoutiquesUnique finds for you or your home
Charlottesville Insider: Your Guide to Wineries, Hotels, Events, and More!
Not every town has unparalleled vistas, a Cab Franc made at the hands of the same person pouring it, or Dave Matthews and John Grisham walking by as you enjoy lunch at a café on its historic pedestrian mall—but Charlottesville does.
It’s urban and bucolic, historic yet modern. There are boundless hiking trails, wedding venues, wineries, breweries, boutique retail shops, and theaters (not to mention more restaurant seats than there are people to fill them). It’s for the limitless adventurer, the wine-taster, the music-seeker, and the family searching for a new experience..
At Charlottesville Insider, our goal is simple: to showcase what to do in Charlottesville by curating our ideas about what makes it unique. Follow our insiders to see what’s new, find exclusive deals, or simply figure out how to spend your day in our favorite city.
BeachesMountains
Take a sunset walk on the mallCheck out Guides above for more ideas
Explore great wedding venuesCharlottesville is one of the top wedding destinations
Feel like getting fit in 2024?Charlottesville has great yoga studios
Shop at one of the great BoutiquesUnique finds for you or your home
Take a sunset walk on the mallCheck out Guides above for more ideas
Explore great wedding venuesCharlottesville is one of the top wedding destinations
Feel like getting fit in 2024?Charlottesville has great yoga studios
Shop at one of the great BoutiquesUnique finds for you or your home
Take a sunset walk on the mallCheck out Guides above for more ideas
Explore great wedding venuesCharlottesville is one of the top wedding destinations
Feel like getting fit in 2024?Charlottesville has great yoga studios
Shop at one of the great BoutiquesUnique finds for you or your home
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Explore the Best Scenic Drives Virginia Has to Offer
Discover Virginia’s top scenic drives to see the state’s spectacular mountains, wineries, farms, and historic sites. In this guide, we reveal the essential routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, ensuring you’ll experience the best visuals and cultural spots on your scenic drives around Central Virginia without wading through unnecessary information.
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🛶☀️ As we enter a new week, don’t forget to mark your calendar for a mid-week respite down by the river at Rivanna River Company’s weekly summer gathering, “Little Saturdays”! Head to @rivannarivercompany from 3-9pm where kayak, SUP, and tube rentals will be available. There will be river swimming and wading, volleyball and more. @wholestrength_pt leads their Run Club at 5:30pm . DIY hotdog and brat grill (dogs and brats available for suggested donation), beer, wine and cider sales supporting @rivannaconservationalliance. This family friendly community event is open to the public and free of charge. Thanks to @rivannarivercompany for always finding ways to bring the Charlottesville community together to enjoy the outdoors! #humpdayvibes 🐪
🛶☀️ As we enter a new week, don’t forget to mark your calendar for a mid-week respite down by the river at Rivanna River Company’s weekly summer gathering, “Little Saturdays”! Head to @rivannarivercompany from 3-9pm where kayak, SUP, and tube rentals will be available. There will be river swimming and wading, volleyball and more. @wholestrength_pt leads their Run Club at 5:30pm . DIY hotdog and brat grill (dogs and brats available for suggested donation), beer, wine and cider sales supporting @rivannaconservationalliance. This family friendly community event is open to the public and free of charge. Thanks to @rivannarivercompany for always finding ways to bring the Charlottesville community together to enjoy the outdoors! #humpdayvibes 🐪
🎸🛻✨Summer in C-ville.
We love this snap of @_marina_madden serenading the bar crowd @durtynellys_va by 📸 @richtarbell.
Bring on the weekend!
🎸🛻✨Summer in C-ville.
We love this snap of @_marina_madden serenading the bar crowd @durtynellys_va by 📸 @richtarbell.
Bring on the weekend!
🥮☕️ @petitemariebette, located on Charlottesville’s downtown mall off of Water St., is an inviting bakery and coffeehouse with European inspired fare. You’ll always find high quality, local ingredients at Charlottesville’s two @mariebettecafe locations. They use local ingredients found in and around Albemarle County- from eggs and meats to produce and wheat. All of their breads are baked fresh daily, and they offer an outstanding selection of pastries. We stopped in and tried their Spring Panzanella Salad - arugula, crouton, asparagus, peas, fennel, radish, herbs, ricotta, and “The Albemarle” - chicken salad with almonds & dried cherries, spinach on baguette. We ordered some Petite Caneles to go with the Cappuccino and Matcha Latte. The entire spread was a satisfying treat! PetiteMarie is the perfect spot to meet a friend for coffee or casual lunch downtown. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to bring an out of town guest for brunch - they’re sure to be impressed!
🥮☕️ @petitemariebette, located on Charlottesville’s downtown mall off of Water St., is an inviting bakery and coffeehouse with European inspired fare. You’ll always find high quality, local ingredients at Charlottesville’s two @mariebettecafe locations. They use local ingredients found in and around Albemarle County- from eggs and meats to produce and wheat. All of their breads are baked fresh daily, and they offer an outstanding selection of pastries. We stopped in and tried their Spring Panzanella Salad - arugula, crouton, asparagus, peas, fennel, radish, herbs, ricotta, and “The Albemarle” - chicken salad with almonds & dried cherries, spinach on baguette. We ordered some Petite Caneles to go with the Cappuccino and Matcha Latte. The entire spread was a satisfying treat! PetiteMarie is the perfect spot to meet a friend for coffee or casual lunch downtown. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to bring an out of town guest for brunch - they’re sure to be impressed!
🇺🇸 @boarsheadresort will be lighting up the sky on July 4th this year as part of a full summer celebration! The festivities will begin at 2pm with lawn games, food trucks, and bar! 🎶 Before the fireworks display, enjoy two bands - Cake Fight, and Lord Nelson. @cakefightband @lordnelsonband
🎟️ Tickets will be required for this year’s event. Visit Boar’s Head’s website for tickets, and to learn more about how to upgrade your experience with dinner in the Mill Room, or with their Taste of Basque dining event downstairs that evening. Both experiences offer stunning views of the lake, and the fireworks show!
📸 @boarsheadresort
👀 We plan to keep you updated on all the local offerings for the week of Independence Day! If you’re a local business offering an event or special for the week of the Fourth, send us a DM and we’ll do our best to help you get the word out!
🇺🇸 @boarsheadresort will be lighting up the sky on July 4th this year as part of a full summer celebration! The festivities will begin at 2pm with lawn games, food trucks, and bar! 🎶 Before the fireworks display, enjoy two bands - Cake Fight, and Lord Nelson. @cakefightband @lordnelsonband
🎟️ Tickets will be required for this year’s event. Visit Boar’s Head’s website for tickets, and to learn more about how to upgrade your experience with dinner in the Mill Room, or with their Taste of Basque dining event downstairs that evening. Both experiences offer stunning views of the lake, and the fireworks show!
📸 @boarsheadresort
👀 We plan to keep you updated on all the local offerings for the week of Independence Day! If you’re a local business offering an event or special for the week of the Fourth, send us a DM and we’ll do our best to help you get the word out!
🍵 @tea_bazaar is a hidden gem on Charlottesville’s downtown mall, an old standby since 2002 for local vegetarians and tea lovers, but many new customers are surprised when they head upstairs to find this cozy bohemian lounge! We stopped in to try some of their current offerings - the Two Sister’s Salad topped wild-caught Alaskan smoked salmon, Masala Chai (customer fav!), tried the Matcha, and some Green Tea Ice Cream for dessert while overlooking the Downtown Mall from their Japanese Tatami area (low table and floor mat seating). Customers can also choose to lounge in their cozy couches or the private patio out back. A trip to The Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Charlottesville! Home to Charlottesville’s only Hookah Bar, the Tea Bazaar, with its worldly decor, wonderful scents, and artful ambiance will make you feel like you’ve left Charlottesville to visit another land! Their extensive tea menu offers a seasonal selection of over 40 teas from around the world. For the summer, we recommend stopping in to cool off with one of their daily iced teas on special. The green tea ice cream made by local downtown favorite @chapsicecream was to die for, but you may also have to try their Tea House milkshakes that come in classic chai, rose, green tea, or mint. For entertainment, they provide board games, and occasional live music at night! If you haven’t been to @tea_bazaar and you appreciate a cozy place to hang with delicious food and beverage offerings, with a spiritual, hippy vibe, you must make a visit soon! 🫖
🍵 @tea_bazaar is a hidden gem on Charlottesville’s downtown mall, an old standby since 2002 for local vegetarians and tea lovers, but many new customers are surprised when they head upstairs to find this cozy bohemian lounge! We stopped in to try some of their current offerings - the Two Sister’s Salad topped wild-caught Alaskan smoked salmon, Masala Chai (customer fav!), tried the Matcha, and some Green Tea Ice Cream for dessert while overlooking the Downtown Mall from their Japanese Tatami area (low table and floor mat seating). Customers can also choose to lounge in their cozy couches or the private patio out back. A trip to The Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Charlottesville! Home to Charlottesville’s only Hookah Bar, the Tea Bazaar, with its worldly decor, wonderful scents, and artful ambiance will make you feel like you’ve left Charlottesville to visit another land! Their extensive tea menu offers a seasonal selection of over 40 teas from around the world. For the summer, we recommend stopping in to cool off with one of their daily iced teas on special. The green tea ice cream made by local downtown favorite @chapsicecream was to die for, but you may also have to try their Tea House milkshakes that come in classic chai, rose, green tea, or mint. For entertainment, they provide board games, and occasional live music at night! If you haven’t been to @tea_bazaar and you appreciate a cozy place to hang with delicious food and beverage offerings, with a spiritual, hippy vibe, you must make a visit soon! 🫖
🌅🍸Summer is the perfect time to hit the Rooftop for an evening sunset drink overlooking the city! The @quirkhotelrva rooftop offers a playful cocktail menu, locally-sourced craft beers, local wine list, food menu featuring rustic thin-crust pizzas, salads, sandwiches, tacos and shareables to enjoy with incredible views! We recommend cooling off with the Frośe or Frozen Espresso Martini.🍹
🌅🍸Summer is the perfect time to hit the Rooftop for an evening sunset drink overlooking the city! The @quirkhotelrva rooftop offers a playful cocktail menu, locally-sourced craft beers, local wine list, food menu featuring rustic thin-crust pizzas, salads, sandwiches, tacos and shareables to enjoy with incredible views! We recommend cooling off with the Frośe or Frozen Espresso Martini.🍹
🌲🥾Hit the trails this Wednesday and enjoy all that the Shenandoah National Park has to offer, with no fees! Fee Free day at the @shenandoahnps is celebrating Juneteenth and starts at 12am June 19th and lasts for 24 hours! Shenandoah National Park, just a few miles from downtown Charlottesville, is a spectacular oasis encompassing part of the Blue Ridge Mountains with over 200,000 acres of protected lands. Bursting with cascading waterfalls, breathtaking vistas, fields of wildflowers and quiet wooded hollows, these lands are haven to deer, songbirds, cottontail rabbits, and black bear. Get out there and explore!
🌸🏕️🐇🌿
🌲🥾Hit the trails this Wednesday and enjoy all that the Shenandoah National Park has to offer, with no fees! Fee Free day at the @shenandoahnps is celebrating Juneteenth and starts at 12am June 19th and lasts for 24 hours! Shenandoah National Park, just a few miles from downtown Charlottesville, is a spectacular oasis encompassing part of the Blue Ridge Mountains with over 200,000 acres of protected lands. Bursting with cascading waterfalls, breathtaking vistas, fields of wildflowers and quiet wooded hollows, these lands are haven to deer, songbirds, cottontail rabbits, and black bear. Get out there and explore!
🌸🏕️🐇🌿
🍻Cheers to all the dads out there! If you’re still in need of plans for the big day tomorrow, you could always treat your dad to a tour of Charlottesville’s Ale Trail! Sample all of the best craft beverages that Charlottesville and Albemarle County have to offer, while spending quality time with dad! Visit @charlottesvillealetrail to learn more about how to keep track of the breweries, cideries, and distilleries you visit using the Charlottesville Ale Trail digital passport.📍
🍻Cheers to all the dads out there! If you’re still in need of plans for the big day tomorrow, you could always treat your dad to a tour of Charlottesville’s Ale Trail! Sample all of the best craft beverages that Charlottesville and Albemarle County have to offer, while spending quality time with dad! Visit @charlottesvillealetrail to learn more about how to keep track of the breweries, cideries, and distilleries you visit using the Charlottesville Ale Trail digital passport.📍