Charlottesville was my favorite destination during my recent 7-day road trip between Florida and Virginia. I walked thru the downtown shopping center in a rain storm, spent a day at Monticello and had the best dinner ever at the historic Michie Tavern.
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Thomas Jefferson's Home
If visiting Monticello in the summer, I suggest arriving very early, they open at 8:30 am, to avoid the heat, humidity and the majority of visitors.
The Visitor's Center has a GREAT short film on Thomas Jefferson and Monticello that shouldn't be missed.
My suggestion: Take the shuttle van up the hill to Jefferson's home, but take the wooded path that travels thru the gardens and plantation back down the hill to the Visitor's center. It's beautiful, but be careful because it is not paved. If it has recently rained, you will get muddy.
Michie TavernYou MUST MUST MUST eat here while visiting Monticello! I haven't had homemade biscuits like this since I was a little kid visiting my grandparents on their farm!
The Tavern's "Midday Fare" is a buffet from 18th century recipes, but if you need any more food or drink brought to you, your servers, dressed in great period attire, will take exceptional care of you. A great example of Southern hospitality!
My suggestion: Only have a snack or coffee for breakfast before visiting Jefferson's home and plantation, Monticello. Then.... come here for the ultimate dining experience for lunch. You won't need to eat the rest of the day.... trust me!
Their menu includes: Great Colonial fried chicken, grilled chicken (for you more health-conscience Colonials) amazing shredded pork barbeque, sweet stewed tomatoes that could have been a desert, mashed potatoes and gravy, black-eyed peas (which I had never had and were really good), baby beets, green beans, their incredible homemade biscuits, cornbread and coleslaw. Great... now I'm hungry!
They also have several shops on the property that sell local canned goods and treats and even Colonial outfits if you really want to get in the mood!
