Here we are, another Fall weekend in one of our favorite regions of the US, Charlottesville, VA. This year we visited later in November than previous trips, and while it was much colder than years past, we were able to stopover at some of our most beloved C-ville locations. We enjoy staying downtown near The Downtown Mall and spent the morning wandering the shops and cafes. We started the day with Grit Coffee and then shopped until lunchtime at Revolutionary Soup.
Dinner night one was at the best mexican restaurant, Continental Divide. We love the nachos and margaritas to start and every one of the entrees are perfection. The restaurant is only open a few days a week and they do not take reservations, so it's best to arrive at 5pm or have at least an hour wait (although completely worth it!).
Day two of our late November trip took us to one of the best wineries in the Charlottesville region, King Family Vineyards. The wine is superb, but we appreciate the vineyards and grounds even more. The trees are splendid in their fall colors and the horses help create the most picturesque views. There are numerous seating areas at the winery, but we always prefer to sit outside to admire the view and were lucky that there were fire pits and heaters this time of year.
While we have an endless amount of favorite restaurants in the area, we do try to pop into a new establishment every trip. This year's new restaurant was a phenomenal one, Public Fish and Oyster. It's been on my list for ages, due to it's adorable storefront and warm, cozy atmosphere. The food was even better than the ambiance, although both were spectacular. We started with raw oysters and oysters rockefeller and then I gobbled down the crab cakes. Everything we ate was delicious and I cannot wait to return next year.
Our last day in Charlottesville began with a walk around UVA campus. The school is beautiful and we always enjoy walking around The Lawn and exploring The Rotunda. The architecture is splendid and even though the fall trees were not as robust as early November, we were still able to bask in the autumnal glow.
A few summers ago, on our last trip to Charlottesville, we stayed in the newly renovated The Forum Hotel. The hotel is a beautiful display of old world decor and modern conveniences. At the time of our stay, the gardens were not complete so on this trip, we popped over to see what had been done since our last visit. While the arboretum and botanical gardens must be magnificent in the Spring and Summer, we found it bewitching in late Fall. Due to the cold weather, we had the garden to ourselves and enjoyed wandering the paths and photographing the flora.
Our final stop on the Charlottesville tour is another lovely winery, Pippen Hill Farm and Winery. The winery has a beautiful tasting room and restaurant and we enjoy eating on the patio in all seasons. In the warm weather, the porch is open and the view is spectacular. This trip, the weather was chilly and the patio was enclosed in glass windows and warmed by heaters. The views are just as beautiful in all seasons and the menu, which is also seasonal, makes Pippen Hill one of our favorite restaurants as well as beloved wineries. After eating and drinking, we love to wander the grounds and photograph the mountain views.
Until next Fall, Charlottesville!
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