Catherine’s guidebook
Food scene
Best tacos in town, right around the corner.
Take a left out the front door, go to the bottom of the block and turn right; 1/2 block to the big street. Look across it to the right and you'll see it.
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La Michoacana Taqueria & Restaurant
1138 E High StBest tacos in town, right around the corner.
Take a left out the front door, go to the bottom of the block and turn right; 1/2 block to the big street. Look across it to the right and you'll see it.
The Bebedero
201 W Main StSome of my favorite cocktails, great atmosphere and live music
Sweet place, outdoor dining, great Thai food and cocktails. Excellent vegetarian choice.
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Monsoon Siam
113 W Market StSweet place, outdoor dining, great Thai food and cocktails. Excellent vegetarian choice.
Blue Moon Diner
606 West Main StreetSightseeing
Tubing the Rivanna in season is great, but also there are trails along the river in either direction and on either side of the river.
Go let out the front door, right at the bottom of the block, and look left across the street for the Jack and Jill. Walk behind the J and J through their parking lot towards the river.
For a paved trail towards town, turn right when you hit the trail.
This will eventually take you to Riverbend Park and Market St, where you can turn right to get downtown (NOT a shortcut- you can walk downtown much faster through town), or left towards the Woolen Mill and find the trail that will circles the city along Moore's creek.
Or, go left (towards the R R Co) and (go straight for a great but broken up and hard to follow if you don't know it, or) cross the bridge on either side of it- if you cross on this side, the trail goes off to the right on the other side of the bridge and goes on for at least 3 hours. If you go under the bridge and cross on the other side of the river, there's a lovely (but shorter) walk through Darden Towe Park and beyond.
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Rivanna River Company
1520 E High StTubing the Rivanna in season is great, but also there are trails along the river in either direction and on either side of the river.
Go let out the front door, right at the bottom of the block, and look left across the street for the Jack and Jill. Walk behind the J and J through their parking lot towards the river.
For a paved trail towards town, turn right when you hit the trail.
This will eventually take you to Riverbend Park and Market St, where you can turn right to get downtown (NOT a shortcut- you can walk downtown much faster through town), or left towards the Woolen Mill and find the trail that will circles the city along Moore's creek.
Or, go left (towards the R R Co) and (go straight for a great but broken up and hard to follow if you don't know it, or) cross the bridge on either side of it- if you cross on this side, the trail goes off to the right on the other side of the bridge and goes on for at least 3 hours. If you go under the bridge and cross on the other side of the river, there's a lovely (but shorter) walk through Darden Towe Park and beyond.
This is the one of the closer spectacular spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's about 25 minutes to drive to, then maybe a 1/2 hour hike to the rock.
The AT connects up there too.
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Humpback Rocks
Blue Ridge ParkwayThis is the one of the closer spectacular spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's about 25 minutes to drive to, then maybe a 1/2 hour hike to the rock.
The AT connects up there too.
Another great trail. About 1/2 hour drive. Follow the road to the end, park, and walk left to cross the river.
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Sugar Hollow Dam and Reservoir
Sugar Hollow RoadAnother great trail. About 1/2 hour drive. Follow the road to the end, park, and walk left to cross the river.
A bit of a drive (45-50 minutes?), but gorgeous.
You can also access the AT from the top.
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Crabtree Falls
A bit of a drive (45-50 minutes?), but gorgeous.
You can also access the AT from the top.
More great trails in town. This one you'd drive to.
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Ragged Mountain Natural Area
1730 Reservoir RdMore great trails in town. This one you'd drive to.
Culture
It's a beautiful campus. The fine Arts library, music library, concerts at Old Cabel Hall..
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University of Virginia
918 Emmet St NIt's a beautiful campus. The fine Arts library, music library, concerts at Old Cabel Hall..
The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative
306 Monticello RdGreat shows and community events
IX Art Park
522 2nd St SECool place. Great shows and community events.
Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
414 E Main StCool teahouse, live music
Magnolia House
507 10th Street NorthwestHouse shows.
Heart of old Cville
Lots of great places to eat and live music.
Walking distance from my house.
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Downtown Mall
Lots of great places to eat and live music.
Walking distance from my house.
City/town information
This is a special place.
It's physically very beautiful, nested in the lap of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It's famous for cultural events (Festival of the Book, Film Festival, etc), UVa, Monticello and other founding father's homes, a troubled history and attempts at healing that, breweries, distilleries and wineries- lots of people come here just to tour vineyards and drink wine or get married; the Appalacian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive are close by, and when Covid is done there will no doubt be a return of a diverse music scene.
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Charlottesville
This is a special place.
It's physically very beautiful, nested in the lap of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It's famous for cultural events (Festival of the Book, Film Festival, etc), UVa, Monticello and other founding father's homes, a troubled history and attempts at healing that, breweries, distilleries and wineries- lots of people come here just to tour vineyards and drink wine or get married; the Appalacian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive are close by, and when Covid is done there will no doubt be a return of a diverse music scene.
Neighbourhoods
..No pictures, which makes sense because like the city, it's different block to block, one side of the street and the other.
My neighborhood is safe (I generally haven't locked my house in the 20 yrs I've been here).
There are lots of ways to walk downtown for my house, all safe and pretty.
I love walking this town.
Parts of it make me sad- gentrification, new high rises along Main St, new housing developments in what used to be cool old neighborhoods.
I still love this town a lot.
The Hogwaller's still there even though the livestock auctions have shut down. There are still interesting and beautiful old houses.
Lots of bricks. A river.
We have a lot of work to do still, connecting communities.
The most frequent complaint from many is that it's too nice. Some people don't feel that way.
It isn't a home I chose, but I'm very thankful to have spent most of my life here.
Locust Grove
..No pictures, which makes sense because like the city, it's different block to block, one side of the street and the other.
My neighborhood is safe (I generally haven't locked my house in the 20 yrs I've been here).
There are lots of ways to walk downtown for my house, all safe and pretty.
I love walking this town.
Parts of it make me sad- gentrification, new high rises along Main St, new housing developments in what used to be cool old neighborhoods.
I still love this town a lot.
The Hogwaller's still there even though the livestock auctions have shut down. There are still interesting and beautiful old houses.
Lots of bricks. A river.
We have a lot of work to do still, connecting communities.
The most frequent complaint from many is that it's too nice. Some people don't feel that way.
It isn't a home I chose, but I'm very thankful to have spent most of my life here.
Izeluleko zedolobha
Ukuzulazula
On street free game parking on my block.
It's a great walking town.
The bus system here ain't great.
But you can walk downtown and catch a free trolley to the corner (UVa).
Lyft, Uber and Yellow Cab work fine.
I bike everywhere but it's not well laid out for bikes and it's very hilly.