Father's Day Weekend in Charlottesville & Albemarle County

Whether Dad is a history buff or not, he will no doubt be enamored with the plethora of presidential history sites in the Charlottesville area! For your first stop on your trip, tour Monticello, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the exquisite home of the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. And you’re in luck, because from April-October, Monticello also offers tours of the plantation and the outdoor gardens with blooming flowers. Bonus! New exhibits are opening at Monticello this Father’s Day weekend, including the South Wing and the Sally Hemings exhibit. Check out information about the special LOOK CLOSER event for details. A short car ride from Monticello will bring you to James Monroe’s Highland, the plantation that was purchased by Monroe in 1793, and was home to the Monroe family for nearly 25 years. Here, you can take a newly revamped guided tour that explores the fascinating life of our fifth president. Highland also offers six brand new hiking trails for a more adventurous way to explore the amazing property. Highland is also currently beta testing a new augmented reality tour, which will be the first of its kind at a historical site in the United States! Guests who participate in beta testing are able to experience the new tour at no additional charge, but will be asked to complete a short survey. More on Highland’s augmented reality experience here. Continue the learning experience with a visit to James Madison’s Montpelier in nearby Orange County, where you can take a multitude of tours to learn about everything from slavery, to James Madison and the Constitution, to the impact of Dolley Madison. You can easily spend several hours at each one of these homes, so be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit in order to take in all the features these magnificent homes have to offer.

To top off your day of history exploration, visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, the University of Virginia. June is an ideal time to visit UVa. With classes out for the summer, there are fewer crowds and the gardens are sure to be in full bloom! Founded by Thomas Jefferson, UVa is known not only for its academics, but for its architecture and history. Located at the center of the University is the iconic and recently-renovated Rotunda. Surrounding the Rotunda is The “Academical Village” and The Lawn, a great spot to relax during the warmer months.

After two jam-packed days of history and outdoor activities, you’ll likely want to relax and enjoy some food and drinks with Dad. Charlottesville is a foodie paradise! The Charlottesville region has been leading the pack in the farm-to-table movement since its inception and has received the accolade of “locavore capital of the world” by Forbes Magazine. The historic pedestrian Downtown Mall, which is one of the longest walking malls in the country, has dozens of restaurants, most of which contain outdoor patio space for dining al fresco. Plus, you’ll have your choice of dining options from casual, all the way to upscale.

Before dinner, be sure to spend some time in the heart of East Coast wine country, located in surrounding Albemarle County! This area has been named one of the top wine destinations in the world by Wine Enthusiast, and Dad can sample award-winning wines from more than 35 wineries. In addition to great wine, the vineyards boast extraordinary views of the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains.

If Dad is more of a beer or cider guy, there are plenty of options for him! Hop vines thrive in the local climate (in fact, Virginia was once known as the hops capital of the world), and Albemarle County is home to small-batch breweries making handcrafted ales and lagers as well as hard ciders from the region's orchards. A handful of these award-winning brew houses form a beer-lovers dream tour known as the Brew Ridge Trail (homage to the Blue Ridge Mountains). Often breweries on the trail offer live music to enjoy in the casual and comfortable environment with Dad. Book a tour with one of the local transportation companies for an affordable, fun, and safe way to sample a few different options!