Family Fun

Read on to learn more about things to do for families in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County area.

With a rich history, vibrant arts community, and outdoor recreation options galore, Charlottesville and Albemarle County offer up educational and fun experiences for all families.

Inspire your family with an unparalleled experience at the only home in the United States to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Explore Jefferson’s home and grounds to learn more about the complex history of the author of the Declaration of Independence. Just a short drive from Monticello, you’ll find the homes of two other former U.S. presidents – James Monroe’s Highland and James Madison’s Montpelier. All three can even be visited in the same day. Be sure to stop by the University of Virginia to experience the newly unveiled Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, which honors the lives of the enslaved who built and helped maintain the university.

Get your creative juices flowing with a visit to the IX Art Park, which is also home to The Looking Glass, Virginia’s first immersive art exhibit. Younger children will marvel at the wonders found in the Virginia Discovery Museum, while the entire family will enjoy a stroll along the historic pedestrian Downtown Mall – one of the longest of its kind in the entire country. With shopping, performance venues, and restaurants, it’s the perfect place to spend the day in the heart of the city.

Head outdoors and stretch your legs with a hike along the Saunders-Monticello Trail or the nearby Shenandoah National Park. Pick your own fruit straight from the tree at one of the region’s many farms and orchards. Get on the water to enjoy kayaking, canoeing, or floating the day away down the James or Rivanna Rivers. Or head to one of the area’s award-winning wineries, many of which are family friendly, complete with food trucks, live music, and sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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