Charlottesville Attractions and Museums

The Artisan Trail Network’s “Monticello Artisan Trail” is your passport to wander the back roads and discover the treasures of Albemarle and Nelson Counties. Visit the historical landmarks, sample locally produced foods, linger along the scenic byways, waterways and greenways, enjoy award winning local wines and craft beers, and meet the artisans who define the region’s vibrant heritage. Catering to creative travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, this region is well known for its natural beauty and recreational activities events and festivals. The region of the Monticello Artisan Trail provides diverse experiences, appealing to residents and visitors of all ages and interests!

Carter Mountain Orchard, next to Michie Tavern and mere minutes from Monticello, is open July to Thanksgiving, seven days a week. The fun starts in the sun with tree-ripened peaches and nectarines, plus summer apples. As summer fades, the action heats up with the spectacular apple season. Pick your own or buy in the barn along with fresh cider, homemade cider donuts, pies and hand-dipped ice cream. Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet is open from early May through Thanksgiving and home to a new farm market. Spring Valley Orchard near Batesville offers cherries for about six weeks starting in June.

America's oldest continuously operated show cave, voted #2 in America by Parade magazine, and a National Natural Landmark, Grand Caverns is a stately and powerful example of nature's handiwork. Gigantic stalactites point down from above. Equally imposing stalagmites thrust upward from the caverns floor. Cathedral Hall measuring 280 feet long and over 70 feet high is one of the largest rooms of any cavern in the east. Massive columns, beautiful draperies, rippling flowstone, and hundreds of rare "shield" formations create a variety of fascinating sights. Come and experience the unique beauty of this cavern and the unparalleled hospitality of park staff.

Open from July through mid-November, Henley's Orchard is your destination for a family-owned peach and apple orchard. We do the picking for you! Select from our finest sun-kissed peaches and crisp, cool apples available on-site at "The Shed" beginning July 1. Also sold and featured at local retailers and restaurants, our fresh peaches and apples are sure to delight. Dating back to four generations, we've nurtured 28 varieties of peaches and 38 kinds of apples, including the Albemarle Pippin. Enjoy the bounty of Henley's Orchard nestled at the base of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia came into being in 1997 through a gift by American businessman, John W. Kluge. The Collection comprises over 1600 objects, including paintings, sculpture and artifacts, such as ochre paintings on bark from Arnhem Land and bright, acrylic paintings on canvas from the deserts of Central Australia. Many works in the Collection are evocative of the landscape and stories of the Dreaming ancestors. Exhibits are on display throughout the year showcasing artwork from both the permanent Collection and visiting exhibitions. A free guided tour is offered each Saturday at 10:30am.

Discover Eastern America’s largest and most popular caverns. Luray Caverns, a U.S. Natural Landmark, is noted for the profuse variety of formations and unsurpassed natural color. From well lighted, paved walkways explore cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10 stories high, filled with towering stone columns and crystal-clear pools. Also, hear the haunting sounds of the Great Stalacpipe Organ, the world’s largest musical instrument. This most unique one-of-a-kind instrument uses stalactites covering 3 1/2 acres of the surrounding caverns to produce tones of symphonic quality when electronically tapped by rubber- tipped mallets. Luray Caverns is 15 minutes from 1-81 on U.S. 211 in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

Luray Zoo is a privately owned rescued zoo. Mark and Christine Kilby run the facility, where they provide loving homes for: unwanted/abused pets, retired zoo animals, and confiscated animals. Mark and Christine provide homes as well as educate the public about animals. The zoo is now home to over 250 animals, and is the only true rescue zoo in Virginia. The Zoo has been giving homes to animals for over 26 years! Luray Zoo receives no government funding. Admission and gift shop sales goes right to the animals and upkeep of the zoo.

For more than 30 years, Massanutten Resort has welcomed vacationers as they experience the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. From Massanutten Peak, you can gaze out over amazing panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding valley. If you enjoy skiing, golfing, swimming, or hiking, want to experience all the thrills of a huge waterpark or just relax in the mountains, Massanutten Resort is the perfect family vacation location. Being a four-season resort means there are things to do all year!

Michie Tavern, circa 1784, served as the social center of its community and accommodated travelers with food, drink and lodging. Located 1/4 mile from Jefferson's Monticello, this Virginia Landmark captures 18th Century Tavern life through bountiful southern fare, interactive tours and four unique shops. June 1-September 2 children receive $4 discount on lunch buffet per each paying adult. (Ages 12-15 may lunch for $6.95; 6-11 $2.95.) Coupons required and available at www.michietavern.com under "discounts." Lunch buffet offered daily 11:15-3:30. Ask about interactive tours featuring Mr. Michie's Treasure Hunt.

Enter the world of Thomas Jefferson by exploring the iconic house and scenic grounds of Monticello, his mountaintop plantation and autobiographical masterpiece, designed and redesigned and built and rebuilt for more than forty years. Experience the renovations to the dining room, kitchen and wine cellar, and the new exhibition "The Crossroads." Be sure to watch the introductory film and see the children's discovery room at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center. Reserved tickets are available online.

Welcome to Montpelier home of James and Dolley Madison. James Madison, 4th President and "Father of the Constitution" made his life long home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Montpelier. Come take a guided tour of the Mansion, participate in hands on outdoor cooking, stroll the formal gardens, investigate the archaeological digs, or hike the 400-acre Landmark forest trails. Just 30 minutes from Charlottesville in beautiful Orange, Virginia. Join for the Montpelier Hunt Races on November 5. Our goal is to offer the finest steeplechase racing at a very historic setting in the heart of central Virginia.

At Natural Bridge Zoo Park there are always numerous baby animals and typically a special exotic baby animal to have your picture take with. This spring, have your picture taken with baby tigers! Enjoy an African Elephant ride. Encounter mountain lions, White Tigers, Asiatic bears, zebra, and a large variety of monkeys. Many of the Natural Bridge Virginia Zoo animals are bottle fed from birth which creates closer, more friendly encounters than you have ever experienced. Have too much fun while feeding a herd of giraffe, camels, donkeys, pigs, deer and goats. Hundreds of animals to feed, pet and photograph.

Thrilling visitors from around the world, Shenandoah Caverns is the only cavern in Virginia with elevator service. Explorers of every age and ability will discover an underground world of wonder. With level walkways and no stairs, only our sights are breathtaking! Enjoy an underground world of wonders along a one-mile tour circuit where a comfortable 56-degree temperature is maintained year-round. The Shenandoah Caverns Family of Attractions also includes American Celebration on Parade, The Yellow Barn and Main Street of Yesteryear.

Enjoy Sights and Stories in our beautiful Victorian town just over the mountain from Charlottesville. After a lovely ride over the Blue Ridge Mountains, Staunton Guided Tours will provide a tour of your choice. We offer eight different tours, including a trolley ride around Staunton, a visit to historic and beautiful Trinity Church with twelve Tiffany windows, a Historic Houses tour, an Augusta County Heritage tour including Polyface Farm, a Civil War Battlefield Tour, a walking tour of downtown, or one of your own design. Join our experienced guides. Reasonable prices. Call or see our website for more information.

This 1852, middle-class farmhouse is infamously connected to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. During the crucial decade before the Civil War, the house served as a tavern and hostelry, a post office, and a polling place. When the war came, the Surratt family used it as a safehouse for Confederates on the underground espionage system that flourished in Southern Maryland. Today, the historic house museum offers tours, exhibits, and special events to recapture the history of mid-19th century life and to focus on the fascinating web of the Lincoln assassination that entangled the Surratt family.

Located a short distance from the Rotunda, the University of Virginia Art Museum displays a variety of works from its own collection as well as special exhibitions of artwork from other institutions - all presented against the stunning backdrop of its newly-renovated beaux-arts building. Enhanced gallery space and a variety of educational programs for all ages provide an opportunity for the general public to experience art. Fall exhibitions include The Dancer and the Dance; Henry Moore: Seated Woman; Object Study Gallery; The Fourteenth Street School and the Woman in Public; Renaissance Architectural Prints from Column to Cornice.

Virginia's only drive-thru zoo! 180 acres, 1,000 animals, three miles of roads. Feed bison, elk, antelope, zebra, ostrich and many other animals from your own vehicle! The Safari Village, 10 acres of walk-thru exhibits, includes: tigers, cheetahs, aviary, kangaroos, reptiles, primates, tortoises, and warthogs. Feed goats, baby llamas, and piglets in the Petting Zoo and feed giraffes directly out of your hand! Located off I-81 Exit 180B. March-May daily 9 to 5pm; Memorial Day-Labor Day daily 9 to 6pm; and September-November daily from 9 to 5pm.

It's no challenge to experience Waynesboro your way. Explore a different time period through the museums, historical sites and Civil War battlefields within and surrounding the city. Capture the breathtaking views with a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive or a hike the Appalachian Trail. Get caught up in one of our many festivals, from the Fly Fishing Festival to the Chili Blues and Brews Festival. Take in natural beauty while competing in the Park to Park half marathon or one of the many annual races. Come discover why it's not like everywhere else- it's Your Waynesboro.

White Oak Lavender Farm is a family owned farm in Rockingham County, VA. We grow over thirty varieties of lavender and distill our own essential oils. All of our lavender is grown using organic practices and is lovely for crafting and cooking. Our guests enjoy walking through our fields, picking the lavender, interacting with our farm animals and spending time in our relaxing gift shop. We are open year round Tuesday - Sunday. Check out our web page for specific hours and information for lectures, tours, classes and special events.

Enjoy tours of President Wilson's birthplace; explore the Woodrow Wilson Museum where his Pierce-Arrow limousine is a highlight; stroll through the Victorian garden and visit the President's Shop. Children will enjoy the Kid's Corner. In historic Downtown Staunton, minutes away from I-81 and I-64. Tours daily. "I have a sense of power in dealing with men collectively which I do not always feel in dealing with them singly.... One feels no sacrifice of pride necessary in courting the favor of an assembly of men such as he would have to make in seeking to please one man." -Wilson at age 27