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Guide to Charlottesville, USA - Virginia
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Charlottesville
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CharlottesvilleLocated in the center of Virginia's vast triangular segment, Charlottesville is a city laid out before lush landscape with the Blue Ridge Mountains rising to the west. A place which caught the attention of settlers among the likes of the Jeffersons, Charlottesville brings the term classical to mind. Perfectly manicured grasses adorn the grounds of whitewashed mansions complete with cobblestone drives, and with the city being one of the few in the States playing home to freely roaming wildlife, you'll be hard pressed to find more pleasing premises where both street life and natural habitats can coexist in such a condition. Falling so deeply in love with the region, Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe all constructed their miniature castles here, though Jefferson's nationally-renowned Monticello can hardly be described in such a fashion. As in all southern cities, Charlottesville was the site of a considerable amount of unrest in past centuries, particularly during the Civil War; however, you won't find so many memorials commemorating those lost during the stints of turbulence. Instead, you will come across a moderately paced city center, a great number of preserves for all the city's picnickers, poets, and novelists to roam, and what seem to be more bed & breakfasts and quaint inns than full-fledged chain-oriented hotels. Whether you're coming for the sights, the scents, or the illusion of seclusion one gets inside a relatively unknown destination, Charlottesville is undoubtedly a wonderful choice for just about any agenda.
When to go:
Weather-wise, Charlottesville is similar to any city in the tri-state area. Hot in summer, warm in spring and autumn, and cold enough for snowfall in winter, all of Virginia is blanketed by four distinct seasons throughout a 12-month period. It's important to point out the fact that Charlottesville happens to have better luck later in the year than earlier for total number of dry days, but under rather unpredictable circumstances, it's better to leave such minor considerations to the time immediately prior to your travel date.
Getting there and around:
Charlottesville shares an airport with it's close-knit sibling, Albemarle, a flight center where privately chartered connections nearly outnumber those commercial in nature. When you arrive (typically after a stop over at a major east-coast terminal), a taxi is usually present, able to transport you to any desired location. Shuttles are also present at all hours. Free trolley service is available to the public downtown, a small snippet of the city. If you're on the lookout for sights less characteristic of commercial venues and more along the lines of historic delectables, you can board a CARTA bus or call for a taxi. Car rental agencies offer great deals during slower seasons of the year.
Attractions:
Before making headway to the city's most popular site, we recommend your first visit be to Appomattox Court House National Historic Park. Before the temperatures rise above the dew point, take a stroll through this beautiful 19th-century block of 20+/- structures. A full tour typically lasts 2 hours, and a stop at the visitor center is important for those who'd like to know anything about what they're viewing. Monticello, the residence and retreat of Thomas Jefferson while President of the United States, is the first American plantation to sit on the side of a mountain rather than the conventional by-the-river placement. To step away from English style architecture, Jefferson chose to fashion his masterpiece in 16th-century Italian accoutrements. Guided tours of the site are available between late spring and early autumn.
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