Charlottesville is just over an hour drive from Richmond and is a vineyard and brewery fanatic’s playground. Ditch the bars and come here for all of the locally crafted and brewed drinks. Is there such thing as a vineyard or brewery crawl? If not, I’m inventing it— a brewyard crawl. Okay, that sounds weird but some times its the weirdest things that stick.
Start the day off at the City Market
This is a famous farmers market that happens on Saturday mornings throughout the summer from 8am to 12pm. There are so many good food options you won’t know what to do with yourself. As a person that LOVES food, I’m always on the hunt for something I haven’t had before. I tried this Caribbean dish that had pulled pork, rice, plantains, and a side salad. The flavors just burst in my mouth and it immediately made sense why the line was so long. There are also people selling their hand made crafts, locally grown fruits and veggies, bake goods and many other items. I think its always a good idea to support local businesses when possible.
Walk over to the Downtown Mall
For my DMV folks (DC, Maryland, Virginia residents) this area is very similar to Old Town Alexandria, just on a smaller scale. There are many cute, historic buildings that are home to unique boutiques, ice cream shops, and food places. I recommend checking out The Draft Room. It’s exactly what it sounds like, tons of beers on tap.
Eat at Bravos
You know when people ask questions like would you rather eat this or that for the rest of your life? Tacos, the answer is always tacos. The options you can create on a tortilla are limitless. Bravos offers breakfast, vegetarian, and unique tacos. I tried a taco that had mashed potatoes, corn, and beef on it and it was so delicious. I will drive an hour just for those tacos and then drive back. Trust me its worth the gas.
Spend time at Carter Mountain Orchard
Have you ever picked your own peaches before? This was a first time experience for me and it was so much fun. Walking from tree to tree judging if a peach is ready or not can oddly be somewhat stressful. Only because you’re trying to snatch up all the good ones before everyone else haha. I was somewhere in between a fast walk and jog going from tree to tree lol. Afterwards, you can go back up to the barn, grab some food, and take in the incredible view while enjoying some Bold Rock Cider.
Enjoy wine at Jefferson Vineyards
This was my first time going to a vineyard (so many new experiences on this day, definitely broke a record) and I was so intrigued. At this place, they give you 6 wines to taste for $12 and you get to keep the wine glass! The staff there is so nice and gave us a detailed description of each wine so we knew what to expect before we tasted it.
This day had a lot of firsts for me and I hope this itinerary helps you experience some of your own. Leave a comment below if you’ve been to Charlottesville or wish to go one day!