The Itinerary
Day One: Fly to Charlottesville. After wandering around campus, I decided that the highlights were the Rotunda and other buildings designed by Jefferson and the cemetery. Dinner that night with geeks (I see them once or twice a year and like them better every time).
Day Two: Head into the West Virginia mountains alone.
I met a friend at Greenbank, WV (famous for its radio telescopes) and enjoyed a day of geek tourism, catching up with an old friend, and hiking up a ridge overlooking the scopes. Unfortunately, electrical signals interfere with data taking at close range, so I only have this pic. Dinner that night was at The Mellow Mushroom (a southern pizza chain I've been dying to try). After all that hiking and driving, pizza and beer really hit the spot.
Day Three: Stone Mountain Winery.
The roads are not well marked, so I recommend taking their directions and a GPS. The last 5 miles are up a windy dirt mountain road and we made it there just fine, but we definitely got lost coming back. The picture at the top of this blog was taken at Stone Mountain Winery close to Shenandoah National Park. It was a wonderful place with delicious wine (we hauled back 3 bottles and our tasting glasses safely wrapped in our luggage). Gelato for lunch. That night we had dinner at Fellini's #9. It turned out to be an amazing spot with good wine, great service, and some of the best focaccia bread I've ever tasted.
Day Four: Monticello, Ashlawn, and Michie Tavern
I recommend visiting the homes of Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. I enjoyed the Michie Tavern but it is a tourist spot indeed. I found that the tour guides at all of these sites were excellent. I feel as though I learned more about the American Revolution over my weekend that I ever did in school. It helped that I was reading a book called Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis. Last fall I read 1776 by David McCullough. That night dinner was at a place called Continental Divide. The BF had Bison meatloaf and I had a veggie burrito full of black beans, cheese, roasted mushrooms and peppers that came with a delicious pumpkin muffin. YUM!
Day Five: Tour the Rotunda, drive up to Montpelier, and head home.
I couldn't help but be inspired walking in James Madison's home. It is truly incredible to reflect on what a few men accomplished when founding this nation.
