Who Can Afford Napa? Check Out Charlottesville
I would love to take a long, lazy tour around Napa Valley. Hot air ballons. Fine dining. Endless vineyards.
Biiiiiiiig price tags.
You know what’s closer to home?
Virginia. And Charlottesville. And all the goodness of Napa at a fraction of the price.
Obviously, Monticello is amazing; and to their credit, they don’t shy away from discussing slavery, which some sites gloss over. Also everything you’ve heard about how amazing Virginia ham is? Absolutely true! But C’ville itself is excellent, and definitely worth your time.
You want festivals? They’ve got ‘em. Festivals for wine and pumpkins and chocolate. Festivals for photography and books and racing. And naturally, the fireworks on the 4th of July are amazing.
You want to shop? Yep, they’ve got you covered there, too. Antiques and galleries in the Historic Downtown Mall. Custom jewelry. Even some very cutting edge modern art.
But let’s not forget the wineries, mm? There are more than 1000 acres of vineyards in the region, and you can sip, sample, and swoon your way around for several days at the price of one tour in California.
I also understand that the wedding biz is picking up in Charlottesville, with several venues both indoor and outdoor, elegant and rustic. So if you’re in the mood to visit, don’t wait too long. People outside the mid-Atlantic are starting to catch on.