Charlottesville Virginia is a charming college town with a whole lot of history. There are several places you may stay while spending your week end in Charlottesville; however, the following are just a few suggestions.
The Omni provides very easy accessibility to the Downtown Mall's west end. It is also only one mile from the Amtrak station
Another form of lodging you may wish to consider is The South Street Inn. The Inn is a couple blocks from the downtown mall. The Inn is comprised of two antebellum houses and provides a very traditional southern exterior. A gourmet-style continental breakfast is a bonus of your stay at The South Street Inn. There is also wine tasting and cheese sampling offered in the afternoon. The only stipulation is a two day minimum on weekends.
The town of Charlottesville is fairly easy to access. You may fly into Charlottesville at Albemarle Airport which is off Route 29 North of town or into Richmond International Airport. Charlottesville is approximately one hour away from the Richmond International Airport. So as you can see, reaching your weekend destination is easy as you have several options of which to select.
Now that we have demonstrated accessible routes as well as sleeping accommodations into the city, it is time to provide a rundown of many of the unique sites and shops in store for any weekend visitor to the city.
First it is important to note, the day to “weekend” shop in Charlottesville is on Saturday as on Sunday most of the unique and quaint shops where you want to visit are closed.
Initially you will want to begin your day with a great cup of “java.” Such a cup of brew may be readily attained at the Mudhouse conveniently located in the Downtown Mall's west end. The address of the establishment is 213 West Main Street. Remember to place it on your Saturday morning itinerary. Also, you might as well grab a muffin while you are visiting the Mudhouse location as a nice compliment to your coffee.
The next stop is Quince located just four blocks south of Mudhouse. There you are in store for a terrific selection of “Mitchell Gold” and “Bob Williams” fabrics and furniture. The preceding items may be ordered through the store. The shop also offers “Dransfield and Ross” pillows for the shopper who likes “plushy” comfort: You'll find pillows accessorized with fur buttons and decorative trim. All in all, the fine furnishings and accessories offered at Quince have a contemporary look and theme.
2 French Hens is decorated in revamped and revitalized 20th Century furniture. This is the charm of the store. Here you may find a delightful display of French-inspired antiquities and furnishings. In addition, there are 1920s and 30s inspired French fonts that may be used for the purpose of especially monogramming the store linens that you may purchase. You'll find the store located in a renovated warehouse at 310 Second Street Southeast. Also, before you take your trip to Charlottesville you may want to peruse their website.
Sun Bow Trading Company was established just a little over twenty-five years ago and offers Turkish and Asian Rugs and Fabrics. The items are hand selected from villages in Turkey and Asia. There are hand woven offerings as well as vegetable dyed floor coverings. The selection is unique as well as diverse and the visit is well worth it. You may find the shop conveniently located in Charlottesville at 110 South Street West.
Artifacts, as the name suggests, provides the shopper with antique finds as well as out-of-the-ordinary accessories. The visit will serve to enhance your overall shopping experience. You may find them at 109 First Street South in Charlottesville.
Lushlife can be found while you are traveling on the east end of the Downtown Mall. There you will find the “Tricia Guild” line of home accessories and “Pine Cone Hills” vintage look linens for the bed. There are nine bedding lines offered at the shop including Anichini and Fig. In addition the location displays accent tableware and very “cool” pottery items. The address is located at 309 East Water Street.
The New Dominion Bookshop was established in 1924 and specializes in architectural books. There are also book signings by various authors. You may request a “signed copy” of John Grisham's latest novel as he lives just outside of Charlottesville. There are also many offerings of literature for the children in your life. When visiting Charlottesville they are located at 404 East Main Street.
After shopping for awhile, you may enjoy some contemporary American fine dining at Hamiltons at First and Main. The crab cakes are highly recommended.
