Are you looking to expand your itinerary while visiting Highland and the Charlottesville and Albemarle County region? Highland is pleased to partner with several local tourist destinations to enhance your visit. Whether you are searching for lodging, dining, entertainment, recreation, or history, there are many options within driving distance of Highland.
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers 137 rooms, including three spacious suites, right in the heart of Charlottesville. Nestled in the foothills of beautiful Albemarle County, the hotel is conveniently located in the upscale Shops at Stonefield town center, which features a variety of shops, restaurants and a theater. Less than two miles from the University of Virginia and three miles from the Historic Downtown Mall pedestrian area, Hyatt Place is the perfect location for your stay. Our rooms feature minifridges, pull-out sofas and microwaves upon request. Bathrooms include designer toiletries and hair dryers. Free on-site parking is available, with both standard electric vehicle chargers and Tesla chargers. Our friendly and tenured staff look forward to hosting you on your next visit to Charlottesville. Highland visitors receive a special rate at Hyatt Place. View booking instructions HERE.
Michie Tavern, proudly owned and operated by the same family for 55 years, is located 1/2 mile below Jefferson’s Monticello. A bountiful Southern Midday Fare is served daily. Attentive servers will take care of your every need. The rustic restaurant setting renders a lunch dining experience rich in southern culture and hospitality for families to enjoy. Get a taste of the 18th-century as we feature a buffet of southern fried chicken, marinated baked chicken, hickory-smoked pork barbecue, stewed tomatoes, black-eyed peas, buttermilk biscuits and so much more. Enjoy beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding area on our enclosed courtyard. During the summer months, we offer complimentary Treasure Hunt maps and stick candy to families for children to enjoy. The dining room is wheelchair accessible via a ramp. The 1784 Pub, an 18th-century style pub, serves local wines, beers and hard ciders. Light fare is available during late afternoons. Fun shopping opportunities abound in unique shops housed in restored period structures. Diners receive a $2 lunch discount (Monday through Friday) with a Highland ticket receipt. For information about dining options, including hours of operation, visit https://www.michietavern.com/dining/.
Scenically shadowed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm is a 219-acre preserve bordering the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is a mix of upland woods, pine stands, open fields, streams, and two miles of shoreline. Its rolling hills and diverse habitats make the Ivy Creek Natural Area an ideal site to learn about the rich natural history characteristic of Central Virginia and has made Ivy Creek a favorite destination for visitors and community alike looking for a peaceful walk in the woods.
The land that is now known as the Ivy Creek Natural Area was previously known as River View Farm. River View Farm is a rare surviving example of the Union Ridge/Hydraulic Mills community of African American farmers, pastors, craftspeople, and businessmen that flourished in the region beginning in the final quarter of the nineteenth century. In recognition of the contributions made to the local community by the Carr/Greer family who owned it, River View Farm is recognized on the Virginia Landmark Registry of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the National Register of Historic Places, the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, and the African American Civil Rights Network.
Visit https://ivycreekfoundation.org/calendar to learn more about upcoming events at the Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm.
Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, Architect of the Bill of Rights, and fourth President of the United States. As a memorial to James Madison and the Enslaved Community, a museum of American history, and a center for constitutional education, Montpelier engages the public with the enduring legacy of Madison’s most powerful idea: government by the people.
Montpelier is more than just the home of one of America’s Founding Fathers. It’s a place where we can learn how our Constitution affects our everyday lives. It’s a site that brings its legacy of slavery out of the past and under the lens of our current understanding of the world we all inhabit. It’s an ongoing archaeological dig that tells us more about 18th-century life every day. It’s a destination for anyone who wants to know more about how the thinking of James Madison changed the world. For tour and ticketing information visit https://www.montpelier.org/tours/.
On November 25, 1931, The Paramount Theater opened its doors as one of the last grand “movie palaces” during the golden age of cinema. With its exceptional sightlines and astounding acoustics, The Paramount Theater instantly became an integral part of Central Virginia’s community life over the next four decades. Designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp, and built by Percival Hunter Faulconer and Hollis Rinehart, The Paramount Theater was contextual to the community, an homage to Thomas Jefferson in his hometown. The art deco style, typical of 1930s movie theaters, was abandoned. The Paramount boasts a stately Georgian façade, elegant lobby, magnificent chandeliers, classical seat decoration, 18th-century style colonial scenes painted on silk panels, and an ornate auditorium. The Paramount thrived through the depression era and beyond before it was forced to close on June 30, 1974, due to a decline in downtown business and the increasing popularity of television. In 1992, a group of community leaders purchased The Paramount Theater and reorganized it as a nonprofit. Following a decade of fundraising and two years of renovation and expansion, the fully restored Paramount Theater opened again in 2004, ready to host nationally acclaimed performances, classic movies, speakers, and special screenings, with a diverse menu of live events each year. For a list of upcoming performances and events, visit https://theparamount.net/events/.
Established in 2000 by owner Dave Matthews, Blenheim Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery located 20 minutes southeast of Charlottesville. With two vineyard sites growing Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the goal at Blenheim is to make high quality wines that reflect the climate, soil, and beauty of the surrounding piedmont landscape. Come visit out timber frame tasting room, where you can gaze out over the vineyards to Jefferson’s “sea view” beyond. Peer through paneled glass floors into the tank and barrel room below. We’re open Thursday – Monday from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm for tastings, flights, glasses and bottles of wine. Please call ahead if you’ll have 8 or more in your group. To make a tasting reservation online, visit https://blenheimvineyards.com/visit-us/.
