Trip to Virginia Part 1- Charlottesville

This week was Spring Break around here.  We weren't planning on doing anything, but at the last minute it dawned on me how everything we do was cancelled- horseback riding, choir, Fraternus, classes, piano, etc.  It just seemed silly not to take this break in the schedule to go to see Memaw and Pawpaw.

We decided to take a little mini-trip on the front end and swing through Charlottesville to see Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and the University of Virginia.  I went to Monticello when I was in middle school and LOVED it.  I remember very well admiring how Thomas Jefferson appeared to be a genius in everything there was to learn.   I knew my children would love it too.

We did have art class on Tuesday so we went to that and then left in the afternoon. On the ride up Tucker kept a close watch on where we were on the map.  He'd made a map of our route and drew us driving through the different states.  When we'd reach a new state he'd hold up a sign of that state.  He made a sign for every state we'd drive through (we ended up going through 6 states).

TENNESSEE!

 

Quick stop for treats...

While there I said, "Tucker, how do you like your pizza?"
He said, "Oh!  It's rather good!"

We got about 1/2 way there and stayed in a hotel on Wednesday night.  We finally figured out it's easier to bring sleeping bags than to try to make pallets out of hotel bedding.  Tucker and Charlie loved sleeping on the floor.

We got up early on Thursday and made it to Charlottesville with just enough time to eat lunch in the historic Michie Tavern (I had also gone there when I was 12).

VIRGINIA!

 Such a gorgeous drive!

The tavern was established in 1784.  It's a quaint step back in time. 

 

 Then we drove over to Monticello.  It was such a treat.  The visitor's center is gigantic with a theater, museum, giant gift shop, cafe, children's discovery room, etc.

We rode a shuttle from the center to the house, which is at the tip top of a gorgeous hill with views on every side.  No pictures from our inside tour, but it was fascinating.  He invented a dumb waiter to bring wine up from the cellar to a hidden panel in the fireplace, had Native American artifacts displayed that he received from Lewis and Clark.  He had a compass on the ceiling of the porch that was attached to the weather vane and a fancy foyer clock that told the day with long chains on the walls.  The doors were made so that when you closed one the other would close as well.    His art and book collections were extremely impressive.    We saw his bedroom with the alcove where he died. 

 

 

We saw the underground storerooms and the French kitchen.  We saw where the slaves' homes were and the gardens.  

We walked all over the grounds and then down to the family cemetery.  

Then we decided to walk through the wooded trail back to the visitor's center.  The weather was PERFECT!

We watched "Thomas Jefferson's World" and got some great books at the gift shop.   

Then we drove around the campus of UVA.  The old part is so beautiful.  I loved seeing the old dorms with the rocking chairs and firewood outside each door. 

Shadwells was in the parking lot of our hotel so we got to enjoy dinner there.  They had a wonderful sweet potato roll that was made using Thomas Jefferson's actual recipe. 

A quick dip in the hotel pool and everyone slept like logs.  The next morning we headed to Memaw and Pawpaw's.  :)  It was only a 1/2 day trip to Charlottesville, but we loved it and learned a lot.