THINGS TO DO

Charlottesville has so much to offer: culture, music, art, fine dining, hiking, shopping, theater, movies, ice skating, golf, tennis, numerous recreational activities, and the list goes on.  Big city entertainment with the small town feel?prepare yourself to be impressed. 

Start your visit at the Downtown Mall, an outside walking mall with wonderful shops and restaurants to please any palate.  If you're visiting on a Friday during the summer, be sure to enjoy Friday's After Five, where you can hear a free concert at the Charlottesville Pavilion at the end of our Downtown Mall.

MUSIC:

 Charlottesville Pavilion: 
Outdoor music pavilion featuring free concerts via Friday's After Five as well as many other national acts. Visit www.charlottesvillepavilion.com

John Paul Jones Arena:
A 16,000 seat arena, located at the University of Virginia, home to the Cavaliers and features spectacular national acts as well. Visit www.johnpauljonesarena.com

Paramount Theater:
A 3,000 seat theater that features music, shows, movies, and all sorts of wonderful entertainment.  Visit www.paramounttheater.com

McIntire Department of Music
A variety of musical performance by the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, University Symphony Orchestra, McIntire Chamber Music Series.Every Tuesday at 8pm enjoy the Evening Concert Series where internationally renowned musicians perform. Visit www.virginia.edu/music

MOVIE THEATERS:

(http://www.cvillemovies.com/)
Charlottesville enjoys three movie theaters that offer mainstream movies:The Regal Downtown, Carmike 6 and the Regal Cinema 4.Vinegar Hill located Downtown is an art-house theater best for independent and foreign films.UVA has two film groups based in Newcomb Hall:Cinemataque and OffScreen for more adverturous films.You can even find a Drive-In Theater if you are willing to make a 40 minute drive to the Fork Union Drive-In.

THEATERS:

Live Arts - http://www.livearts.org/
Four County Players - http://www.fourcp.org/
Blackfriers Playhouse - http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com/

BOOKS:

Between the libraries and the book stores in Charlottesville, you are sure to find anything your heart desires in fine reading material.UVA offers 14 libraries and any Virginia resident 16 years and older can borrow books.You'll also find 15 bookstores, 5 book dealers, even Atlas Comics.

ART:

 With over 21 art galleries, Charlottesville's art culture will offer something for everyone.Charlottesville also offers FIRST FRIDAYS, where art museums open their doors and offer refreshments and a chance to talk to the artists the first Friday of every month.

FOOD:

 There are over ten coffee houses, 8 breakfast joints, 5 BBQ's, 14 burger houses, 61 American fare, 5 French, 30 Far East, 7 Gourmet, 29 International, 23 Italian, 19 Sandwich, 14 Mexican, 5 Family, 19 Pizza, 4 Sports Pubs??.There is surely something for everyone!

SHOPPING:

 Charlottesville offers a variety of shopping choices from tiny boutiques to super markets such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target.The Downtown Mall is the perfect place to soak up the culture of Charlottesville.It's an outdoor mall that offers small boutique shopping and outdoor cafes.You'll also find that the UVA Corner also offers a unique shopping experience.For more traditional shopping, check out the BarracksShopping Center, SeminoleSquareShopping Center, the Fashion Square Mall and the HollymeadTownCenter.  Huge growth occuring East of town in Fluvanna County wherein the Zion Crossroads has a great outlet Mall coming.

Groceries stores are scattered throughout Charlottesville.To name a few, you'll find:

·Kroger
·Giant
·Food Lion
·Harris Teeter
·Whole Foods
·Integral Yoga
·Foods of All Nations
·Sams Club

WINERIES:

 You'll find 19 wineries within a 1 hour drive of Charlottesville.Call 1-800-VA-VINE to get a copy of the Virginia Wineries Festival and Tour Guide.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES (you name it, we've got it):

 Â·Swim Clubs
·Softball
·Flag Football
·Tennis
·Golf
·Kickball
·Soccer
·Mountain Biking
·Fishing & Hunting
·Horseback Riding
·Rowing
·Running
·Fencing
·Frisbee Golf
·Boating
·Ice Skating
·Skiing/Snow Boarding
·Walking Trails
·Hiking
·Climbing Clubs
·Canoeing

HISTORIC SITES:

 Two million travelers visit the area each year to see the area's historic sites and the spectacular scenery of Central Virginia. Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, sits on a nearby mountain overlooking the city. Ash Lawn-Highland, home of James Monroe, features beautiful gardens and furnishings. Montpelier, the home of James and Dolly Madison, recently reopened to the public for tours, tastings, and horse racing.

PARKS AND RECREATION:

 In additional to the Shenandoah National State Park and beautiful Skyline Drive, you'll find numerous parks in and around Charlottesville.Hike the Rivanna Trail System a trail system discretely hidden in Charlottesville, swim and fish at Walnut CreekPark or ChrisGreenLake.Visit the Albemarle County Parks & Rec. website for more information.

WEBSITES:

 Charlottesville Arts:   http://www.artsmonthly.com/
Charlottesville Tourism:  http://www.charlottesvilletourism.org/
Things to Do:  www.incharlottesville.com and visitCharlottesville.org