Things to do near Monticello
In Monticello, visitors can immerse themselves in a vibrant mix of activities, including live music and theatre performances. Enjoy an excellent tour of the iconic Monticello estate, and explore nearby shopping options. For sports enthusiasts, there are exciting baseball tournaments to catch, ensuring a well-rounded experience filled with entertainment and local culture.
Shopping
Two miles from Monticello, the Downtown Mall offers a vibrant shopping experience with entertainment and family-friendly vibes. C'Ville Arts, also two miles away, showcases local artistry. If you're up for a drive, the Scottsville Community Farmers Market Pavilion, 24.1km away, features a charming selection of local goods.
Recreation
Ting Pavilion offers vibrant music concerts, just 3.2km from Monticello, perfect for an entertaining evening. For a lively adventure, visit Charlottesville Ice Park, also 3.2km away, where you can enjoy ice skating. For a more tranquil experience, the Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center, located 6.4km away, provides wellness and relaxation activities.
Adventure
Explore the scenic Rivanna Trails, a delightful hiking experience located 1.6km from Monticello, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. For family fun, visit Massanutten Water Park, situated 48.3km away, offering thrilling water attractions. Don’t miss Caromont Farm, located 32.2km away, where you can engage in unique farm activities.
Nightlife
Experience the charm of Monticello's nightlife at the Paramount Theater, where culture and romance blend beautifully. Enjoy a captivating performance at the New Lyric Theater, or catch an engaging show at Play On. Theater, all within close proximity, offering delightful entertainment for the whole family.
*Distances are measured in a straight line; actual driving distances may vary depending on the route.
![Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who began designing and building Monticello at age 26 after inheriting land from his father. Located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Piedmont region, the plantation was originally 5,000 acres (20 km2), with Jefferson using slaves for extensive cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops, later shifting from tobacco cultivation to wheat in response to changing markets.
Jefferson designed the main house using neoclassical design principles described by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, subsequently reworking the design through much of his presidency to include design elements popular in late 18th-century Europe and integrating numerous of his own design solutions. Situated on the summit of an 850-foot (260 m)-high peak in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap, the name Monticello derives from the Italian for "little mount". Along a prominent lane adjacent to the house, Mulberry Row, the plantation came to include numerous outbuildings for specialized functions, e.g., a nailery; quarters for domestic slaves; gardens for flowers, produce, and Jefferson's experiments in plant breeding — along with tobacco fields and mixed crops. Cabins for field slaves were located farther from the mansion.
At Jefferson's direction, he was buried on the grounds, in an area now designated as the Monticello Cemetery. The cemetery is owned by the Monticello Association, a society of his descendants through Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson.[4] After Jefferson's death, his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph sold the property. In 1834 it was bought by Uriah P. Levy, a commodore in the U.S. Navy, who admired Jefferson and spent his own money to preserve the property. His nephew Jefferson Monroe Levy took over the property in 1879; he also invested considerable money to restore and preserve it. In 1923, Monroe Levy sold it to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (TJF), which operates it as a house museum and educational institution. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1987 Monticello and the nearby University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson, were together designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6082929/fc297070-6be5-4ba5-8b01-2648f1f046f8.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1200&h=500&q=medium)
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