Charlottesville, VA

I went to Charlottesville for the first time this week, and it was such a cute town! We only walked around the mall area, which is a wide street with lovely shops and unique restaurants along down both sides and tables and chairs running down the middle (with large trees providing shade). It is the perfect place to walk around on a sunny afternoon with your girlfriends. There is also the Free Speech Monument at the end of the mall, which is essentially two large chalkboards where people can write/draw whatever they want. It's not the most beautiful monument (especially compared to those in DC), but I like the idea that it's always changing, and that there can be a dialogue between the sculpture and the viewer.

There is A LOT more to say about Charlottesville, but I've only ever been there once and therefore cannot do it justice. I know that the art and music scenes there are both pretty large, with gallery showings and concerts and festivals happening all the time.

I think Charlottesville is best known for Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson), the University of Virginia, and wineries around the area. So check it out sometime this summer! It's beautiful down there!