This palace is absolutely STUNNING. It's such a shame it's fallen into such disrepair. Each room…read morehad its own unique feel, and the artwork and detail was breathtaking. The best part by far was the stained glass window. The gardens were probably once beautiful but it's been decaying so much over the years that all you see are just sad remnants. WARNING: if you have severe asthma, do NOT visit. My father has moderate asthma and was only able to stay inside for about fifteen minutes before his throat started to close up due to the must. The place itself smells musty- not a BAD or rotten smell but just old. There's a feeling of immense love and sadness in the house and it's imperative that you learn the rich history of the house to truly appreciate it. The inside of the palace is only only open to the public on certain days of the year and not all the rooms are open. I was very satisfied with what rooms were open.

Taking a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive? I suggested taking a slight detour on…read moreAfton Mountain to travel back in time to 1912 with a visit to Swannanoa Palace, a white marble mansion that was a bit of an albatross for James and Sally May Dooley. While the Maymont Estate in Richmond is a much more expansive visitor experience today, this hidden gem, modeled after the Villa de Medici in Rome, is certainly worth a stop, either on one of their open house weekends ($6 fee) or just to see in person from the outside. The real belle of the ball is inside - the 4,000 piece Tiffany stained glass window of Mrs. Dooley, which is a backdrop to the grand central staircase and artistic domed ceiling. There are plenty of interesting fireplaces, doorways and tower views. You will certainly notice the musty presence of mold throughout the building with various walls and ceilings falling apart. The grounds include some terraced gardens and somewhat restricted views of the surrounding area. It is a shame the interior of the building is in such a state of disrepair and the property hasn't been kept up, as it could be an amazing special event space. Still, people apparently elect to have weddings there, even though there is no running water and everything would have to be brought in. There is a no trespassing sign on the front door, so the inside is only accessible on one of the special open house days. The grounds are easy to walk around and being on top of the mountain it has a nice temperature, at least 5-10 degrees below of Charlottesville. Visiting should certainly be a part of any UVA student's bucket list, much like watching the sunrise/sunset from the peak of the quick Humpback Rocks hike.

The poet Edgar Allan Poe's former room is across from Shannon Library and well marked once your in…read morefront of the door. It's not accessible, however plexiglass lets you view Poe's room. If it's the afternoon the glare makes viewing a challenging. A door bell button activates a history of Poe's life and time at UVA. There is more than one history, so push the button again for more short audios. None of the furnishings are original. It's cool, but not a must see in my opinion.

This room is a must-see for fans of Edgar Allan Poe! The room is located on the Grounds of the…read moreUniversity of Virginia in the historic Academical Village. Room 13 West is Poe's, and it is surrounded by rooms of active graduate students at the University. The room has a glass panel in the door so you can look through and see what it would have looked like in Poe's day -- including a bed, hat, and coat that were all owned by Poe himself! The recording by the door gives you a brief history of Poe's time at UVa, providing insight both into his life and the life of University students at the time. Make this room a stop on your trip through C'ville if your a fan of all things spooky, or stop by if you're touring the University. Be sure to say hello to any graduate students you catch outside or with the door open, we're always looking to invite people inside and show off our rooms as well!

Great time with my boys, prices were fair. We tent camped. Cooked everything over the fireread more

Our family had a wonderful time at 340 camp ground. The staff was very friendly and welcoming…read more The Shriners Weekend was such a fun time for all the kids and adults. The water fight, sack race, corn hole tournament and live music made for a busy weekend. Thank you for a great time!

My husband and I wanted to get away for my birthday weekend with two of our dear friends and after…read moremuch research we all agreed on Arcady Vineyard and B&B. Erika and Chris were wonderful from the moment we checked in! After freshening up and dropping our bags in the Arcand suite, we were welcomed with a wine and cheese happy hour to get to know the other visitors and learn about the area and what to expect for the weekend wine tour we selected. Each morning we were served a delicious made from scratch breakfast using local organic ingredients at our own personal breakfast table. Each evening we were left a couple of local chocolates to go with their own dessert wine in our room. The wine tour on Saturday was wonderful, I am very happy with the vineyards we went to (I hadn't been to any of them!) and how much time clearly went into creating the package for their guests. They even take pictures out at the vineyards to send you later! The property is gorgeous and I felt relaxed the second we got out of the car upon arrival. Then, all the little details Erika and Chris have put into the place really make it stand out. From the robe and slippers in the room, to the popcorn and cookies they leave out in the common area, to their sweet dogs they let me pet because I missed my own. I loved everything about this weekend. It could not have been more perfect!

My wife an I stopped in to do the wine tasting. We both enjoyed and ended up buying some of there…read morewines. Great service loads of fun

A scenic, recreational park, Thomas Jefferson Parkway runs along the ridges of Carter's Mountain…read moreand Route 53, ending at Thomas Jefferson's historic Monticello residence. This large park includes an arboretum, several hiking and biking trails, an overpass and a lake. Expect to see many joggers and dog-walkers. The park gives off a very friendly vibe and is a good family environment. The main trail in the park, the Saunders-Monticello trail, is completely wheelchair accessible, as the paths are wide and the steepest grade is 5 degrees. From the downtown Mall, the closest entrance to the park is approximately 10 minutes by bike. It is a little intimidating to get there as you have to ride by the on and off-ramps to 64, so just be careful and try to avoid rush hour if you can. This is a great escape from the nearby roads. It's full of lush, green forests and the soothing sounds of nature.

Not impressed. If you want a nice quiet place to camp this is not it! Very crowded, noisy, golf…read morecarts going every which way. If you like more of a party atmosphere then you may have a different experience.

BEAUTIFUL PLACE! The people were amazing and the camp side plus cabins are easy access and very…read moreclean. They have everything that small children plus teenagers would want. Also great for women's getaway or men's getaway plus elderly to enjoy. Very active, but also too quiet at night. Recommend for people that are coming from a distance, but also to Local.

Had the pleasure of spending my birthday here last weekend. Everything was perfect. I can't say…read moreenough about it. It was private and clean. The hosts were really nice and made you feel comfortable. Make sure to ask for the pancakes for breakfast as they were delicious. You even get your own hot tub to use. They have a great hiking spot on their property. Very close to wineries and breweries. Great place to stay if you are in the area. I can't wait to go back.

How do I begin to tell you about this true gem. Someone had the idea to take all of their staff and…read moretrain them to give exceptional service when you walk in the door. They make you feel like you are a VIP! I have never had a hotel experience like this and I have been in hotels all over the world. The hotel is an easy drive off I64. There is parking right behind the hotel with quick access. The rooms were arranged to maximize the use of space. Its flows nicely and is functional. By the way, the hotel just opened in April 2026. If you ate going to an event at the John Paul Jones arena, it is about a 10 minute walk and the area was safe and well lit. I stumbled across this hotel on Booking.com and the price was reasonable. Breakfast in the hotel was an experience as well, good service and delicious food. Can't wait to stay here again!

I can only speak to the conference center experience, which was like nothing I've experienced…read moreanywhere. Our group's liaison Lyndsay knew us before we walked in, and would do anything to be helpful during a busy afternoon of meetings. The conference food was somehow memorable. And the space itself is lovely. But there's no good or architecture or food that outweighs truly exceptional service. Thanks to Lindsay, the manager, and the front desk staff. An example for others to follow.