I had been to Monticello a few years ago but had no idea this trail even existed and better yet…read moreit's free and you don't have to pay Monticello admission to check it out. I believe it's about 4 miles there and back and much of it is on boardwalks but parts could get muddy if it rained. Luckily, it was sunny when we checked it out. It's not too strenuous and very well marked as long as you stay on the main trail. Parking was tough but we found a spot at the overflow lot just down the road from the trail lot and this way you get a little bit of bonus hiking to get your step count up. The trail itself wasn't too crowded and I assume 99% of Monticello tourists don't even know about it. It's worth checking out though if you're in the area.

Really beautiful set of trails all very well maintained with a variety of distance/challenge loops…read more Easy and ample parking and Was able to manage with baby in carrier + dog and got some great views!

On our way out we saw scenic overlooks while heading westbound, we made a mental note of these…read moreareas and decided to make a stop on our way back east. After making our stop for facilities and food, we started out again. We were keeping an eye out for the signs to make the pull off. We got to the first one and found a spot to park. This is not to be confused with the other scenic overlook a few miles ahead. This one is purely for the overlook, with a small bit of history. When you look out over the valley, you get to see in the distance a few peaks. Humpback Mountain will be to your west and Heard Mountain will be to your east. Then you just have the sweeping view of the valley. And for clarity, this is the overlook from the Interstate, not the road that is just below the highway. While here, be sure to check out the historic markers as well. One explaining the Rockfish Gap Meeting. This one pertaining to the commission for the start of the University of Virginia. The second is Flight of Richard C DuPont. Setting the US record for sail planing. This flight took him from near this spot to Frederick, MD. The third, Greenwood-Alton Rural Historic District. A significant passage through this area, being that it is the lowest point in some distance through the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you are looking for a place to stretch your legs during a long haul drive, this is possibly one of the best places to do so.

When you time the stop just right it's a 5 star experience. So today was perfect Fall foliage with…read moreblue skies and large puffy clouds which was ideal for viewing and photography. Help out a new friend and offer to take photos too! There are trash cans use them!

What a gorgeous place! I went in the late winter/early early Spring and even though there were no…read moreleaves on the trees, it was still gorgeous. Monticello is the estate of Thomas Jefferson and there is so much history packed into the tour but the beauty is what captivates you. The woodwork, the flooring, the artwork...I could go on and on. The tour guides are excellent! Very knowledgeable, engaging, friendly and they keep history honest. I loved that they stuck to the facts and told the history as it should, the good, the bad and the ugly. The estate is still kept immaculate and holds so much history in every detail. The view alone overlooking the mountainside takes your breath away. It immediately sets your mind to wandering and fantasizing of a time long ago and how spectacular it must have been to live surrounded by such beauty. I highly recommend and would recommend going in late Spring or early Summer or Fall when the leaves have changed color.

Monticello is probably the most famous of all the President houses (Mt Vernon may have it beat)…read more As a self-proclaimed Presidential history nerd, I have been to several presidential homes, libraries, museums, gravesites, monuments, etc. Monticello's history is the most interesting because of many factors including Jefferson's architectural obsession, the atrocities with slavery that occurred with building and maintaining it, and the innovations and experimentation Jefferson used while living here. Monticello is a huge operation. You should definitely get a reservation. You park at the bottom of the hill (or maybe middle of it) then you go through metal detectors and are now in the cafe/gift shop/bathroom area. From there you can take the 1/2 mile walk up hill to the home or take the bus. Once you are up top, you will be put into different huddles depending on your tour time. Oh, there are several different style tours, we just did the general admission tour. Anyway, you can walk around the grounds while you wait. The whole thing is very well organized. Our tour guide took us through various rooms in the house, pointed out various artifacts from Jefferson's past, told stories and was very knowledgeable when asked questions. The group I was in was probably 20 people. The whole tour took 45 mins. Then we walked the grounds independent of the tour including looking at Jefferson's family cemetery plot. My only issue is that I went on July 1st, 2026, so the whole back (or front) had a huge tent set up for the America 250 celebration. Not a big deal just didn't get the complete feel or pics.

Fascinating and fun! Great couple of hours to walk around and learn a bit of history.read more

Man, I wanted to like this as I am a self-proclaimed Presidential History nerd. However, it is…read morejust land that Monroe once owned because his buddy Tommy Jefferson told him to buy it, sold because he was broke, then the house burnt down years after he left, then someone else built a house here. That's the house you see. Now they do have an outline of the foundation of the house that was once here. So, there is that. Then the new(er) house is full of exhibits on Monroe. Honestly, I am glad I went but if you are pressed for time, it's one you can skip.

The ruins are located on the grounds of the Barboursville Vineyard…read more They are all that remain of the grand brick mansion of James Barbour -- a Virginia governor, U.S. senator, Secretary of War under John Quincy Adams, and close friend of Thomas Jefferson. Built in 1822, the original house was designed by Thomas Jefferson in his neoclassical style, complete with a distinctive octagonal drawing room (note connection to the naming Barboursville Winnery award winning red!) On Christmas Day, 1884, the mansion burned in a devastating fire leaving only the brick walls, columns, and chimneys standing. Instead of rebuilding, the Barbour family moved to a nearby residence, and the ruins remain as a picturesque shell. A short walk from either the tasting room or cottages, this is a must stop for history buffs interested in civil war era and Thomas Jeffereson and photographers for the weathered remains with the vineyard and blue ridge foothills in the background Parking nearby if you choose to drive. Steep uneven climb from parking

This site is part of a winery complex which has a restaurant and an inn. The site is free to enter,…read morethough it is confusing as my map tried to bring me in on a dirt road that wasn't open rather than the actual entrance which is east of the site. I eventually wormed my way around to find the one-lane bridge to the site blocked by someone who bizarrely just seemed to want to sit there, so I parked at the winery/restaurant and walked over. It's a nice walk. The ruins are interesting to look at. There's not a lot to the site and you can't go past it as it becomes private space for guests of the site. It also closes at 5:30 and signs angrily warn that being there after 5:31 is trespassing, so you can't plan on catching a sunset there or anything. But if you looked this up and your goal is to see some cool ruins, you can, within limits.

Great surbubanite park in nature! They offer amazing paved and gravel trails with fun sights…read morefollowing the history of the coal mines here in Midlo! This is an amazing spot to get a walk in, enjoy a picnic or fish! The most unique part of this park is the tunnel that connects you to the walking loop around the lake. It's a lot of fun to just walk through and really helps break up the monotony of a walk. No playground but tons of things to see and animals around. There is also a creek that runs through most of the park so water access is available.

I like this park a lot. I enjoy coming here for walks once a week and sometimes I sit on the…read morebenches and look at the lake. I like how clean the place is and walking here for me is very relaxing and peaceful. I have seen people come here to take their graduation, birthday and engagement photos. I have invited co workers and friends here to take walks with me and they liked it too!

"Walk a mile in their shoes......"…read more I decided to peer through the eyes of history and visit the Tuckahoe Plantation. I felt all the feels driving up the loooong drive to the plantation. I wondered how many slaves dreamed about what was on the "other side" of that long field. Many visitors pack in to see where Thomas Jefferson spent his childhood BUT I drove to see how the ancestors spent theirs (as this plantation tells the enslaved stories, as well). As I walked the curving path to see the schoolhouse, kitchen, enslaved quarters....I felt something (not the haunting that is said to be present) - i wondered about long sweltering summers in the field. I didn't need to peer inside the main house. I thought the archivists did a good job assembling historical facts about Thomas Jefferson and the enslaved. I didn't take the guided tour but I enjoyed what was open to see (people reside there - in both the main house and cabins - so not much to see).

Lovely spot to take a walk in their immaculate garden! This plantation, once the home of Thomas…read moreJefferson, is located off River Road, down a long, dirt driveway. You will pass a farm with chickens and gorgeous fields as you make you way to the stately Georgian styled home at the end of the road. There's a parking lot with an honor system box, $5 donation for the self- guided walking tour of the grounds. A map Is provided, and there are QR codes throughout this beautiful acreage. Should you want a guided tour of the main house and outbuildings, there are charges ranging from $5-$20, discounts for children, seniors and military. Call for reservations to be sure they are not hosting a private event. We were only interested in being outdoors! The plantation is open from 9-5 daily. This place is the perfect location for some fresh air therapy! We were enthralled by the various garden areas, the statuary, the arched groves, the arbors, the colonial design, and most of all, the spring flowers and trees in full bloom! We meandered through the rows of tulips, daffodils, poppies, hyacinths, snowdrops, candytuft, bluebells, and other colorful flowers, shrubs, bushes and plants. This not so secret garden was full of birds, with bird houses placed strategically at various spots. Flowering vines and trees were trained to make gorgeous arches. The maintenance of this amazing, historic estate is obviously painstakingly meticulous. We were completely enthralled with its beauty and understated grandeur. They allow photo shoots for exorbitant fees and by appointment only. You might want to try Maymont, etc. instead.

We chose to park in the West Trailhead side and walked in from that direction of the tunnel. We…read morestarted out with our flashlights on but wanted to walk the tunnel without the flashlights. The Experience was fantastic. We did turn on our flashlights when we saw people approaching so we would not startle them. It is dark, damp, and cold in the tunnel. You hear the little water falling inside. We had pocket warmers and I think they were needed. We were both happy we had our pocket warmers. The hike to the tunnel has wonderful forest views and an excellently maintained trail. They also have some plaques with historical information on them. We really thought that was a nice additions to our hike. Both sides of the tunnel has picnic tables. The picnic tables are brand new this year. We stopped and had lunch. There are 2 parking areas. East Trailhead Blue Ridge Tunnel and West Trailhead Blue Ridge Tunnel. Both have a porta potty but no running water. So you will want to take some hand sanitizer. Easy hike, 4.6 miles. Out and back. 370ft elevation gain. The best maintained trail I have ever seen. Hiker friendly, kid friendly. Dogs on leash, Forest view, tucked away on the side of a mountain, Historical tunnel view. Some of the trail is paved, then gravel, and then dirt with gravel mix. Make sure you leave no trash behind

We had a group of eight for the hike. We started on the east side. The walk through the tunnel…read morewas great. I was thankful that started on the east side because it was a pretty steep and long climb after the tunnel. It was 4.5 miles total for the walk. To have the steepest part at the middle was perfect rather than having it at the end. Highly recommend. The tunnel is not claustrophobic at all as it is large inside and you can see the end the entire time. It was a perfect fall hike with the leaves changing. We stopped at Blue Mountain Brewery afterward (only 6 minutes away) for lunch.

Step back into time and visit a great revolutionary period tavern after touring Monticello. This…read morerestored building, a Virginia Historic Landmark, features tavern workers dressed in period dress. The period wood interior and the use of steel plates, cups, and plateware all add to the historic charm of this place. The tavern offers a buffet style experience where one can choose from coleslaw , black eye peas, mashed potatoes, turnips, Southern fried chicken, cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, hickory flavored pulled pork and soup. Soda and apple cider are available as well all for one fixed price ($28). The area waitress or waiter will come around and offer refills on both the food and drinks and deliver to your table. Service was friendly and quick. If one wants to indulge in traditional Southern cooking this is the place. The 1784 pub ( located in the oldest part of the tavern) offers wine, cider and local beers along with special events. There are several restored period buildings on the property one can visit including a gift shop housed in one of the old historic structures. Michael Tavern, relocated and restored by Josephine Henderson back in 1927 to the current location, is a wonderful period landmark to stop in and enjoy some delicious Southern fare while taking a step back in time.

The gift shop is so big. Lots to see. The store is nicely designed and clean…read more I was very happy to find a Fresh Cut Card. The lady was helpful in helping to pick the right one for a birthday card. The one I had was the smaller one but she went and got me a big one. For $5 more it was so much nicer. My friend loved it. If you are in the area, you should stop in. I am visiting from NC but plan to go back in Sept and try the restaurant.

James Madison lived at Montpelier his entire life. This is a really interesting historic home that…read morelater belonged to the DuPont family, who eventually donated funds to turn it back into a historic site as Madison's home. That renovation/restoration took a long time, and it's now a lovely place to visit and learn about our 4th President and his wife Dolley Madison. In addition to the house, which acknowledges its part in running a plantation through the work of enslaved people, it has exhibits about slavery at Montpelier and archeological finds. The property also has lovely grounds with a beautiful garden that's filled with many colorful flowers in the spring. The visitor center offers a movie, and the house docents offer hour-long tours on the half hour. They also have picnic tables under shady trees to enjoy lunch. The views from Montpelier are breathtaking. They charge a fee to visit the house and grounds. If you only want to visit the grounds, the fee is lower.

This is a great place to visit if you are interested in America's founding, American style of…read moredemocracy, or to celebrate the upcoming Sestercentennial of the United States. (Having experienced the bicentennial as a kid on a summer-long vacation, I am looking forward to it.) The guided tour of the house is well done. The out-buildings and grounds are self-guided. There are many and spread out, and the whole property is on a gentle slope. Could be an issue if it is a hot and humid day. Be sure to visit the garden! Think twice about buying the Looking Through the Landscape book for $10.00. I thought it would be something I could put on my bookshelf but no. Hardly a pamphlet, it contains QR code links to YouTube videos they created. It was snuck in during the checkout process and frankly left me feeling duped. I chalked it up as a donation.