Solar Eclipse in Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville, VA

August 21, 2017

After a short visit in Asheville, NC we packed up once again and headed off to Charlottesville, VA for an overnight. We were weary after the white supremacist march in the summer 2017 which resulted in a death and unrest that followed. Fortunately, things had settled, but there were still signs of protest and anger over what had taken place. We persisted and continued with our plans and arrived to Charlottesville around lunch time. We booked at the The Graduate Hotel right in town. It was a lovely, dog friendly hotel with a room big enough to accommodate all five of us. We ate lunch at The Mellow Mushroom, a chain offering salads, subs, pizza. It was decent, kids were happy, dog joined us. We were right in time for the start of the solar eclipse and the clouds were sparse. It was fun to watch people stopping in the middle of the street to look up at the sun with wacky eclipse glasses on. At least the eclipse took our minds off things, even if it were temporary.


We had reserved a time to see Monticello, the primary Plantation of Thomas Jefferson. If you're going, booking online in advance both guarantees you a spot and simplifies your life. On the way, we stopped to stare at the eclipse, as the sun was 87% covered. The tour of Monticello lasted about 45 minutes and covered the interior details and some of the exterior. The guide was very informative and upfront about Jefferson's use of enslaved people and his affair with Sally Hemmings. No hiding the horrible past. After the tour we sat outside and listened to a lecture about how the enslaved people lived, worked and were treated at Monticello. It was informative and important for the kids to learn the ugly history of such a beautiful plantation and our nation's past.

We were the last tour and took the last bus back to the parking lot and headed back to the hotel to Public Fish and Oyster and enjoyed our last meal on the patio with the dog. My husband and daughter slurped down fresh oysters and I couldn't help but to order up moules frites with extra frites. The food was fresh, delicious and seasonal. It was our last dinner on our 2017 summer adventure.
And the last time to take the dog for a walk and to dinner.

It was time to pack up and head back home. Kids had to start getting ready for school, summer was coming to an end. Another one has come and gone and we have put another adventure in the books. It's amazing how much we were able to do in these three towns in the United States of America. Our country has so much to offer and I look forward to exploring more.