<p>My parents are coming to visit me on Sunday and I want us to do something different this time. I go home more often then they come here, but whenever they do, we usually end up walking around grounds and exploring the corner or downtown area. I want to show them something different this time, but honestly, as a first year student, I don't know the city that well and without a car, I haven't explored much. So if you have any suggestions for places, parks, anything to visit, please feel free to share :)</p>
<p>definitely walk around, especially during sunset because it's gorgeous.</p>
<p>have you been to bodo's?</p>
<p>i hope someone corrects me if i get this wrong, but exit 99(i think??) off route 64...blue ridge parkway...go into the mountains!</p>
<p>Yes, I have taken them to bodo's, the one on the corner and the one on rt. 29. I was wondering if there is something interesting in the city beyond the corner and the downtown mall. I will check blue ridge parkway...thanks happy mom!</p>
<p>[Monticello[/url</a>] is a great attraction and it's just across town. [url=<a href="http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/%5DAsh">http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/]Ash</a> Lawn-Highland<a href="Monroe's%20home">/url</a> is here as well. You'll have to do a little research to see if they're open on Easter Sunday.</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://www.charlottesville.org/index.aspx?page=390%5DThe">http://www.charlottesville.org/index.aspx?page=390]The</a> Rivanna Trail](<a href="http://www.monticello.org/%5DMonticello%5B/url">http://www.monticello.org/) is nice for a walk. It circles the entire city and you can jump on and off at different points. One of the popular points to get on it is just off JPA (by the Fontaine Research Park). </p>
<p>The</a> parks/trails on this page are relatively close to grounds. I'd say Sugar Hollow, Walnut Creek, and Ragged Mountain are the easiest on the list.</p>
<p>About 20-25 minutes from Cville is a great hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway to a spot called Humpback Rock. It's a short hike, but it's steep. The views at the top are fantastic. Just google it and you'll find plenty of info.</p>
<p>Look up Mitchie Tavern.</p>
<p>Thank you all for offering fresh ideas. We are Eastern Orthodox, so we celebrate our Easter at a different time, so thank you for reminding me about this one.</p>
<p>It's "Michie Tavern", and it's located just outside of Charlottesville.</p>
<p>We had dinner there several years ago, and the food was very good. Southern cooking as I recall.</p>
<p>This promises to be the perfect weekend to go to Monticello and Ash Lawn-- the weather will be great, and the crowds are usually pretty sparse in March. </p>
<p>A few more dining suggestions:</p>
<p>Ten-- modern Japanese cuisine on the downtown mall (120B East Main Street). On the expensive side, and you need a reservation, but consistently great.
TEN</a> - Modern Japanese Cuisine ? Charlottesville, VA</p>
<p>Petit Pois-- also on the downtown mall (201 East Main). Excellent bistro style food. Not cheap, but a very good value. </p>
<p>Hotcakes-- in the Barracks Road shopping center, near Kroger. Mostly a takeout place, but recently hired a fabulous chef named Jose, and now serves dinner Friday and Saturday.</p>
<p>I've heard lots of good things about TEN. I heard it's extremely expensive though, but when my parents come to visit, I'll be sure to take them there :D</p>
<p>You don't need a reservation at Ten. I would just call ahead to verify that they're open this Sunday if you decide to go there.</p>
<p>FWIW, the head chef was hired away from Nobu in Manhattan (the original Nobu). That's a pretty impressive get for Charlottesville!</p>
<p>Anyone who's eaten at Nobu knows how ridiculously expensive the food is. Nevertheless, it's sooo good. It comes as no surprise to me, however, because Charlottesville has lots of upscale restaurants, especially around the downtown mall area.</p>