Summer Vacation Road Trip - Day 1

Summer Vacation Road Trip - Day 1 - Charlottesville, VA

Taking a break from the hard news stories.

Earlier this month, I headed home to Pennsylvania from here in Raleigh. Traditionally, I try to split the trip home by staying overnight somewhere along the way. This year, I stayed in Charlottesville, VA. And was able to tour Monticello and later walk around the campus of the University of Virginia.

Monticello is certainly worth a visit. I would recommend about a half day to spend there. I took a half day off work and was able to get to the grounds at 3:30. The park closes at 5 pm, but the ground remain open until 6. I walked around the grounds to just about 6.

Cost is $20 and includes the tour of Monticello and other tours of the grounds. The Monticello home tour is about an hour - and is extremely worth it. It is hard to put into words all of the unique features - and at that time well ahead of its time technologies. The tour guides are well versed, personable, and excellent. Of course, you can not take photos of the inside of the house. But photography is welcomed anywhere else on the grounds.

For the entire flickr set of Monticello - click here.

The flowers along the grounds are amazing. Jefferson saw himself as first and foremost as a farmer. In fact, during the 1800 Census - while he was Vice President - he listed his occupation as exactly that, a farmer.

After checking in at the hotel, I headed down to the University of Virginia and walked the grounds of the University of Virginia. The grounds are impressive.

For the entire UVA photo set on flickr - click here.

Of course, the main hang out place on campus is known as 'The Corner'. There a number of bars, restaurants, book stores, coffee shops, you name it sit. I ate a Restaurant/bar called '3'. On Tuesday's, everything on the menu is $5. Not a bad deal!

Comments

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Former California State Route 41 past Bates Station

When California State Route 41 was commissioned during August 1934 it was aligned along the then existing Fresno-Yosemite Road north of the San Joaquin River. Within the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, the original highway alignment ran past Bates Station via what is now Madera County Road 209, part of eastern Road 406 and Road 207. Bates Station was a stage station plotted during the early 1880s at what was the intersection of the Coarsegold Road and Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The modern alignment bypassing Bates Station to the east would be reopened to traffic during late 1939. Part 1; the history of California State Route 41 past Bates Station Bates Station was featured as one of the many 1875-1899 Madera County era towns in the May 21, 1968, Madera Tribune . Post Office Service at Bates Station is noted to have been established on November 23, 1883 and ran continuously until October 31, 1903. The postal name was sourced...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog