MACTE Symposium

Omni Hotel

212 Ridge McIntire Rd.

Charlottesville, Virginia

Things to do in Charlottesville

Staff Picks: Our Favorite Things to Eat, See, and Do in Charlottesville

​

Elisabeth Chidester, Accreditation Associate

1. If you are looking to experience some incredibly authentic Neapolitan pizza, then Lampo is your place. Although it is a very small setting, their pizza and other items deliver large! They do not take reservations and fill up fast. Make sure you check out this charming pizzeria that is located in Belmont at 205 Monticello Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

​

2. If you find yourself strolling along at the Downtown Mall, I suggest stopping by The Whiskey Jar for excellent food and a delightful atmosphere. This restaurant/bar has a great menu, a variety of drinks, and a cozy Southern vibe - perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner! Catch them on the right night and you may even hear some live music. They are located at 227 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

​

3. If you are up for a little traveling and Tex-Mex food, check out Two Brothers Southwestern Grill in Ruckersville, VA (124 Cedar Grove Rd). You can’t go wrong with anything from their menu, but the Texas style Cheesesteak is one of their best creations.

​

4. Feeling adventurous and the weather is perfect? I recommend taking a drive to hike Crabtree Falls in Nelson County and checking out the natural beauty of Charlottesville. At the end of the 2.5 mile moderate trail, you’ll find the highest vertical drop-off cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River!

​

​

Erin Moore, Accreditation Specialist

1. If you are staying in the downtown area, there is no shortage of food options, but this can be a little daunting! Here are some of our favorite spots in the downtown area: Mexican: The Bebedero (on the downtown pedestrian mall, where the Symposium will be held - I recommend the nachos and a spicy margarita); quick slice of pizza: Christian's Pizza (on downtown mall); authentic Neopolitan pizza: Lampo (walking distance from downtown mall - go early as it's a small place and there can be a wait); Spanish tapas: Mas (walking distance from downtown mall); late night bites in a historic space: C&O Restaurant (on downtown mall); delicious sushi: Now and Zen (just off downtown mall).

​

2. First Fridays is a monthly art event featuring exhibit openings and receptions at many downtown art galleries and venues, held on the first Friday of every month. Just our luck, the Symposium takes place during the first week of December! Check out Charlottesville's weekly paper, Cville Weekly, closer to the date for a list of exhibits as well as other events happening in the area (https://www.c-ville.com/)

​

3. The Blue Ridge Parkway offers a myriad of hiking options with breathtaking views and is about a 30-45 minute drive from town - Humpback Rocks is voted the "best hike to show off the area to guests" (https://www.c-ville.com/woods-15-favorite-charlottesville-…/). But just a short driving distance from the downtown area is another free and beautiful option for a stroll or a run in nature: the Saunders-Monticello Trail, which runs along the base of Carter Mountain and ends at Jefferson's Monticello (https://www.monticello.org/…/the-saunders-mont…/kemper-park/)

​

​

Aimee Fagan, Director of Accreditation 

1. Take in the view from Cater Mountain, and eat an apple cider donut. Cater Mountain sits to the southeast of town, a short drive will take you to the top of the hill where you can enjoy hot cider, donuts, and local produce--plus there is a spectacular view of Charlottesville (https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/o…/carter-mountain-orchard/).

​

2. Ace Biscuit and Barbecue, pulled pork, fried chicken, and breakfast biscuits, what more do you need? (https://charlottesville29.com/ace-biscuit-barbecue)

​

3. Visit a winery. Thomas Jefferson had visions of the Charlottesville area becoming a wine region. While it may have taken over 200 years, you can now visit over 35 award-winning wineries all a short distance from town (https://monticellowinetrail.com/).

​

Stacy Seapy, Director of Operations

1. Bold Rock Cidery is one of my favorite places in the entire area, both to visit and to drive to. It's set on top of a hill that overlooks mountains, with an expansive deck and a babbling creek you can drink your cider next to on a nice day. The cidery itself has a fireplace you can relax beside if the day is colder. If you drive yourself there, make sure you take the route that takes you on I-64, to 250, to 151, as that is the most scenic of the routes. (https://boldrock.com/visit/nellysford-cidery/)

​

2. If you like art (visual and 3D), I recommend checking out the McGuffey Art Center (https://www.mcguffeyartcenter.com/), a very short walk from the Omni Hotel. Local artists rent studios and you can walk through and often see them at work. There's also an exhibit hall for your enjoyment. Bonus highlight is that you can schedule a time to blow your own stained glass ornament with Raging Buffalo Glass (https://www.ragingbuffaloglass.com/holiday-ornaments), whose studio is located in the basement of McGuffey.

​

3. Bodo's Bagels is a Charlottesville icon - choose from a huge variety of bagel and filling combinations. The location at 505 Preston Ave. is 0.3 miles from the Symposium hotel. It's especially great as a grab and go, if you want to waste no time exploring the rest that the area has to offer. Local Tip - even if the line looks really long, it moves super fast. (http://www.bodosbagels.com/locations.html)

​

Carolyn Pinkerton, Director of Communications & State Relations / Onsite Visit Coordinator

1. I'm a history nerd, so visiting the historical sites in town is a must! Monticello is on the top of the list, and I've never been able to stump a tour guide with a question. The University of Virginia is a special place to wander around, including their Special Collections library. If it is a slow day, librarians might share their favorite objects with you if you ask nicely. You can take the free trolley from the Omni (our symposium hotel) to UVa.

​

2. Coffee! You can easily beeline from the Omni to the Mudhouse. I drink my coffee from there black and usually get a big muffin to go along with it. Further down the mall is Splendora's, a gelato shop, that also serves tasty espresso drinks.

​

3. If you're really feeling adventurous, rent a car to go over Afton Mountain to Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia. It is the world's only recreation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre. The little town of Staunton also has a number of excellent restaurants.

​

Please contact us at the MACTE office for help and guidance as you plan your trip!You can also check out the following links to begin to explore Charlottesville:

​

• Activities and Attractions

• Vineyards, Breweries & Cideries

• Historic Landmarks

​