Skyline Drive

Six Great Day Trips From Charlottesville, VA

Published August 24, 2016 | By Clark Norton

View of the Blue Ridge Mountains from atop Crabtree Falls. Photo by Lia Norton

During our recent visit to Charlottesville, Virginia, where our daughter, Lia, lives and works, my wife, Catharine, and I had the chance to leave the city a bit and explore the attractions of the nearby region.

Since it was our third visit to Charlottesville, we had already toured Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, and the Jefferson-designed University of Virginia campus, sporting some of the country’s finest architecture. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Now it was time to see some of the nearby cities, take some scenic drives, negotiate some hiking trails, absorb some additional culture, visit some wineries, and even make a pilgrimage to the factory that produces my favorite potato chips. (Special thanks to Lia, her boyfriend, Mike, and their trusty Prius for chauffeuring us around.)

So here are my top… Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, cultural travel, Hiking, National Parks, Restaurants | Tagged American Shakespeare Center, Blackfriars Playhouse, Blue Ridge Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, Charlottesville, Charlottesville Virginia, Crabtree Falls, Dutch and Company, Richmond Virginia, Route 11 Potato Chips, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Virginia, Virginia vineyards, Virginia wineries | 10 Comments

What I Learned about Charlottesville, Virginia

Published February 15, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Monticello — Jefferson’s home, which appears on the U.S. nickel coin. Photo by Clark Norton

Dear Readers,

While I’m traveling in Antarctica for a few weeks I’ll be reprising some of my most popular posts from the past three years. This one (now slightly updated) originally ran in December of 2013.

On a recent family visit to Charlottesville, Virginia, I found it to be a very livable — and visit-able — city, which I highly recommend for baby boomer travelers.

Mostly I knew it as the home of the University of Virginia and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, both of which were designed by our third president. Those two sites alone would warrant a visit, but anyone interested in history, outdoor activities and good food would find a welcome respite in Charlottesville.

Now here are ten things I didn’t know about Charlottesville:

Montpelier, home of President James Madison. Photo by Lia Norton

Montpelier, home of… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Cities, cultural travel, Hiking, History, museums | Tagged Appalachian Trail, Ash Lawn-Highland, Charlottesville, Crabtree Falls, James Madison, James Monroe, Monticello, Montpelier, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Spudnuts, Thomas Jefferson, University of Virginia, Virginia | Leave a comment

Ten Things I Didn’t Know About Charlottesville, Virginia

Published December 2, 2013 | By Clark Norton

Monticello — Jefferson’s home, which appears on the U.S. nickel coin. Photo by Clark Norton

I spent last week in Charlottesville, Virginia, visiting family over Thanksgiving, and found it to be a very livable — and visit-able — city, which I highly recommend for baby boomer travelers.

Now here are ten things I didn’t know about Charlottesville:

Montpelier, home of President James Madison. Photo by Lia Norton

* Some of the most coveted and prestigious student residences at the University of Virginia have no bathrooms. These are historic ground-floor single rooms facing the Lawn, the long… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Cities | Tagged Appalachian Trail, Ash Lawn-Highland, Australian aboriginal art, baby boomer travel, baby boomer travelers, baby boomers and tourism, Barbecue Exchange, Charlottesville, Crabtree Falls, Monticello, Montpelier, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Spudnuts, traveling baby boomers, University of Virginia, Virginia | 14 Comments

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.