Historical Sites

Ash Lawn-Highland
www.ashlawnhighland.org
293-9539
Getting there: Rt. 20 South to Rt. 53 East and follow signs (15 minute drive).

Home of James Monroe, President of the United States, 1817-1825, who bought his "country cottage estate," as he called it, in 1793, mostly to be closer to his good friend, Thomas Jefferson, who lived 2.5 miles down the road. Annual celebration of Monroe's birthday on April 28. Open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. from April through October, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. November through March. Local residents and children $5; other adults $9.

Monticello
www.monticello.org
984-9822
Getting there: Follow the signs from almost anywhere in town to Rt. 53.

Monticello

Thomas Jefferson's home. Your ticket gets you a half-hour guided tour of the house and self-guided tours of the gardens and slave quarters. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. from March through October, and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. November through February. Take your student ID—tickets are $6 for Charlottesville/Albemarle residents (free if you bring someone from out of town) and $14 for other adults.

Michie Tavern
www.michietavern.com
977-1234
Getting there: Half-mile before Monticello on Rt. 53.

One of the oldest homesteads in Virginia, built by John Michie circa 1784, offers tours. Lunch at "The Ordinary" is a fixed menu in the colonial style. General store and museum gift shop. If you don't want to pay for the tour, you can still check out the other period buildings on your way to Monticello.

Montpelier
www.montpelier.org
(540) 672-2728
Getting there: Rt. 20 North and follow signs (25 miles).

First settled in 1723, the 175-room, 2,700-acre lifelong home of James Madison, fourth U.S. President. Open 9:30 am-4:30 pm November through March. Open 9:30 am- 5:30 pm April through October. First Saturday in November you can see a steeplechase. $11 adults, $6 for children 6-14, free for children under 6.

Photos courtesy of the Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, visitcharlottesville.org