C’ville Day Trips

As we approach the first week of April, and with Spring break coming up, people all across the City Schools plan trips to warmth, planning on getting a jumpstart on their summer tan. If you don’t have a trip planned for the entirety of spring break, we have the perfect lineup of activities to do in and around Charlottesville to keep boredom at bay.

The Greater Washington D.C. Area – The nation’s capital is a beautiful destination full of activities that will keep you occupied all day long. D.C. is just a short 2 hour drive from Charlottesville, depending on the traffic around the city. Within D.C., there are multiple districts that offer amazing local retail shops and culinary delights. Georgetown is on the eastern side of the district and is my personal favorite. It offers the most family friendly area for shopping and dining, while also offering stunning views of the Potomac River and Arlington. If you are not as interested in shopping and would rather learn a great deal about the nation, the Smithsonian museums are perfect for you. There are a total of 19 Smithsonian museums covering everything you could possibly think of learning about, like air and space, art, and natural history. 11 of the museums are located on the national mall and are just a stone’s throw away from one other. If you have time for one last place to visit in D.C., the National Cathedral is a mind blowingly beautiful landmark that is a pinnacle of Washington D.C.. The Cathedral is an architectural masterpiece that took over 80 years to complete, and is an absolute must see when visiting the nation’s capital.

Kings Dominion / Busch Gardens – For those of you looking for an exciting day, an amusement park is the perfect place for you. The two closest parks are located in Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia. Richmond is home to Kings Dominion, the less polished of the two locations, but more exhilarating. While Williamsburg is home to Busch Gardens, which is more pleasing to the eye and suits families better. Between the two I personally enjoy Kings Dominion more because of its larger, more exciting roller coasters. But if you are traveling with a family or younger children Busch gardens is a better more kid friendly fit.

Hot Springs, Virginia – Sitting in a hot spring on a cool day is the perfect way to relax after a stressful week at school. The hot springs are located only two hours away in Hot Springs VA with the Homestead close by. A perfect day trip to this location would consist of lunch on the way up and a nice dinner on the way down. If you’re looking for a fancy dinner The Homestead is the perfect location for your post springs meal. However if you are looking for a more homey option there are many barbeque options in the surrounding area.

Tubing on the James River – Do you enjoy spending time on the water? The james river is a magnificent body just 30 minutes away from Charlottesville. It’s a thriving ecosystem that offers many different activities including fishing, kayaking, or tubing. We are focusing on tubing in this description because the tubing on the James offers a full day float that will indeed exceed your expectations. There are multiple companies on the James River that offer tubing trips and all are equally excellent. If you do choose to go tubing make sure to bring food and drinks because you are surely going to work up thirst and hunger from having so much fun.

Honorable mentions:
Short Pump / Tyson’s Corner
Go to a Capitals game in D.C.
Hike Old Rag