Have you found yourself stuck inside and bored? Are you stuck between wanting to be safe and also having social time? Well, here are some fun things to do in Charlottesville (and some surrounding areas) that are safe!

Shenandoah park drive: Skyline drive is beautiful during this time of year. There are animals out, leaves changing colors, and a crisp chill in the air that makes it perfect for long drives. It is free to enter the parkway, and once inside, there are lookouts that you can pull over to and get 360 views. I personally think that the sunsets from the parkways are unmatchable. It is a great place for a date, a drive with a friend or family member, or even a hike.

Picture from https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/blog/post/best-hikes/ 

Get into Nature: Hiking is a trendy hobby and way to get exercise among Charlottesville civilians. There are many hikes within Charlottesville such as the Rivanna trail (which is a little flatter than a real hike up a mountain)or the Observatory Hill trail. There are also lots of great places to hike that are not quite as close to Charlottesville, such as Humpback Rock, Sugar Hollow, Ivy Creek natural area, and the Saunders-Monticello Trail. Hikes are a great activity that is safe, beautiful, and a great way to get out and into nature. 

Support Local Businesses: Although the downtown mall is usually packed with people, it is still a special venture with lots of things to see and do. Due to the pandemic, many small businesses have closed, and a way to support locally is by going downtown and grabbing a piece of pizza at Christians pizza (http://christians.pizza/) or a cup of coffee at Java Java (http://www.javajavacafe.com/).  

Play a new sport: Many CHS students are sad that sports have been cancelled or pushed back, but there are still many places to play your favorite sport around Charlottesville. I have started playing tennis with my family at the Tonsler park court, and when there, everyone is safely socially distanced. If tennis isn’t fun for you though, most elementary schools have fields and basketball courts that are open to play at too!

Give Back: If you think these activities still might be a little risky, there are projects you can do at home too! Go through your closet and donate clothes you might not love anymore to the Salvation Army, or rummage your kitchen for cans of food you won’t eat and give it to homeless shelters (such as the Haven). If you’re daring, you could even foster a puppy or kitten from the SPCA (https://caspca.org/volunteerfoster/become-a-foster-family/)! 

Carter’s Mountain: Carter’s Mountain is an iconic venue to visit in the fall, with apple picking, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and occasional live music. The staff at Carter’s Mountain is taking necessary precautions to be safe, so you need a ticket to enter the orchard. Tickets are on their website for free during the weekdays, and cost $8.00 on the weekends! If you don’t want to buy a ticket, you may also drive through the orchard, and pre-order apples. 

Go to Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s is famous for its huge variety of fall goodies that just get you into a good mood. There are yummy vegan and vegetarian options there and also the nicest employees you’ll meet, so why not go? Going to Trader Joe’s doesn’t have to be for a grocery trip, but it can be a fun adventure to experiment with food you haven’t tried before! There are also delicious recipes on their website (https://www.traderjoes.com/recipes), and you could devote an evening to going to TJ’s, then making a fall meal for your family or friends!

There are many more activities around Charlottesville that aren’t mentioned here, but hopefully you’ve been inspired to not let COVID-19 ruin your fall!