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sunset walk on the downtowm mall
Take a sunset walk on the mallCheck out Guides above for more ideas
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Explore great wedding venuesCharlottesville is one of the top wedding destinations
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Feel like getting fit in 2024?Charlottesville has great yoga studios
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Shop at one of the great BoutiquesUnique finds for you or your home

Not every town has unparalleled vistas, a Cab Franc made at the hands of the same person pouring it, or Dave Matthews and John Grisham walking by as you enjoy lunch at a café on its historic pedestrian mall—but Charlottesville does.

It’s urban and bucolic, historic yet modern. There are boundless hiking trails, wedding venues, wineries, breweries, boutique retail shops, and theaters (not to mention more restaurant seats than there are people to fill them). It’s for the limitless adventurer, the wine-taster, the music-seeker, and the family searching for a new experience..

At Charlottesville Insider, our goal is simple: to showcase Charlottesville by curating our ideas about what makes it unique. Follow our insiders to see what’s new, find exclusive deals, or simply figure out how to spend your day in our favorite city.

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Explore the Best Scenic Drives Virginia Has to Offer

Discover Virginia’s top scenic drives to see the state’s spectacular mountains, wineries, farms, and historic sites. In this guide, we reveal the essential routes like the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, ensuring you’ll experience the best visuals and cultural spots on your scenic drives around Central Virginia without wading through unnecessary information.

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💕🥂 The Daze of Rosé Festival is coming up this weekend! This annual celebration of Virginia Rosé promotes inclusivity, art, and freedom of expression by gathering wine lovers together in a beautiful location. Drink pink, wear pink and enjoy an amazing day at Castle Hill Cider. Located in Keswick, Virginia just minutes from Charlottesville - Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 Wine Region of the Year!
🎟️ Head to @castlehillcider to purchase your tickets!

Highlights include...

✨People’s Choice Rosé Wine Competition featuring 20 rosés (with full access ticket)

🍷 Discovery lawn with red, white, rosé wines from 20 wineries and Castle Hill Cider for purchase a la carte

🛍️ Shopping experience with @shopagentsinstyle, @article_22, LINK x LOU, @milaeveessentials

🦪 Unique pop-up food concepts from @thecateringoutfit featuring Oysters & Caviar, Lobster Rolls, Salumeria, Smash Burgers and SO much more

📚 Book Bar @tsgcharlottesville

👩‍🏫 Educational Wine sessions by Virginia Wine and Spirits and @thistlerockmead

🖼️ Beatrix Ost art installation featuring several works including Three Deities

🎵 Live set with DJ Double U

💫 Sip and Socialize with @moniquesamuels former reality star, entrepreneur and radio personality

ℹ️ Daze of Rosé is a rain or shine event for ages 21+, brought to you by @harmony_wine and @eastwoodfarmandwinery!
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🐰 Looking for a fun family outing for Easter Weekend? We’ve put together a list of Easter Egg Hunts, Bunny appearances and more happening in Charlottesville this Easter weekend. Link to the list is in our bio. Enjoy! ...

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👀 Insider tip:
🥪 Looking to grab a quick and inexpensive lunch on the downtown mall? @marketstreetmarket is a full service deli and grocery store on the corner of 4th and East Market offering sandwiches and salads made fresh to order all day long! The best part? They are inexpensive AND delicious, and it’s a quick wait once you order your sandwich. We ordered the Turkey Bacon Cheddar Ranch panini yesterday, and highly recommend it! The grocery store is stocked with something for everyone, from essentials to high quality meats and cheeses, they carry local produce and products, and an extensive wine and beer selection! Market Street Market and Cafe is family owned and operated, and opened in 2009.
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🏀🍻 Happy first day of March Madness and best of luck with those brackets! Mount Ida (pictured) and many other C-ville bars and establishments are ready for you! At @mountidareserve, watch the games on three screens in the Brewer’s Bar or inside the Tasting Room, and Steal the Pint! Show your bracket at the bar, and if you won your last match up, your pint glass is yours to take!

☝️ Now, enjoy some fun facts about The Big Dance!

🏀 Why is it called the Big Dance?

The nickname “The Big Dance” apparently comes from Marquette basketball coach Al McGuire, who explained to a reporter in 1977 that “you gotta wear the blue blazer when you go to the big dance.” And wear a bright blue blazer he did—all through Marquette’s winning season, in fact.

🏀 Chances of creating a perfect bracket?

The NCAA calculated you have a 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (9 quintillion) chance to create a perfect bracket. This is if you flip a coin or guess. If you have a little college basketball knowledge, the odds jump to 1 in 120.2 billion.

🏀 Lowest Scoring NCAA Tournament Game?

The fewest points in an NCAA Tournament game happened back in 1941. Pittsburgh beat North Carolina 26-20.

🏀 Highest Scoring NCAA Tournament Game?

The highest in the history of the tournament belongs to Loyola Marymount’s 149-115 win over defending champion Michigan in 1990. That game is 30 points more than the next highest which also belongs to Loyola Marymount.

🏀 When was the first ever Men’s NCAA Championship?

1939

🏀 When was the first ever Women’s NCAA Championship?

1982

🏀 Biggest upset in tournament history?

In 2018 the Virginia Cavaliers became the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament

🏀 Best comeback story in tournament history? (in our opinion!)

In 2019, Virginia won the National Championship in Minneapolis with an 85-77 overtime victory over Texas Tech.

🎉 Brackets. Cinderella Story. Sweet Sixteen. Final Four. It’s March, and it’s Mayhem! Who’s your pick??
Good luck!!!
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🌸 Happy first day of Spring 2024! The warmer temps we’ve been having have brought new blooms and incredible popping color! Stay tuned for our upcoming post - a spring tour of Jarmans Gap! ...

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☘️The Friends of Cville Downtown Express will be back next weekend for St. Patrick’s Day from 10am-2pm on the Downtown Mall! Rides are free and will begin at Central Place and travel on a loop around the Mall.

📅 Thanks to @friendsofcville for putting together a list of things to do to celebrate St. Paddy’s in Charlottesville! We’ve added a link to their blogpost in our bio for easy access. With everything from arts and crafts and the Downtown Express, to a brewer’s guided tasting, there are offerings of fun for all ages! 🍻

📸 @friendsofcville
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🐪 Happy Hump Day! This overhead snap by @monticellocountryballooning of the frost lines receding across the fields feels symbolic of the thaw we’re about to experience as we enter March, with more daylight coming in 12 short days! ☀️

What are you most excited about this spring in C-ville? 🥘 Patio dining, 💃🏼 @tomtomfoundation block party, 🍷 @monticellowinetrail sipping, 📚 Festival of the Book, 🌽City Markets, 🐎 @foxfieldracesvirginia, 🍓 strawberry picking @chilespeachorchard, 🥾 Humpback hikes, 🎡The Dogwood Festival, 🍻walking the @charlottesvillealetrail, 🍹rooftop cocktails, 🏛️touring @tjmonticello, 🏃@cvilletenmiler race day, 🥂 @kingfamilyvineyards Wine Wednesdays and Polo, or 🌅@cartermountain sunsets? Let us know your favorite Spring Charlottesville activities in the comments!
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