‘Tis a great day for a little history lesson!
To the top of Monticello mountain
President Jefferson himself was there to greet us
We got the fabulous news that as Charlottesville residents, we get in FREE with a ticketed out of town guest!! We were prepared to fork over $100 for yearly passes, so this was music to our ears!
It was fun to tour the estate with our family. We started with the house tour (no photos allowed 
) followed by the garden tour and a stroll through the kitchens and work areas.
The house was probably my favorite historic site I’ve been in. The design was so cozy. I reminded me a lot of my grandparents’ house! I am so impressed with Jefferson too. So creative, enthusiastic, insightful.
The grounds were equally as impressive
We ended the tour with a visit to Jefferson’s grave
Which was covered in coins
By 1PM, we were all ready for lunch.
We went to the nearby Southern establishment called Michie Tavern, a 200-year-old stop for colonial cousine
The menu:
There was a buffet, and folks in colonial costumes to bring out seconds (or thirds!)
I loved the tin place settings!
I enjoyed a full plate of foods – slaw, green beans, black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, potatoes, BBQ, cornbread and beets. Plus a bite of Matt’s chicken and biscuit. The stewed potatoes were cooked WITH biscuits (and lots of sugar) and were my favorite bite 
And now it’s time to carve our pumpkins!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
We visited Monticello during my 8th grade field trip to Washington D.C., and it was definitely one of my favorite places on the trip! Mount Vernon is lovely too.
Gorgeous! Looks like a fun and beautiful day with the fam. Jefferson’s house looks incredible. I especially love the grounds and the copper pots hanging on the wall.
That looks like so much fun!! That colonial food sounds soooo good…probably because it reminds me of old fashioned Southern food!
Except maybe the beets? I still need to reintroduce myself to those now that my taste buds have gone through a complete transformation!
Those are such beautiful pictures! I felt like I was there too!
I’ve been their before and it’s even more beautiful in the summer time.
That is so cool – it is beautiful!
Nice vegetable garden !
I went to Monticello when I visited UVA while college searching. It really is gorgeous!! Thomas Jefferson is such an interesting character- French people still love him because he was so worldly!!
I love historical tours and homes! I never cared much for history when I was a kid, but I am in love with it now. It looks like a beautiful afternoon! Have fun carving!
It looks so beautiful! Your pics are really making want to visit Charlottesville.
I love to visit old historical homes/estates — the scenery there is so beautiful and it is so fun to imagine actually living in these homes.
Good luck with the carving!
I’m so envious of the eastern states……there’s SO much history to be seen ‘in person’. Looking at your photos makes me really want to travel to the east and explore…..maybe when our kids get old enough to remember and gain something from the trip:)
What an incredible, beautiful afternoon!
Looks like such a great outing with a delicious meal thrown in. Nice!
oh my – what gorgeous photos!
These are lovely photos. I think the first one is my favorite with the reflection in the water.
oh what a fun afternoon!
what a fun outing…makes this former-Eastern gal a bit homesick too!
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
Gorgeous photos, Kath! Charlottesville looks like such a beautiful place to live!
i visited monticello for the first time in sept – i met up with my cousin who lives in Va and we went to monticello for the heritage harvest festival. it is absolutely beautiful! oh to have a garden like thomas jefferson!
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coooool! i hated history lessons in books but “field trips” always interested me!
Such beautiful pictures!!! I love historical tours like that. I remember going on one in Springfield and tourning Lincoln’s house. They told us that this one banister we were all using on the way down a staircase was used by Lincoln himself. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. lol
I love the ambiance around lunch!
Have a great time pumpkin carving!
How fun!! I’d love to visit there. Thomas Jefferson was a wonderful president. We need another one like him in this century.
love monticello! so many field trips there growing up, glad you had a good time
I’m actually going to Monticello tomorrow with some family visiting from out of town so it was fun to see your pics the day before.
Those are beautiful pictures and the restaurant you went to reminds me of cracker barrel because of the country cooking
That meal looks magnificent!!
I have such lovely memories of visiting Monticello with a boy who became a lovely friend of mine
We didn’t go to a proper Southern establishment for lunch afterwards though. Sigh!
Oh my gosh that hearty home-style food looks SO fulfilling. Putting baked beans on my grocery list…
That place looks awesome! The food is making me hungry! I love black-eyed peas
What’s the significance of putting coins on Jefferson’s grave?
Wow, very cool trip! I once toured the Queen’s state rooms in London and even though I’m not big on historic sights, I absolutely loved it! Thanks for the history lesson, and enjoy your pumpkin carving!
So beautiful!
I love the themed buffet.
Beautiful fall photos! I love Monticello – my dad’s from Charlottesville, and an insane history buff, so we spent many an afternoon wandering the grounds. My bank of Jefferson trivia facts is accordingly huge
Have fun carving pumpkins!
Rachel, Maybe you could ask him about the coins. I googled it but didn’t find anything.
So glad you liked Monticello! It’s a special place. The grounds are especially gorgeous in the spring!
OMG I went to that exact same restaurant on a 7th grade class trip right after we saw Monticello! It must be a popular spot!
Oh my gosh – went there on a family vacation when I was probably 8 or so (lots of years ago) and it looks just how I remember. Neat to see the beautiful countryside and grounds again – thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures and for the walk down memory lane!
Ok, this is the FIRST time in the history of your blog, that i have been to a restaurant you have been to! Our 7th grade class took a trip to the DC area, and we had lunch at the Michie Tavern!
Gosh! The way you guys about Charlottesville makes we want to move there!
Gosh! The way you gush* about Charlottesville makes we want to move there!
*i initially wrote guys