OT: University of Virginia suggestions?
Has anybody visited/attended/lived near UVa? I think I'm driving down to go take a tour of their law school tomorrow and was wondering if there were any must-sees or visits on their campus? I've heard good things about Charlottesville, but never any specifics...
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:34 AM ^
Charlottesville is gorgeous this time of year, if you like mountains and trees turning colors and charming Jeffersonian architecture and all that. Law School is up on North Grounds, which is not as interesting as Central Grounds (newer), but everything is close together as compared to UM. It's a smaller town than Ann Arbor.
Must-see the Rotunda and the Lawn (all the original buildings). Bonus that there's a strip of restaurants/bars/shops on the street the Rotunda backs up to (known as the Corner). I'm fond of the funky aviator statue outside Clemons Library.
The Downtown Mall has great restaurants and an ice rink if you need to get in some skating.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:43 AM ^
There's a soccer game tomorrow night at Klockner Field. That's right near the Law School. Nice field, good team.
Barracks Road Mall is right up behind North Grounds as well. Good coffee shop -- Greenberry's. Lots of chain places (BW3, Panera) and a good place if you are into more interesting choices (HotCakes).
October 9th, 2008 at 12:07 PM ^
'04 UVA grad.
Echo everything Other Chris said. You MUST take a walk up and down the Lawn. Take a stroll through the rest of Central Grounds too, while you're at it. McCormick Rd. runs through the middle of the school and it's phenomenal in the fall. Check out Beta Bridge, too: Rugby Road starts out in view of the Rotunda - walk north on Rugby Road a short distance and Beta Bridge is the garishly painted bridge over the tracks. Other schools paint a rock - we paint a whole bridge, and sometimes these half-ton chunks of paint comprising about 200 layers just peel themselves off. Plus that whole Rugby Road area is gorgeous, and it's Fall Break right now so it should be relatively free of musty-beer smell, since Rugby is where all the frats are.
Eat at the Corner. Can't for the life of me remember the name of the pizza joint I used to like but I know where it is - you go down University (which is the street Other Chris talked about that the Rotunda backs up to) away from Rugby and keeping the Rotunda on the right, and at the intersection with the railroad bridge over it, turn left and go maybe 50 yards up the street and its on the left. I think it's called Sylvia's.
Just about everything is within walking distance, though the Law School and North Grounds are a little bit of a hike so you might be better off driving there. The Downtown Mall is more of a driving thing. Everything else is easily walked. Parking note: normally it's completely ridiculous trying to find a lot that isn't marked off for various color stickers that you won't have, but if it's fall break like I think it is you shouldn't have any worries. And stay for game day on Saturday, we're playing ECU and the game experience is excellent!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:43 PM ^
October 9th, 2008 at 12:51 PM ^
I was last in C'ville in 2005 and staying at the Hampton Inn near the Corner. I walked to the Downtown Mall and back for a conference every day. Totally doable, but I am a walker in general.
I lived up near North Grounds as a student and walked back and forth to Central Grounds, but mostly I took the Green bus. I assume that still runs.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:00 PM ^
Been there for a road trip and have to agree with all said. Rotunda is great, and the surrounding area is just a gorgeous drive in these days of autumn.
In the days prior to 9/11 it wasn't all that hard to gain access to(sic break into) a college's football field. It's too bad-- otherwise I'd recommend it. I thought that their stadium was one of the more interesting designs I've ever seen, with one endzone flanked by the lawn hill and columned terrace at ground level. All in all a beautiful stadium, beautiful campus.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:14 PM ^
The thing I like best about the stadium (besides the pergola and the grass hill and the excellent sightlines and the deceptive size and all the other great stuff and you really shouldn't get me talking about UVA because it's just about my favorite place ever) is that it's really part of the Grounds and not surrounded on all sides by a parking lot. (Only most sides.) You can go down Alderman Rd. and be like, "dorms, dining hall, fitness center, football stadium, more dorms..."
Point being I guess is that if you happened to want to check out the stadium, you can do that even if you can't get inside. Most stadiums are surrounded by large parking lots, or fences that are many yards from the entrances, are enclosed all the way around, etc. etc...you go and it's like "huh, there's the stadium." Scott Stadium almost kind of invites you to peek inside. (edit - I greatly dug this about Sanford Stadium as well when I visited UGA.)
This is mainly me just braggin' on my school by now but I can't help myself.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:15 PM ^
,,, Scott Stadium is worth bragging about. My personal kicker-- the only time I've ever watched a college football game in December in shorts and a tee was in Charlottsville.
(dec. 1, 2001 vs. PSU-- reschedule because of 9/11)
October 10th, 2008 at 7:07 AM ^