Monticello, Charlottesville VA

August 2024

For some reason, I always think Monticello is bigger than it actually is. I picture in my mind some massive mansion like Biltmore or the White House.

Don’t get me wrong: it’s a big house. But Monticello is more interesting for the life of its designer and owner, Thomas Jefferson, and how its various rooms highlight his interests and life.

The grounds expand on this, with exhibits on the lives of the enslaved people who lived here and a beautifully kept set of gardens, giving you an idea of what it was like to live here several centuries ago.

I think many people think they’re vaguely supposed to visit Monticello. Whatever the reason you come, if you arrive with an open mind, I think you’ll find you’ll learn a lot and it’ll be worth the trip.

Cost: $22 per adult for just the grounds; another $20 for a 45-minute tour inside the house

Conditions: 74° Fahrenheit, sunny