Frommer's Best Places to Go 2016: Charlottesville, Virginia

The October 2015 discovery of the remains of a Jefferson-era chemisty lab in the walls of the University of Virginia's ancient Rotunda Building reminded us of Charlottesville in general: There's always something interesting to discover, if only more people would look. Sure, there's Thomas Jefferson's bespoke mansion Monticello (pictured), a bucket-list U.S. heritage site if ever there was one. But in these rolling green hills there's also a thriving student scene, a music scene that consistently surprises, and even a wine trail of some 30 wineries. There's the Kluge-Ruge, the only museum in America dedicated to the dense messaging of Aboriginal Australian Art. In 2016, UVA's Fralin Museum of Art mounts a retrospectives of both Navajo weaving and artist Jacob Lawrence. Even the sites in the area cover history from every angle: Patrick Henry's farm and grave, the farm where Booker T. Washington was a slave and formed into a great man, and Appomattox, the fateful surrender spot of the Civil War, are all within easy driving distance. Make a special detour for one of the city's most unusual attractions: a burgeoning subculture of gas stations that have been converted to truly recommendable eateries, from the fried chicken at the Exxon Mobil's The Chicken Coop on Route 29 in Lovington to the Preston Avenue Shell's stewed apples. It's by virtue of being immensely diverse, unexpectedly delicious, and a delight hidden in plain sight that we choose Charlottesville as a Best Place to Go for 2016.

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The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia is the only museum in the United States dedicated to the exhibition and study of Australian Aboriginal art. Our mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of Australia's Indigenous people and their art and culture worldwide. Working with living artists, international scholars and arts professionals, we provide a wide range of learning experiences to the University community and the public through exhibition, research and educational programs.

The Kluge-Ruhe Collection came into being in 1997 through a gift by American businessman, John W. Kluge (1914-2010). Influenced by the Dreamings exhibition in New York, Mr. Kluge began collecting Aboriginal art in 1988. Over the next decade he compiled one of the finest private collections of Australian Aboriginal art in the world.

In 1993, Kluge purchased the collection and archives of the late Professor Edward L. Ruhe (1923-1989) of Lawrence, Kansas. Ruhe began collecting Aboriginal art while visiting Australia as a Fulbright Scholar in 1965. He built a collection of the highest quality and exhibited it widely in the United States between 1965 and 1977. Ruhe's research on Aboriginal art resulted in the publication of several exhibition catalogues and articles. His archives comprise the core of the Kluge-Ruhe Study Center.

In addition to exhibiting works from the collection at our Pantops location, there are always works from the Collection viewable on U.Va. Grounds and we regularly send work on loan to museums nationally and internationally.

The Kluge-Ruhe Collection reports to the Vice-Provost of the Arts at the University of Virginia, Jody Kielbasa.

The Kluge-Ruhe Collection acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which its building rests, the Monacan Indian Tribe. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, and the elders from other communities who may be here today.

Charlottesville is home to so many wonderful wineries. Within 15 minutes of the Hyatt Place Hotel you can wind your way into the Virginia wine country and visit Dave Matthews' Blenheim Vineyards, Donald Trump's new acquisition, Jefferson Vineyards, Cardinal Point, and many more. Visit https://virginiawine.org to plan your trip, or the concierge at the hotel has brochures to offer you upon arrival.

Right around the corner (or mountain ridge) from Monticello, you can discover the historic home of the fifth President James Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, from 1799 to 1823.

They offer a newly revamped house tour, lasting approximately 35 minutes, as they explore the fascinating life of the tireless public servant who fought and bled in the American Revolution, successfully negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, worked behind the scenes to push the Missouri Compromise through Congress, secured our nation's borders, and issued our first hemisphere-wide foreign policy statement: the Monroe Doctrine. The tour also showcases an outstanding collection of 18th and early nineteenth-century furnishings, including many original to the Monroe family.

Minutes from the hotel, you can walk the historic Lawn on the grounds of the University of Virginia, and view one of the seven wonders of the world, Jefferson's Rotunda. The Rotunda is closed for renovation until the summer, but you can still walk (weather providing) the historic academical village.

For shopping and dining, visit Charlottesville all walking, no cars, outdoor downtown mall. A visit to Charlottesville isn't complete without a stop at the Downtown Mall. It is one of the most beautiful and successful pedestrian malls in the nation, and it's located in historic downtown Charlottesville. A wonderful mix of restored and renovated buildings that typified small "downtowns" throughout the country can now be seen by visitors as they enjoy shopping, dining and visiting along the brick-paved pedestrian area. The Downtown Mall is a vibrant collection of more than 120 shops and 30 restaurants (many with outdoor cafes) housed in the historic buildings on and around old Main Street. Enjoy dining al fresco (in season) at a number of fine restaurants, shop at any of the unique boutiques or meander by flowing fountains. For family fun, it's easy to cool off in our ice park or take your children to the hands-on Virginia Discovery Museum. Enjoy attending a movie or play in one of the many fine theaters, or simply relax under magnificent oak trees along the red bricked mall. Convenient parking in nearby garages and parking lots, as well as free trolley service connecting the Downtown Mall to the University of Virginia along West Main Street make a visit to the downtown easy for visitors of all ages.