Hampton Inn and Suites University of Virginia

I%26#39;d like to stop in Charlottesville on a trip back from North Carolina in June. Is the Hampton Inn and Suites a good choice for a family with three young kids? I%26#39;d like to try to see Monticello or walk to the university or into downtown; is this hotel convenient for that?

If you have any recommendations for things nearby to see or places to eat, I%26#39;d appreciate it. Thanks!

Hampton Inn and Suites University of Virginia

I%26#39;ve stayed at this hotel and it%26#39;s nice, and convenient to the University. Whether you could walk to either to University or to downtown from here depends upon how far your kids can walk, and how they handle hills. Drive around the area before you decide whether walking will work for your young ones.

Monticello is several miles outside of town, but not too far off the highway. I highly recommend it if you%26#39;ve never been there. They recently opened a new visitor center.

I%26#39;ll let other recommend restaurants that may be appropriate for families; there are plenty in that area.

Hampton Inn and Suites University of Virginia

Yes, Monticello, walking the university to take pictures, and walking the pedestrian downtown mall is doable in a day. For breakfast, try the Bluegrass Grill downtown and for a nice treat try the doughnuts at Spudnuts..they are wonderful.

Thanks to both of you for your feedback! It sounds like a good place for us to stay.

You didn%26#39;t mention how small your kids are. The hotel is on a busy street and it%26#39;s a pretty good hike to the actual UVA campus (closer to the med center). There are sidewalks, but you are walking by parking lots, businesses, and through some big intersections. Definitely not walking distance to the Downtown Mall. The Hampton Inn is a decent place to stay, but I would limit walking to the UVA campus to the daylight hours. Plan ahead what you want to see at the UVA campus, it%26#39;s quite a large campus. While West Main St, where the hotel is located, has many restaurants, Wild Wings is probably the most kid friendly. It%26#39;s down near the Amtrack station. Teens and older love eating on the Corner (UVA campus) at places like the College Inn, but even with the regular college session out, the area can get pretty rowdy in the evening with all the local kids home for the summer. The Downtown Mall (a pedestrian friendly brick outdoor mall) has a lot of outdoor eateries, the Virginia Discovery Museum (for children), and the indoor ice skating park. Henry%26#39;s on the Downtown Mall has traditional family restaurant fare that kids love and has indoor/outdoor seating. Sal%26#39;s is Italian and Christian%26#39;s and Vito Nova have great pizza. Another kid friendly place to eat if you get there early enough for a booth seat is Chap%26#39;s, where you can get a burger/hot dog/grilled cheese and homemade icecream is a treat. Splendora%26#39;s has Italian gelato. The Nook serves traditional breakfast with a number of coffee/tea spots also serving muffins and pastries. The Omni is a Mall anchor with an indoor pool. On Sundays they serve brunch with serving section dedicated to children. Check out www.downtowncharlottesville.net with a list of places and things to do in the downtown area. Monticello is easy to get to and not far from downtown. If you%26#39;re so inclined, there are a number of hiking opportunities as well. You can check former posts for good descriptions.

Have fun!

Laura

I think the Hampton Inn is a great choice but when traveling with a family I have always thought vacation rentals were a great option because they are usually cheaper for groups + everybody gets to stay all together. There is a great site in c%26#39;ville that recently launched a new site http://uva.collegeweekends.com/default.aspx . They have a bunch of properties and you can see them all on a map so you can pick the ones closest to the University. You can also sort the listings by proximity to the university which is nice. Good luck I am sure you will have a great trip.

I love the information I get on this site. Your tips are very helpful: I%26#39;m now rethinking staying at the Hampton and might do a vacation rental closer to the pedestrian mall. I%26#39;d like to be walking distance from that. I also plan to check out the museum.

Thanks again!