Title: Things to Do in Albemarle County in 2026 | Expedia.com # Things to do in Albemarle County ## Find and book activities, attractions and tours ## Visit Albemarle County Types of activities [Albemarle County Travel Guide](https://expedia.com/Albemarle-County.dx553248635976432577) ![Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who began designing and building Monticello at age 26 after inheriting land from his father. Located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Piedmont region, the plantation was originally 5,000 acres (20 km2), with Jefferson using slaves for extensive cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops, later shifting from tobacco cultivation to wheat in response to changing markets. Jefferson designed the main house using neoclassical design principles described by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, subsequently reworking the design through much of his presidency to include design elements popular in late 18th-century Europe and integrating numerous of his own design solutions. Situated on the summit of an 850-foot (260 m)-high peak in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap, the name Monticello derives from the Italian for "little mount". Along a prominent lane adjacent to the house, Mulberry Row, the plantation came to include numerous outbuildings for specialized functions, e.g., a nailery; quarters for domestic slaves; gardens for flowers, produce, and Jefferson's experiments in plant breeding — along with tobacco fields and mixed crops. Cabins for field slaves were located farther from the mansion. At Jefferson's direction, he was buried on the grounds, in an area now designated as the Monticello Cemetery. The cemetery is owned by the Monticello Association, a society of his descendants through Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson.[4] After Jefferson's death, his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph sold the property. In 1834 it was bought by Uriah P. Levy, a commodore in the U.S. Navy, who admired Jefferson and spent his own money to preserve the property. His nephew Jefferson Monroe Levy took over the property in 1879; he also invested considerable money to restore and preserve it. In 1923, Monroe Levy sold it to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (TJF), which operates it as a house museum and educational institution. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1987 Monticello and the nearby University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson, were together designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6082929/fc297070-6be5-4ba5-8b01-2648f1f046f8.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who began designing and building Monticello at age 26 after inheriting land from his father. Located just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Piedmont region, the plantation was originally 5,000 acres (20 km2), with Jefferson using slaves for extensive cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops, later shifting from tobacco cultivation to wheat in response to changing markets. Jefferson designed the main house using neoclassical design principles described by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, subsequently reworking the design through much of his presidency to include design elements popular in late 18th-century Europe and integrating numerous of his own design solutions. Situated on the summit of an 850-foot (260 m)-high peak in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap, the name Monticello derives from the Italian for "little mount". Along a prominent lane adjacent to the house, Mulberry Row, the plantation came to include numerous outbuildings for specialized functions, e.g., a nailery; quarters for domestic slaves; gardens for flowers, produce, and Jefferson's experiments in plant breeding — along with tobacco fields and mixed crops. Cabins for field slaves were located farther from the mansion. At Jefferson's direction, he was buried on the grounds, in an area now designated as the Monticello Cemetery. The cemetery is owned by the Monticello Association, a society of his descendants through Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson.[4] After Jefferson's death, his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph sold the property. In 1834 it was bought by Uriah P. Levy, a commodore in the U.S. Navy, who admired Jefferson and spent his own money to preserve the property. His nephew Jefferson Monroe Levy took over the property in 1879; he also invested considerable money to restore and preserve it. In 1923, Monroe Levy sold it to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (TJF), which operates it as a house museum and educational institution. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1987 Monticello and the nearby University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson, were together designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6082929/fc297070-6be5-4ba5-8b01-2648f1f046f8.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Jefferson’s plantation home confirmed as UNESCO cultural site in 1987. Lots of visitors daily, so shooting something in the foreground helps to mask wanderers.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6082929/d6cbb035-1405-425b-8467-fb5a7dec8c80.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![Best look out south of the park! Loving the clouds today ](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6046211/243a043e-ffb8-4b2b-9605-4e1480248a7a.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) ![One of the many beautiful waterfalls off of Skyline Drive in Virginia. This was one of many my friend Cassie and I saw while hiking Doyle's River Falls trail this summer. ](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6046211/fbb9f7da-d1d0-4fcf-89be-315aa93db3be.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh) --- - ![find price illustration](https://a.travel-assets.com/travel-assets-manager/pictogram-bex/light__find_price.svg) ### Explore activities Explore thousands of experiences from activities and attractions to day tours and transfer. - ![calendar shield illustration](https://a.travel-assets.com/travel-assets-manager/pictogram-bex/light__calendar_shield.svg) ### Book with ease Skip the line- book tickets online in minutes to top attractions with free cancellation on many activities. - ![trophy illustration](https://a.travel-assets.com/travel-assets-manager/pictogram-bex/light__trophy.svg) ### Treat yourself One Key members save % or more on select activities, hotels, cars and vacation rentals. [Learn about One Key](https://www.expedia.com/welcome-one-key) --- ![](https://forever.travel-assets.com/flex/flexmanager/images/2026/02/06/expedia-sale-2026-desktop-us-ca.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1400&h=600&q=mediumHigh) ## The Annual Vacation Sale Members save up to 40% on hotels and homes. Plan this year’s big trip and save. [Book now](https://expedia.com/deals?rfrr=ACTIVITIES_SPRING_PROMO_553248635976432577) ## What to do in Albemarle County --- Looking for sports, concerts, or theater events in Albemarle County? [Search event tickets](https://www.expedia.com/event-tickets/) to see what's happening today, or to plan what to do this weekend! --- --- --- Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check [things to do near me](https://www.expedia.com/things-to-do-near-me) to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be. --- ## Popular day trips from Albemarle County ![Scenic view of the Blue Ridge mountains from an overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Wintergreen Resort, Virginia](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6733/c83009e1-625c-4e0c-b22f-4be6e7b27cdb.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Waynesboro ![Wines and interesting meads too, on road to Orange](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248621561864612/9fa737db-3b65-49b1-8945-52a9d4641810.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Gordonsville ![Richmond_JamesRiver_553248621532661548_08](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248621532661548/33320ad6-d16f-481a-ba20-67740f423061.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Palmyra ![Wine Vineyard on the countryside in Keswick, Virginia, United States.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/184094/14ce174c-3e8a-4575-adf6-95794fa1d7a6.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Keswick ![Aerial View of the James River Looking Downstream Near Scottsville Virginia](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/184107/ea7485a5-e2cb-4868-9b31-f3c2a24f1818.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Scottsville ![View of angry clouds overshadow the Stanardsville, VA Courthouse](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/184110/b98e50d8-b719-449c-a612-b0e2fd6f57ff.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Stanardsville ![Doyles River Falls](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635200613466/8229163b-6e6f-4f7d-8cc7-71a32d368a27.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Crozet ![View of horizon in Appalachian Shenandoah Blue Ridge mountains on skyline drive overlook and rolling hills](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6051774/a82317c9-a477-4d3b-abff-67216d9d74c9.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium) ### Ruckersville ![](https://a.travel-assets.com/mad-service/footer/bnaBanners/BEX_Footer.jpg) ## Go further with the Expedia app Save even more - get up to 20% on select hotels when you book on the app. Our app deals help you to save on trips so you can travel more and manage it all on the go. 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