Getting Away

Thomas Jefferson statue.

 I had the opportunity to accompany my husband to Washington D.C. for a few days so we took a side trip to Charlottesville, Virginia to visit Thomas Jefferson's plantation home, Monticello. This is something we had always talked about doing and it was a great way to break out of our daily routine.

As we made our way through the visitor center and approached the boarding area for the shuttle bus to the top of the hill, we were greeted  by a likeness of Mr. Jefferson, standing in the rain.  Fog hung over the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance.

The home sat proudly on the hilltop and a long sweeping driveway deposited us to a brick pathway that lead to the front door.

We had a behind the scenes tour and our informative guide lead us on a two-hour exploration from attic to basement. It was fascinating to see how Jefferson designed and developed his home over the years and nice to see it so well taken care of today.

Front of Monticello

Back of the house.

The back of the home showcases the dome (an architectural feature Jefferson was very fond of) and is most familiar to everyone as the image depicted on the back of the nickel coin. The dome, an impressive yellow room with large round windows and an oculus was the only interior space where we were permitted to take photographs.

I would have loved to take the garden and slave tours that were offered and then walk through the grounds back down the hill, but the steady, cold rain really put a damper on any outside activities.

Jefferson's grave site.

On our ride down the mountain, we passed Jefferson's grave site and family burial grounds.

Even though the weather was less than perfect, it was a wonderful day trip and I look forward to possibly going back one day for a tour of the grounds.