Monticello, which means "little mountain" in Italian, was the home of Thomas Jefferson. This architectural endeavor occupied Jefferson's mind, as he designed the house and supervised its construction, which began in 1769. Jefferson lived in France for five years while serving as an ambassador and so much of Monticello was inspired by the classical houses he saw in Paris. In 1782, a French visitor stated that Jefferson was "the first American who has consulted the Fine Arts to know how he should shelter himself from the weather."

The guides are very well knowledgeable about every nook and corner of the house and landscape. I really felt like I was taking a step back in time and felt very disoriented when I left the mountain to return to "present-time" downtown Charlottesville. If you decide to visit Monticello, I highly recommend not only taking the house tour, but also the garden tour and plantation community tour. The latter focuses on the African-American slaves who worked on the 5,000 acre plantation. The garden and plantation community tours are available from April 1-October 31.

I also suggest that if you have the time, purchase a "Presidents' Pass," which is a discount combination ticket giving you admission to Monticello, Michie Tavern, and Ash Lawn-Highland. The Presdients' Pass costs $26.00 US per person. These three sites are very close to each other. Michie Tavern was the social center of its community in the late 1700s. The tavern's dining room offers a wonderful Midday Fare, which features U.S. southern period dishes. Ash Lawn-Highland was the home of former President James Monroe.

As for the University of Virginia, I was only able to drive through it. However, I saw the "Academic Village," which was built by Thomas Jefferson. Tours are available inside the rotunda of the University of Virginia.