Is there anything more relaxing than spending a few days with the girls, enjoying some “me” time? Charlottesville might not seem like a Girlfriend Destination, but there’s so much to do you’ll find yourself as busy as you want to be. Whether you want to hit all the sites or pamper yourself, here are activities to help you indulge in fun and relaxation on your Girlfriend’s Getaway to Charlottesville, Virginia.
We visited Charlottesville as part of a media trip. It’s the second year we’ve returned because we enjoy it!
Start your day with shopping at the Charlottesville Historic Downtown Mall. This fun downtown area features over 120 quaint shops and 30 restaurants, housed in historic buildings, lining each side of a brick-lined pedestrian street. At the end of the street is the Virginia Children’s museum, a hands-on children’s museum with interactive exhibits, a freedom wall where people are welcome to leave messages in chalk, an amphitheater with outdoor concerts during the warmer months and the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce. This is a great place to drop by if you have any questions about the area. Stop by one of the restaurants and enjoy an outdoor meal during the spring, summer and fall. Not only will you enjoy delicious food, you can people watch.
Explore the IX Art Park, located at 522 2nd Street SE. Described as a “walk-through, sculptural, mural-festooned Mecca,” it’s free to the public and open daily from dawn to dusk. The art park is packed with events, including the ixtoberfest, acting classes and voice lessons. This is a wonderful place to pack a picnic lunch and share girl talk or relax with a glass of wine.
While you are in the area, check out some of the artwork in the Charlottesville Mural Project featuring the work of Rick Montoya. I loved the creativity of this one.
Spend the afternoon at Keswick Hall enjoying one of their relaxing spa t reatments. We were greeted with infused water and led to a quiet room while we waited for our Swedish massage. Honestly, I think this was one of the best massages I had ever received. My masseuse asked me questions on the level of firmness I preferred, my stress level, if I was having pain in any area and which areas I preferred she concentrate on while working. By the time I left the table and returned to the relaxation area, the tension had left my body and I was ready for a nap. Instead, I sipped champagne and noshed on delicious sea salt caramels. I could easily consent to have one of these massages every day!
Finish the day with an evening at Wine & Design Charlottesville. Bring your own bottle of wine and enjoy two hours painting your own masterpiece. We painted “A Lavender Field” and, although all of the instructions were the same, everyone’s picture was different when we were finished. The instructor was patient, giving us detailed instructions on how to mix paint, which brush to use and how to perform certain techniques. Because the studio uses different paintings for each class, you’ll always have a new experience.
One of my favorite activities was making my own glassware at the Glass Palette, an interactive design studio. Walk-ins are welcome and the sky is the limit on creativity. Owners Maria DiMassimo and her daughter, Cara, began our experience by showing us the projects and materials that are available. We were given a short lesson on how to use the tools and left alone to take all the time we needed to create our designs. Maria stopped by often to check on us and help with any problems we might have. I was impressed by how we could make the same basic project, yet they all turned out differently, making them unique pieces. Each piece of glassware is dishwasher and food safe. The Glass Palette offers shipping on finished projects if you do not live in the area. They also offer classes exploring different techniques and designs. While you are in the studio browse some of the owner’s work, including this award winning glass dress that has been exhibited in the Smithsonian.
What are your favorite suggestions for activities for a girlfriend’s getaway?
Planning a vacation to Charlottesville? Be sure to check out posts: 4 Must Visit Historic Sites, Where to Stay in Charlottesville, Must Try Restaurants in Charlottesville and The Monticello Artisan Trail.
I love planning girlfriend getaways!I have always wanted to go to Virginia so thanks for the recap!
I dont think I have ever had a girls weekend getaway but like the sound of it! Great location you chose.
I love girlfriend getaways – they are perfect to keep you sane. This is a place we haven’t been and looks like we would love it. I am inlove with that glass dress- amazing!
Wow, absolutely looks a cute shop it makes me want to go ynere. I wish I can see it in person
It would be so nice to be able to go out with your girlfriends and spend a vacation together. This sounds like the perfect place for it!
These are all fun and exciting suggestions. It’s been a while since I last had a girlfriend getaway.
I’ve always been pretty sure I can’t paint. Things like this make me think I could do it though.
I love girlfriends getaways! I have a friend who is originally from VA and we were thinking of a roadtrip.
i would love to go and shop there. it looks like super cute shops to browse through.
I would love to have a girlfriend getaway. I don’t have close friends here in the area so it is always my husband I go to.n Charlottesville looks fun to visit.
I did not know there were so many fun activities to do in Charlottesville. I would love to visit Glass Palette. It would be awesome to make something out of glass. That would be a great piece to have to remember a visit to the place.
It sounds like you all had such a fun time. I would love to visit that area some day.
I’ve only been to Virginia once. However, when I went, it was beautiful and a ton of fun.
Virginia is one of my favorite places to visit. I would totally love to visit with my husband and explore this area.
What a good idea for a get away.
I really like your pictures and you did a good job describing the place.
I am all about a girlfriends getaway. This looks like a super fun place!
I haven’t ever been to Charlottesville but it looks like a lovely destination for a visit. I would love to go have a girlfriends weekend or week there. Looks great!
Charlottesville looks like a really nice destination for a little “me” time. I wish it just wasn’t that far! If I were to visit, I would love to experience that painting class and making my own glassware. What I make, whether it turned out pretty or not will be a good reminder of a great time in Charlottesville.
It gives me a feeling that Charlottesville, Virginia is a heaven for artist. This place good be a good location for a reunion of friends or classmates. Looks like a lot of interesting spots in this little town.
This looks like a whole lot of fun. I think my daughter and I would really enjoy the art park. It looks so unique and unusual but beautiful as well.
I am so in need of a girls trip! Charlottesville looks like an awesome spot for a getaway with friends.
I’ve only been there once while participating in a baseball tournament at University of Virginia in college. I’ve always wanted to go back and check out the area more. Especially would like to visit Thomas Jefferson’s estate some time.
Looks like such a nice place to explore. I’ve never been to Charlottesville, or Viriginia for that matter. Sounds like there is plenty to do!
I have been to Charlottesville, but it has been a long time. I would love to go back there and spend a little time. It looks like a fun place.
That sounds like you had a great time! So much to do, and probably so little time. I would love to get away with my girlfriends. Most are in different states so it would be great to meet up to just hang out and enjoy the sites.
Charlottsville, VA certainly doesn’t look boring! So many thing to do for an exciting girlfriends getaway!
I’ve never been to Charlottesville, VA. I didn’t even realize there was one in VA! It sounds like a great place to spend an afternoon or weekend. I too would have enjoyed seeing the glass.
We’d have to do a ton of shopping and exploring for sure. The Wine and Design would be so much fun too! I love doing that!
I would love to have a girlfriends getaway vacation! I have never been to Charlottesville, so that would be a great place to try out.
I just love Charlottesville! It’s so beautiful and peaceful there and I really love visiting Monticello!
I can honestly say that I have not been to Charlottsville, VA but man do I need to. It’s on the East Coast which is where I am most comfortable traveling as I am in NH. I will have to make plans to go see all of this you shared that they offer here. Looks so wonderful.
I have never been to Virginia. It actually is a state I want to visit. I will definitely have to check out Charlottesville.
This sounds so amazing! The massage process alone sounded like heaven. I really could use a girls trip, how awesome it would be to paint like that too!
Charlottesville sounds like a great getaway! I would love to take my girlfriends there for a long weekend. Thanks for sharing it!
It would be fun to get away for a girls weekend there. I would love to explore the town with my girlfriends and just have a great time doing stuff.
Interesting place. I love the glass dress art. It is amazing! 2 days ago I had experience going to an art museum with girlfriend and it felt so good. Great post!
I love the painting classes/sessions with friends. Charlottesville looks like a great place to go out with the girls for the day or weekend!
What a fun city! I’d love to explore this area. Maybe one day!
Charlottesville looks like such a great city! I’ve put it high on my list of places to go thanks to all the posts you’ve done on the city.
I could definitely go for a girls weekend right about now! I’ve been to Virginia (while visiting DC) but have never been to Charlottesville but it seems so charming and like the perfect little getaway <3
Thinking I could use a girls weekend get away someplace like this. We aren’t close to your area but if I ever get down that way we would have a great time enjoying all the food, shopping and places to see.