Last Stop, Charlottesville

For the final stop in our East Coast Adventure, we camped just outside of Charlottesville, VA.  Our mission here was to see Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, and to visit a Virginia winery.  Over the years I have heard from so many of my friends about all the wineries in this area, but somehow we have never managed to stop and see one.  

Luckily, we found an almost empty campgrounds, a welcome change of pace after being squished in at our previous stop.  The campground was Misty Mountains Campground in Crozet, VA.  Everything was clean and neat, there was an almost empty pool, an it was so peaceful!

All that green after three weeks of sand views!

Catching frogs is why we camp.

After a restful night's sleep, we were off to Monticello.  In case you don't know, Thomas Jefferson was our third president.  On his gravestone he chose to have three things memorialized: Author of the Declaration of Independence, Author of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and Founder of the University of Virginia.  But another of his lasting achievements was the building of his home, Monticello.  

As a true Renaissance man (but you know, living in America in the 1700's) Jefferson studied all subjects; including architecture.  His home is thoughtfully laid out in one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine.  I highly recommend stopping here and taking the tour.

A&R with TJ

Look at that view!

There was this little house with windows on three sides looking out over the valley. I want one!

In the kitchen garden, the plants were marked with these stakes. The TJ 1774 means in Thomas Jefferson's records in 1774 there was a mention of this crop being in his garden.

Writing with a quill is tough!

Two men thinking deep thoughts.

After Monticello, we made our winery stop.  I put a call out on Facebook to all my VA friends, asking which winery in the area was the most kid friendly.  I am so glad we chose to visit the King Family Vineyard.  The wine was fantastic and the setting was perfect.  

Wish I was there right now!

Its a Rosé made in Crozet, so its a Crosé. So clever.

This place was made for Instagram.

Out by the polo horse barn we found the Texas flag flying. I said to Rob, "wait, is this like THE King family? Like the King Ranch people?!?" We couldn't find out on google, does anyone know?

When our time at the winery was done we were all a little sad.  The next day we would pull up stakes and drive the 6 hours back to Kentucky.  We really enjoyed our time in Virginia and North Carolina!

Our final S'mores.

Little did we know, our trip home would be a lot longer than 6 hours.  Right after we crossed into West Virginia, Rob saw a puff of smoke come from the Jeep we were pulling behind us.  Oh no.  We stopped in Lewisburg, where we had spent the first night of our trip almost 5 weeks before.  There was a repair shop that took a look at the Jeep and it needed new... somethings.  Wheel bearings? Brakes? Something important and expensive.  Luckily they were able to fix it that day and 5 hours later we were on our way home again.  

Hooking up the Jeeper Creeper one final time.