City Escape: Richmond, Virginia

Journey back in history along some of Virginia’s most enchanting byways, where American history is combined with lost-in-time backroads through a hilly agricultural landscape, mountaintop vistas, a classy lunch stop, and a slice of the Blue Ridge Pkwy as a delicious dessert.

Traffic on the backroads is usually moderate, but more congestion is encountered in Charlottesville and on the Blue Ridge Pkwy on weekends. The route is of average difficulty for experienced street riders, although the portion in the Blue Ridge Mountains has more curves and elevation changes. The roads are generally in good to very good condition. However, some of the three-digit state roads may not have received as much regular attention from road crews as the main roads.  RR

Lunch Stop

Hamiltons’ at First & Main is a white tablecloth restaurant, conveniently situated in Charlottesville’s Downtown Historic Mall. The menu includes soups, salads, seafood, burgers, and sandwiches. Find it at 101 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA, (434) 295-6649.

Points of Interest

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Learn about the extraordinary life and accomplishments of our third president while touring his iconic residence, Monticello. Perched atop a hill, Monticello also offers stunning views of the surrounding lush topography. Tickets and further information are available online.

Charlottesville Downtown Pedestrian Mall
Presidents Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe purportedly walked these same eight blocks that are now a pedestrian mall, which offers restaurants, shops, music, a movie theater, and more. It’s a nice place to take a break during your ride.

Humpback Rocks Visitor Center
Located at milepost 5.8 on the Blue Ridge Pkwy, the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center has rangers on duty to answer questions and museum exhibits about mountain life. Energetic visitors can follow one of several trails, which lead to the panoramic vistas available at Humpback Rocks.