Life at the School of Medicine
One campus. Two locations: Charlottesville and Northern Virginia. Students at UVA School of Medicine can expect an enriching experience regardless of which location. Both campuses offer unique experiences working with faculty, students and patients in two distinct locations.
Charlottesville
Centrally located in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia, Charlottesville offers something for everyone. Foodies will enjoy the city’s renowned and high concentration of restaurants, wineries and breweries. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the rivers, lakes and beautiful parks. The area boasts several championship golf courses designed by leading industry architects and a vibrant equestrian culture. The city’s historic attractions, such as Monticello, the Grounds of the University of Virginia and James Monroe’s Highland, have played a unique role in the history of the nation.
Northern Virginia - Inova
The UVA School of Medicine Inova Campus is located in Falls Church, Virginia about 16 miles west of Washington, DC. Falls Church boasts of a late 1600 Colonial history shared with Native Americans that has given rise to a modern 21st century city. Recreational opportunities are plentiful in northern Virginia, and area residents are in close proximity to both the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic coast. In addition, the nation’s capital can be easily accessed via the Capital Beltway Outer Loop 495 and the Dunn Loring Metro (Orange Line). The cultural and social opportunities available in D.C. are endless.
Life in-and-around Charlottesville
Explore the many things to see-and-do in-and-around Charlottesville and the surrounding areas.
Art & Culture
The Bridge
A progressive arts initiative strengthening community through creative interaction.
Chroma Projects
Local art gallery located on the Downtown Mall.
The Garage
A multipurpose space for art, music and film.
IX Art Park
Public, noncommercial, interactive art space, open night and day.
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Museum
One of the world’s finest collections of Australian aboriginal art.
McGuffey Arts Center
An artist-run cooperative art center located near the Downtown Mall.
Muse Paintbar
Studio combining painting instruction with a restaurant and bar.
Second Street Gallery
Art gallery featuring contemporary art and artists.
UVA Ruffin Gallery
Art gallery serving as an active part of UVA’s Studio Art program.
UVA Fralin Museum of Art
UVA’s main art museum featuring national and international exhibits.
Virginia Festival of the Book
Annual festival featuring renowned authors, writing workshops and more.
Wine and Design Charlottesville
Studio offering art classes and wine for social groups.
Theater & Film
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Theater offering food, full bar, plus new and classic movie screenings.
Live Arts
Charlottesville’s premier venue for live stage performance.
The Paramount Theater
Classic movie theater converted to a concert and performing arts space.
Regal Stonefield Stadium 14 and IMAX
Charlottesville’s largest movie theater featuring an IMAX screen.
Violet Crown Movie Theater
Movie theater with a restaurant and bar on the Downtown Mall.
Virginia Film Festival
Annual film festival attracting acclaimed independent films, actors and actresses.
Food
The Charlottesville area is home to one of the richest food communities in the country. From fine dining to casual eateries of every stripe, the area’s bustling food scene is one of Charlottesville’s finest attributes.
- Visit Charlottesville’s Restaurant Guide: A comprehensive guide to area eateries from the region’s tourism bureau
- C-ville Weekly’s Restaurant Listings: Restaurant listings from the local weekly newspaper
- 43 Things to Eat in Charlottesville: A fun list of great local food from the folks at Spoon University
- The Charlottesville 29: News and a list of “ideal” 29 restaurants in Charlottesville
Wine, Beer & Cider
Virginia is home to roughly 200 wineries, numerous cideries and dozens of craft breweries and the Charlottesville region is home to some of the best. Most establishments welcome visitors for tours and tastings, and many hold events throughout the year.
- Virginia Wine: The state’s official wine tourism site
- Monticello Wine Trail: Information on the wineries located in the Charlottesville region
- Visit Charlottesville Vineyards, Breweries & Cideries: Guide from the region’s tourism bureau
- Darden Wine and Cuisine Club: The student club seeks to educate members about a range of food and drink
- Best Virginia Wineries to Visit: Many local wineries are included in this list from Food and Wine.
- Darden School of Brew: The student club seeks to educate members through hands on brewing experiences and guest speaker events.
Family Attractions
Albemarle County Parks
Albemarle County’s numerous parks offer swimming, fishing, boating, picnic shelters and hiking.
Carter Mountain Orchard
Fruit orchard on nearby Carter Mountain offering fruit picking, recreation and great views of Charlottesville.
Chiles Peach Orchard
Fruit orchard in nearby Crozet, Virginia, offering fruit picking and recreation.
Frontier Culture Museum
Learn the story of the thousands who migrated to colonial America in the 1600s and 1700s in this interactive, family-friendly outdoor museum.
Liberty Mills Farm
Local farm offering a farm market and pick your own, plus seasonal events.
Virginia Discovery Museum
Museum fostering intellectual curiosity and development for children.
Visit Charlottesville: Family-Friendly Activities
Website offering a wide variety of family-friendly activities in the area.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
Get to know Thomas Jefferson—author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, third president of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia.
Music
Charlottesville Opera
Offering opera and musical performances for more than 40 years.
The Jefferson Theater
Historic concert venue on the Downtown Mall.
John Paul Jones Arena
UVA’s basketball arena hosts concerts from Taylor Swift to Paul McCartney.
Old Cabell Hall
UVA’s principal lecture and concert hall, located on the historic Lawn.
The Paramount Theater
Classic movie theater converted to a concert and performing arts space.
The Southern
Intimate music venue located on the Downtown Mall.
Sprint Pavilion
Outdoor concert pavilion on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall.
Outdoors & Recreation
George Washington National Forest
Home to the Blue Ridge Parkway and popular hikes such as Humpback Rocks
Visit Site >
Golf Courses
View a listing of the area’s many golf courses
Visit Site >
James River Reeling and Rafting
Tubing, canoeing, kayaking and camping trips on the nearby James River.
Observatory Hill Trail
A popular hiking and biking trail adjacent to UVA’s Central Grounds.
Old Rag Mountain
One of the most popular hikes and rock scrambles on the East Coast.
Ragged Mountain Natural Area
Nearby natural area featuring two lakes, mature forest and several miles of trails.
Rivanna Reservoid
Home to UVA Rowing and a premier location for fishing and boating.
Rivanna Trail
A combined urban and wilderness trail encircling the city of Charlottesville.
Shenandoah National Park
Home to the Skyline Drive and hundreds of miles of hiking trails along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
UVA Athletics
Official home of the Cavaliers. Find out when UVA’s national championship-winning men’s and women’s sports teams will play next.