Life in Charlottesville

With the anticipation of your residency ahead of you, you’ll be glad to know that Charlottesville and Albemarle County provide one of the most relaxing settings you could imagine. From the gently rolling slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the casually cosmopolitan style of the Downtown Mall, you’re sure to find plenty of fun and adventure with family and friends!

Charlottesville and the surrounding region is teeming with activities for a variety of interests and tastes, such as evenings at Sprint Pavilion for Fridays After Five, shopping at the City Market to support local vendors, running in many of the charity marathons, hiking  scenic trails, attending an event at the John Paul Jones Arena, or picking apples at a local orchard. You’re sure to find something to do that will bring a welcome balance to your day!

Charlottesville-Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau
Explore things going on at the University and in the community. Find out what locals love! Following up on your choices will lead to plenty of links to other sites, too, like Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and many more.

Exploring the University of Virginia & Charlottesville
See a brief QuickTime movie intro to the area. There are also ideas on getting around (including parking). The University also maintains several online maps; start your explorations at the Maps & Directions page.

Whether you’re looking for housing at the University (“on-Grounds,” as they say) or for an apartment or house “off-Grounds,” there are people available to help direct your search.

Check out the available links at Faculty & Staff Housing, part of the University’s Housing Division. From there you can compare rates, read terms and conditions, and fill out your application for on-Grounds housing.

For off-Grounds housing options, continue your search online through a site maintained by the Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS®, providing listings in Charlottesville, Albemarle, and other nearby counties. As many of our residents can attest, you may have to look a little, but it’s definitely affordable to buy a house here on a resident’s salary.