Charlottesville is one of the most unique cities that I have
ever been. It is a small city, meaning you have the advantage of quick
travel times with little traffic across town. This is really helpful
during a busy residency. When I am off, I want to get full use of
my time outside of the hospital, and I don't want this to be time
sitting in my car! At the same time, Charlottesville has many things
that give it a "big city" feel, such as the University and the numerous
local restaurants, breweries, and wineries. Plus the mountain views are
beautiful! - Kelly Estes
Charlottesville was settled in the eighteenth century on
a hill overlooking the Rivanna River. It was named in honor of Queen
Charlotte, the young wife of George III, and serves as the seat of
Albemarle County. The town is nestled between the Appalachian Trail of
the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north, and Monticello (home of
Thomas Jefferson) to the south. Today, Charlottesville is a small,
thriving university town that has kept up with the well-cultivated
tastes of its inhabitants. Charlottesville offers a wide range of
cultural and recreational activities.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, the nearby Blue Ridge
Mountains and rivers provide easy access for hiking, fishing, camping,
rafting and even skiing. There are a large number of golf courses
available including a first-rate public course and the University of
Virginia course, Birdwood, to which residents have access. The town and
the University have an impressive number of tennis courts, as well.
For those who wish
to travel out of town for a day or two, Washington D.C. is just 2.5
hours away and offers an abundance of museums, exhibits, and other
cultural opportunities. Other places to visit include Richmond (1
hour), Williamsburg (3 hours) and Virginia Beach (3.5 hours).
Charlottesville airport has connections to many cities and the Amtrak
station has daily rail service.
The University provides opportunities for
cultural and intellectual stimulation, as well as sports and
recreation. UVa hosts several film series, a University-Community
orchestra and the Tuesday Evening Concert series which brings artists
such as Pinchas Zuckerman, Joshua Bell and the Guarneri String Quartet
to Charlottesville.
Recreational opportunities include the
aforementioned golf and tennis facilities as well as a number of
gymnasiums and swimming pools. The University has just opened
a massive new aquatic and fitness center. The University of
Virginia is also a national powerhouse in several sports including
football, men and women's basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. Season
tickets for football at a reduced rate are available to housestaff.
A collection of
student shops, bookstores, and night spots, the Corner is the
center of student life at The University of Virginia. Downtown
Charlottesville is the legal and financial hub of the community. A
brick pedestrian mall extends for several blocks along Main Street
through the heart of the historic downtown district.
In the years since The
University of Virginia was founded in 1819, hundreds of thousands of
students, faculty members and guests have met on the Grounds of the
University of Virginia to exchange ideas, enlarge their understanding
or simply deepen their appreciation of the beautiful buildings and
gardens that Thomas Jefferson designed for The University of Virginia.
In creating the academic village, Thomas Jefferson devised a symbol of
his demanding conception of education. Check out a short history of
UVA.
Outside magazine has
featured Charlottesville several times over the past 5 years, including
a #2 position in North America's Dream Towns. Money magazine ranked
Charlottesville as the #1 small town in the Southeast to live in
1998.
What other are
saying about Charlottesville:
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Radiology
and Medical Imaging
Endocrinology
