Weekend Getaway - Charlottesville VA June 24-25, 2017

It has been a couple months since we took the camper anywhere so we decided to get away for the weekend.  We stayed somewhere new, the Charlottesville KOA.  We had scoped it out once before. The campground is not much to look at, but it's good for an overnight stay and very convenient to activities we enjoy. The bathhouse is nice, updated and user friendly.  There is a pool, and parking is easy in, easy out.  You should get there via exit 121 rather than 118.  There are low limbs and powerlines off 118.  We stayed in site 53, a pull through, that was extremely level.  There is no privacy at this campground, as rigs are packed in tightly, however, sites 53, 54, and 55 are off to themselves so it's as private as you can get.
We hiked Walnut Hill in the mornings.  It's a nice state park, with a huge lake and miles of hiking/mountain biking trials.  For others' interests, there is a beach, disc golf course, and play ground.  It's a beautiful site for a picnic.  We hiked along the lake, the red trail, but couldn't go deep into the woods as it was too hot for Logan (we normally take the red trail to the yellow trail, then purple, and back to red).  I was extremely worried on the first day, because the humidity was so bad.  But the next day, we started an hour earlier, temps were 10 degrees cooler, so he did much better.  We let Cadia and Braddock run free and they had a blast.  Braddock stayed with us on the trials for the most part while Cadia made sounds of thunder as she pounded the dirt breezing past us.  Frye stayed on leash, but we did run her sprints in the disc golf field the last day.  She ran crazy for her first 2 down and backs, not even stopping for a treat.  Thereafter, she came for her cheese.
On Saturday we visited Shapps WineWorks (the best wine maker in Va), and did a small tasting and then headed to Pippin Hill for lunch.  The scenery at Pippin Hill is on par with King Family and Afton, making it ranked in the top 3 for outdoor seating atmosphere.  The food was good too.  We split the garlic hummus appetizer and the grass fed beef sliders which paired well with a glass of meritage (2014).  Thereafter we walked the beginning of the Monticello Trail (dogs aren't allowed past the 1 mile mark).  We usually walk the side farm trails there, but it was too hot and I needed to put Logan in the stroller.  The 1 mile trail is easy to walk pushing a stroller.
Photo at Monticello trail taken 10/16/2011
We ended the day with a visit to Jefferson Vineyards, just to sit on the lawn and relax to close out the day.  It's a peaceful place to just sit in the shade, get a nice breeze, and take in the beautiful scenery for a moment.  They did kick us out exactly at 6 though, albeit very nice about it.

On Sunday we decided to go up to Carters Mountain for some peaches, donuts, and peach cider.  The dogs loved their donut treat.  I think they remember the place from the October trip. Then we went back to Jefferson Vineyards for a picnic lunch and to relax once more before heading out.  That last hour sure went by fast.
Some additional notes:  dogs are allowed inside the tasting room at Shapps WineWorks and they are allowed on the veranda at Pippin Hill as you dine.   The veranda is shaded with fans so it stays cool on a hot summer day. 





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