Day 7 - August 7th: Monticello

Thursday, August 7, 2008:
Family visits Monticello

Nice morning. Loaded up the two cars with Barb & Jim and the family to go to Monticello – the Virginia Estate for Thomas Jefferson. The trip to Charlottesville, VA was very scenic and enjoyable. Having the kids along definitely made it a more ‘hectic’ activity than what we experienced earlier in the week. We had lunch at Hardee’s and then spent the rest of the afternoon at Monticello. We drove back through the University of Virginia campus. Had dinner at Stonewall Crossing after we got back to Luray. At night played a homemade version of the Newlywed Game with Barb & Jim, Kathie & Jim, Chris & Elizabeth, Sara & Jaime, and Jill & me. It made for a great night and a fun way to end the week.

Thoughts / Observations

• Monticello was probably the site I was most interested in seeing, so was very excited to see it. It was ‘awesome’ in every sense of the word…but was surprised how I found myself comparing it to Mt. Vernon. Jill and I felt that Monticello was more realistic and came across as a ‘home’ that was actually lived in as opposed to Mt. Vernon. It is important to note, however, that we liked the museum/presentation style of Mt. Vernon more than Monticello.

• The Plantation Tour was FANTASTIC, the docent really knew her stuff.

• Very good for me to see the layout of Monticello and its region as I read more info about Thomas Jefferson and the times.

• It was amazing to be in a place that at one point held such a historic person! VERY COOL!

• I wasn't aware of the fact that Jefferson had very little control of his spending habits and actually ran up quite a debt in his life...enough so, that it was passed onto his daughter to deal with (estate sale) after his death.

• Really liked to see the UVA campus. It was a little smaller, or at least had a smaller-school feel to it than other large state universities tend to have.

• Jill & I finished in next to last place (last: Jim & Barb) in the Newlywed Game. We all had a lot of fun. Chris & Elizabeth apparently know their stuff and 'won'...but really, aren't we all winners in the 'wedding game' of life? : )