Charlottesville named among the best family travel destinations in the United States

Charlottesville has been named one of the top 10 family travel destinations in the United States by Yelp, the online review site and travel advice service. The city was ranked #3 for its rich history, plentiful outdoor recreation options, and abundance of great restaurants, especially its cider and soul food.

The news comes almost a year after another online travel service, Reservation.comnamed the city one of its “20 Friendliest Cities and Towns in America.”

“This latest recognition means families also feel included and recognized,” Courtney Cacatian, executive director of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, told the Daily Progress. “Positive press recognition in such a well-known tourism information source is a boon to our community and to our visitors.”

In addition to drawing attention to the city's various attractions, such honors could also signal the end of what Cacatian described as “a turbulent few years.”

“When COVID hit, many hospitality and tourism businesses closed their doors – some never reopened. Food and labor costs have increased enormously, and all this against the backdrop of the events of 2017,” she said.

The deadly Unite the Right rally turned into a riot in 2017, when white supremacists invaded downtown Charlottesville and killed an anti-racist counterprotester, who left a stain on the city. Charlottesville has become an online hashtag and shorthand in conversations about racial violence. Getting to the root of what happened, coming to terms with its new reputation and countering waves of negative press has been a challenge, not only for the tourism bureau, but also for businesses that rely on travelers' money and residents who regularly see the name of their city. trending for all the wrong reasons.

But the work done by these people, these residents and the Tourist Office seems to be paying off. Some local apple cider donuts and fried chicken didn't hurt.

Carter Mountain Orchard, just south of town, and Mel's Cafe, on West Main Street, were two Charlottesville staples featured in Yelp's online post announcing the town's new designation. Yelp also highlighted the city's proximity to Shenandoah National Park, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In a city that has occasionally flaunted its fine dining bona fides, many might be surprised that it's Mel's, a family-run soul food restaurant across the street from the train station, that has claimed the spotlight.

Owner and operator Melvin Walker wasn't surprised. He took the news with enthusiasm, barely looking up from his grill, where he was busy flipping burgers and throwing another batch of potatoes into the fryer.

“We treat everyone like family, kind and friendly, and we have the best homemade food in town,” Walker told the Daily Progress.

Walker opened the restaurant in 1984, but had to close it five years later due to lack of business. Since he reopened Mel's in 1995, it has become a city staple. And Walker always works the kitchen from open to close.

Its building, known for its large windows and distinctive angular roofline that typify the now-vanishing Googie architectural style, was given protected status by the city council in 2013.

This is the first year that Yelp has published a list of the 10 most family-friendly cities in the country, based on data and user reviews, the company said. The company reported an 88% increase in users searching for “good for kids” between 2021 and 2023 and decided to dig deeper into the qualities that make up the ideal vacation destination for American families. Ahead of Charlottesville in the rankings were Fredericksburg, Texas, at No. 1 and Napa, California, at No. 2.

“Yelp is always trying to find different ways to highlight local communities and businesses, and after seeing the demand for family-friendly travel places, they were inspired to put together this list based on customer reviews and data. users,” said Noa Albilia, a Yelp spokesperson. told the Daily Progress.

Tourist hotspots, such as Carter Mountain, check a lot of boxes for families: good food and drinks, scenic views, plenty of space.

“We are certainly honored to be a part of this tourism community,” Cynthia Chiles, a member of the Chiles family that has owned Carter Mountain for years, told the Daily Progress in an email. “There is still an appetite for healthy outdoor activities that people can enjoy with family and friends. Our activity remains stable. Whenever a ranking like this is released, the region as a whole will benefit from travelers who are now inspired to visit.

Mel's and Carter Mountain are just a sample of what the Charlottesville area has to offer, said Cacatian, who pointed out the area's many historic sites, hiking and horseback riding trails, museums, theaters, shopping and fine dining. the region.

Despite the economic challenges of recent years, Yelp's latest recognition underscores what other data has reported recently: Business is back in Charlottesville. Retail vacancy rates are the lowest since before the pandemic and the city's sales tax revenue is trending upward. Additionally, several new hotels are in the planning stages and the downtown pedestrian mall was just listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a designation that could help preserve it for generations of families to come.

“Our industry is resilient, hardworking, innovative and, above all, welcoming,” Cacatian said. “Most of the businesses that serve visitors are locally owned, including restaurants, wedding planners, stores, outdoor recreation outfitters and more. They rely heavily on a combination of loyal local customers and a steady stream of visitors. Driven by passion, many of these businesses have survived now that we have welcomed visitors back to our region.