Welcome to the University of Virginia and Wahoowa! 

Our interactive campus tour will be live-streamed from the grounds of the University, which was designed by Thomas Jefferson - one of the founders of the United States. We will visit the Rotunda, which he designed after the Pantheon in Rome and served as the university’s first library and lecture hall and the "Academical Village" that extends from it. This is the central and original heart of the University, where Jefferson hoped to replicate the experience he had enjoyed at university. It is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site for the history and stunning architecture, but a great place to study in the sunshine on the expansive green space known simply as the Lawn.
After a quick stroll through the gardens to pick out some great picnic spots, we will also see the Mad Bowl and Frat Row, just across University Ave. Madison Bowl (aka Mad Bowl) is an open field surrounded by fraternity and sorority houses that are used for impromptu soccer games or frisbee tossing, as well as the craziness of Easter weekend. It is named for nearby Madison House, the volunteering department of the University. Giving back to the University can contribute as much to your success as good grades. Just past Madison House is Beta Bridge, an interesting designated location for student expression, which is painted and repainted almost weekly.

"The Corner" is just a block or two away in the other direction. Many study lunches are enjoyed at the open-air tables set up by Al Fresco dining. Charlottesville, in general, is famous for its farm-to-table dining scene, and even before COVID, the success of most restaurants could be directly linked to the success of the outdoor dining patio. The Corner is where one goes to experience the rhythm of student life, from the snatched bagel breakfast to a long, leisurely Saturday night with friends.

The other side of the dining coin is “on-campus” dining which we can see while visiting Newcomb Hall, where you will find everything from (once small and local) Five Guys Burgers and Fries, to Fast Lunch Noodle and Sushi cafes, to salad bars and sandwiches. “On-campus” dining at UVA is some of the most eclectic and health-conscious in the nation. (A quick word about the lingo. We don’t have a “campus,” we have the Grounds of the University. Your guide will bring you up to date on our quirky terminology. From Wahoowa to Grounds, and on to what year you are, your guide will make sure you are in the know!).
Newcomb is where the bookstore is located, and fortunately, they have more than books! Everything you need for life on grounds can be found here, from laundry detergent to lawn chairs, and from backpacks to beanie caps.

Finally, we will end this trip by visiting some of the buildings where classes are held.