With a captivating blend of colorful history, distinctive architecture and Southern hospitality, Charlottesville, Va., is a destination unlike any other. In the shadow of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in Albemarle County, Charlottesville still reflects the revolutionary ideals of the founding fathers who once called this place home. Here visitors can walk in the footsteps of Jefferson at his beloved University of Virginia and at Monticello, the home he designed and redesigned, built and rebuilt over the course of four decades. Nearby are Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of Jefferson's dear friend, James Monroe, the nation's fifth president and Montpelier, a National Trust Historic site located in nearby Orange, Va. and the home of James Madison, father of the Constitution. All of the presidential homes run year-round special events, including programs specifically geared for children, guest lectures, wine and opera festivals, hunt races and archaeology workshops. Because Thomas Jefferson is credited as being the father of American wine, it's no surprise that today the area surrounding Charlottesville is home to many nationally recognized wineries, which offer tastings and tours for discriminating palates. Charlottesville is also known as one of the most scenic spots in the Mid-Atlantic for a hot air balloon ride and is quickly becoming an entertainment destination with the restored Paramount Theater, the newly built Charlottesville Amphitheater and The John Paul Jones Arena. Spectacular scenery and championship courses designed by some of the industry's top architects create a winning combination for golfers. Charlottesville's many nearby rivers and lakes also provide the perfect setting for aquatic pursuits, such as sailing, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and tubing. And at the end of a long, enjoyable day, visitors find the Boar's Head Inn, a country resort outside Charlottesville that is a member of National Trust Historic Hotels of America, the perfect retreat.

For these reasons, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the country's largest private, nonprofit preservation organization, today named Charlottesville, Va., to its 2007 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States. Charlottesville was selected from 63 destinations in 27 states that were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities.

"When you combine the spectacular natural beauty of the region with Charlottesville's architectural and cultural heritage, it's easy to see why this is such an ideal destination,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Jefferson loved his home here more than any place on earth, and two centuries later, visitors are just as captivated by Charlottesville's charms."

For more information about Charlottesville, please visit www.charlottesville.org