ABOUT ME.
Hey, I'm Karla!
Welcome to Charlottesville Mama, my very own passion project filled with unique and engaging content that your family will enjoy! Explore my site and plan you family's next adventure in Virginia.
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I was born in El Salvador and grew up in Chapel Hill, a small college town in North Carolina. After school, I landed a job on a pediatric oncology unit at the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital. It was the honor of my life to help families going through a difficult cancer diagnosis and I will cherish my time there forever. It was at UNC where I met my best friend turned husband. After a brief stint at the University of Mississippi, we settled down in Charlottesville in 2017. I am now a stay-at-home mom to three, with our son at Virginia Tech and our two daughters in preschool.
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During my spare time, I launched my social media page, Charlottesville Mama, as a way to document our lives, but it quickly transitioned to helping my friends plan their activities around Charlottesville and beyond.
I love getting to know all of you and am so appreciative of your support!
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xoxo,
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karla
facilitating joy.
making connections.
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I hope that Charlottesville Mama can help simplify your family’s day-to-day and facilitate fun into your homes.
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I know firsthand how important and challenging plugging into a new community can be.
When I first moved to Charlottesville, I had difficulty finding activities that were considered family-friendly. I avoided places like wineries and hiking trails, and I even had trouble finding which parks had baby swings. I remember showing up to playgrounds thinking that my then two-year-old would be able to play on equipment only to find out that it was intended for ages five and up and leaving with a disappointed child. I felt so overwhelmed and defeated learning a new city.
This blog aims to save you time by sharing all my knowledge relating to children's activities and guiding your family to all the fun, kid-friendly spots around Charlottesville, all gathered in one place.
Don't have a family yet? Are you a parent to a UVA college student visiting Charlottesville for the weekend? Are you here for medical training or the JAG school? New to faculty? Just looking for a new adventure?
There is something for you here too!
I hope you enjoy my content and come back soon to see all the new happenings!
fun facts
IDEAL DATE NIGHT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
My ideal date night in Charlottesville starts with a stroll to enjoy the liveliness and local musicians found on the downtown mall. Drinks at TEN Sushi would follow - the Hemingway Stone Sour is a personal favorite. We would cap the night off with dinner at Fleurie with Creme Brûlée for dessert.
IDEAL SATURDAY MORNING
An ideal Saturday morning starts with coffee at Mudhouse and pastries from Bowerbird, followed by browsing all the local vendors at the Charlottesville City Market.
FAVORITE DAY TRIP WITH THE KIDS
Our family's favorite day trip is to the Virginia Safari Park in Lexington, VA to feed the giraffes and birds. At under an hour travel time, this makes a fun day trip with gorgeous views.
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need help showcasing your brand to families?
Looking to highlight your business to families in Virginia? In the past I have collaborated with local wineries, gyms, restaurants, and museums to showcase their value to families. In addition to blogging our local activities, I have blogged our travels in Virginia and beyond.
I have collaborated with national brands like Warby Parker, Organic Krush,
and Zaxby's.
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My photos have been featured in the social media feeds of Visit Virginia, National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda S. Gorman, and Visit Virginia Beach
My daughters have been featured in some of our favorite brands: The Beaufort Bonnet Company, The Proper Peony, Lilly Pulitzer, Feltman Brothers, and Gap Kids.
Let's chat about how I can help your brand connect with our subscribers.