Unveiling the Charms of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Virginia ~ DownshiftingPRO
Nestled in between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, set alongside the banks of the New River and Virginia Tech’s modern spirit, rests a area steeped in pure magnificence and agricultural heritage. This Is Montgomery County, Virginia. Inside are two of probably the most charming cities – Blacksburg and Christiansburg.
Blacksburg, Virginia, based in 1798, is a vibrant city within the Appalachian Mountains. With roughly 45,000 residents, it’s greatest often known as the house of Virginia Tech, one of many nation’s main analysis universities. The city thrives on the vitality of academia and innovation, providing a dynamic mix of mental pursuits and entrepreneurial spirit.
Past its tutorial prowess, Blacksburg boasts an enthralling downtown space with historic structure, locally-owned outlets, and numerous eating choices, making it a beloved vacation spot for residents and guests alike.
Moreover, the city’s proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Jefferson Nationwide Forest gives ample alternatives for out of doors recreation, together with mountaineering, biking, and exploring the area’s pure magnificence.
What To Do Open air
Montgomery County additionally feeds two further river techniques alongside the New River’s banks: the James River and the Roanoke River. It is because the 2 cities actually straddle the Jap Continental Divide. Montgomery County is host or shut to a few nationwide recreation corridors:
- The Appalachian Path skirts alongside the northern fringe of the county (Georgia to Principal hall)
- The TransAmerica Bike Path passes east to west by means of the middle of the county (Coast to Coast Path – Rt 76)
- The Blue Ridge Parkway—America’s Favourite Drive—Montgomery County is a secondary gateway to this 469-mile scenic motorway.
Jefferson Nationwide Forest
Jefferson Nationwide Forest is one in all two forests that stretch throughout all the state. It’s watched over by the gorgeous Appalachians and has two thousand miles of mountaineering trails, which lends to among the most breathtaking surroundings within the area. Stroll Pandapas Pond, an eight-acre pond located inside a hardwood forest. It’s encircled by a one-mile loop path that traverses wetlands over boardwalks and bridges.
Hike or Bike Brush Mountain Park
Brush Mountain Park in Blacksburg conserves 758 acres of forest and can ultimately include over 18 miles of multi-use trails nice for mountaineering and mountain biking. The Huckleberry Path is related to Brush Mountain Park, which is related to the Poverty Creek Trails.
Tubing Down New River Junction
New River Junction is a family-owned tenting and RV park beside the New River. You’ll be able to meander down the New River in an intertube and get picked up on the finish so you are able to do it yet again.
Huckleberry Park – Christiansburg
A real gem, this massive leisure space in Christiansburg is the mecca for household leisure. The 50-acre park options all-inclusive facilities, pet-friendly play areas, particular occasions places, and multi-purpose taking part in fields. It boasts one of many area’s most complete kids’s play areas. Huckleberry Park was just lately opened after ten years of planning, constructing neighborhood help, and development.
Not solely is that this park accessible to ALL kids, nevertheless it additionally has actions suited to kids with disabilities and neurodivergent. Contemplating sensory points, there are many sensory video games to stimulate the thoughts and entertain all kids.
This venue has 4 soccer fields, which might be transformed to baseball diamonds for gamers 12 years and below. Excellent for tournaments, Christiansburg is continuous to develop its sports activities tourism program. It’s really a state-of-the-art facility.
Downtown Blacksburg
Sugar Magnolia
The proprietor of Sugar Magnolia was pressed to seek out memorable souvenirs that didn’t embody a Virginia Tech brand. Like all good entrepreneur, she opened a store together with her husband to supply distinctive items for locals and guests. The sweets and ice cream store adjoining to the shop is an added bonus. Sugar Magnolia had the most effective milkshake I’ve ever had. With native sources, creamy and flavorful ice cream, and loads of whipped cream, you’ll not wish to miss this store on Principal Avenue.
Blacksburg Books
An unbiased bookstore in downtown Blacksburg, Blacksburg Books gives a peaceable haven for guide lovers and people in search of neighborhood. Whether or not you wish to purchase a shock guide (wrapped up and prepared so that you can uncover), stickers, journals, chick lit, books on range, or greatest sellers, this can be a nice possibility for guide appreciators. Take a look at their kids’s packages (they just lately collaborated with the Lyric Theater for a guide and a film sequence).
Lyric Theater
There may be a lot historical past on this native film theatre! On this throwback to film matinees, you’ll get pleasure from cozy seats and first-run motion pictures. Strongly related to the neighborhood, the Lyric hosts college kids and different neighborhood companions to supply motion pictures to all. These are first-run motion pictures, too, and with recent popcorn and really affordable pricing, this theatre at all times has one thing to supply.
Blacksburg Farmers Market
This isn’t a big farmers market, however it’s award-winning. Virginia Dwelling just lately named Blacksburg Farmer’s Market the Greatest Farmers Market in southwestern Virginia; get pleasure from this market on Saturday mornings or Wednesday evenings. Saturday market days supply an ‘solely produce market’ (objects bought will need to have been made, grown, or produced inside a 50-mile radius of Blacksburg). At the moment, 37 distributors supply baked items (attempt the Blacksburg Bagels), recent produce, crops, flowers, and meat.
Artisans additionally function hand-made pottery, jewellery, leather-based items, and even alpaca wool socks. One notable vendor was Den Hill Farm & Fungi, which had an incredible array of recent mushrooms.
Moss Arts Middle and Gallery
Beautiful, state-of-the-art theatre with a killer lineup for the 2024-2025 season. The Moss Arts Middle is a 1274-seat, 3-level leisure house with over 30 reveals a season. It hosts singers, dance troupes, classical music, and touring Broadway reveals. All these performing are requested to guide workshops or talks to assist foster the artistic arts neighborhood. Previous performers embody Yo-yo Ma, Leslie Odham Jr., and Chitrasena Dance Firm.
The upcoming season will embody music and dance from Guinean Cirque Kalabante, An Night with Ta-Nehisi Coates, real-time voting as Ontroerend Goed performs Struggle Night time, Broadway present Pricey Evan Hansen and The E-book of Mormon, Czech Nationwide Symphony Orchestra, and Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons at 300.
The Moss Arts Middle has two galleries. This one featured the senior class end-of-year initiatives. Exhibitions and academic talks are held all year long.
Hahn Horticulture Gardens
Situated on the Virginia Tech campus, the Hahn Horticulture Gardens does loads, contemplating it’s privately funded. This was led by director and panorama architect Scott Douglas. He spends 50% of his time on this lovely botanical backyard and 50% educating panorama design. Open year-round, it’s a peaceable place to review, calm down, or get married. It has a koi pond, flower beds, and a fascinating Trident Maple path.
Alexander Black Home
Initially inbuilt 1896, the Alexander Black Home was moved and restored. A good looking Queen Anne Victorian home sits regally on a hill and providers the neighborhood with a kids’s heart, artwork gallery, assembly house, and historic home. It is a fast cease, however it’s price a fast chat with the employees. Welcoming and informative, we appreciated the tour.
Discover the 16 Frogs
A enjoyable household exercise is a scavenger hunt on The 16 Frog Path. There are 16 bronze frog statues strategically positioned all through the city and the encompassing space to name consideration to the freshwater below and across the streets and buildings of downtown Blacksburg. Every frog has a reputation and a narrative to inform! We discovered Harvey on our stroll down Principal Avenue. Every frog is known as for a distinguished (or vital) individual in Blacksburg’s historical past.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech, the highest college within the state, presents roughly 280 diploma packages to over 38,000 college students. Virginia Tech is acknowledged for its distinguished tutorial packages, notably engineering and enterprise. Famend for its esteemed campus tradition and modern pedagogical approaches, the college garners acclaim. Furthermore, it’s esteemed for its dedication to neighborhood engagement and fostering entrepreneurial initiatives amongst its pupil physique. Lots of the institutions in Blacksburg and Christiansburg had been based by Virginia Tech alumni.
Christiansburg and the Cambria Historic District
Cambria Station Antiques & Outdated New River Books
Situated in historic Cambria, Virginia’s oldest normal retailer presents three flooring of implausible vintage and classic treasures, custom-made furnishings, primitives, and oddities. Stroll by means of this excellent vintage store.
At Outdated New River Books, you may also discover used books, information, and different classic media. Take an image in entrance of the stacked guide archway containing 1000’s of books. All through the bookstore, discover secret books that include treasures.
Montgomery Museum of Artwork & Historical past
Devoted to accumulating, preserving, and decoding the historical past of Montgomery County, Virginia, and the area, in addition to selling artwork by regional artists. Go to the museum’s backyard maintained by the New River Valley Grasp Gardeners to see artwork and sculptures alongside a local habitat backyard.
The place to Keep
The Inn at Virginia Tech
The historic Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Convention Middle is the one resort on the Virginia Tech Campus. In style with “Hokies” and vacationers, the property encompasses a wealthy mix of historical past and luxury within the coronary heart of the campus. The Inn at Virginia Tech redefines providers and gives many facilities to create a memorable keep.
The rooms are giant and comfy, with views of the Virginia Tech campus. The employees was very useful, and the placement is ideal if you happen to go to Blacksburg. Take notice if there’s a particular occasion when making reservations, as will probably be busy. There’s a health facility, however the campus gives many lovely routes to discover if you happen to fancy an excellent stroll. There may be free parking and Wi-Fi, and the ability is wheelchair accessible. There’s a full breakfast buffet and dinner choices on the resort. Additionally they present complimentary tea, espresso, and water within the foyer.
The place to Eat
Many cafes, bistros, eating places, and breweries supply nice meals. Blacksburg could also be a university city, however the meals scene is extra snug than fancy-schmancy advantageous eating. However that’s what you need: an excellent meal and an awesome beer or glass of wine. Listed here are just a few options to think about in your go to to Blacksburg. You’ll be able to learn extra about these eateries in my information on the place to eat in Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Virginia.
Breakfast
- Halwa Bakery and Cafe – Distinctive sizzling drinks, candy and savory pastries, very hip vibe
- Preston’s on the Inn at Virginia Tech presents a big breakfast buffet with conventional breakfast objects, pastries, recent fruit, and fruit smoothie pictures.
- Blacksburg Farmers Market – numerous distributors providing pastries, espresso, bagels, even burgers if you’d like an early morning snack
Lunch
- Gillies – all-day breakfast and a wide range of sandwiches and light-weight fare
- Cabo Fish Taco – tacos, quesadillas, enormous margaritas, and a beautiful environment
- Jap Divide Brewing – wonderful service and the most effective sizzling honey rooster sandwich. Burgers had been additionally implausible
- Each day Bread Bakery & Bistro – pastries, sandwiches and salads
Dinner
- Preston’s – Upscale eating at The Inn at Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg Tavern – Southern Consolation Meals at its greatest
- Zeppoli’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Store – recent, selfmade pasta, ravioli, bread, soups, and sauces
- Wine Lab – Charcuterie Boards, specialty tin appetizers from Spain & Portugal with an intensive wine choice, imported smoked oysters, salmon, sardines and many others., out there for buy
Vineyard and Breweries
- Beliveau Farm and Vineyard – wine tasting and beers out there. At the moment, Virginia’s solely gluten-free brewery
- Moon Hole Brewing Firm – each beer and non-alcoholic drinks can be found. You should buy meals from neighboring Feather Bone Provisions or a wide range of meals vehicles
- Jap Divide Brewing – Massive brewery with a restaurant
- Iron Tree Brewing – neighborhood brewery in Christiansburg pattern of flight of very distinctive beers
- Rising Silo Brewery & Farm – farm-based brewery utilizing solely natural malts and water from the farm’s effectively
Blacksburg and Christiansburg are a lot bigger than you would possibly assume. Blacksburg is the second largest and Christiansburg fourth largest cities in Virginia by inhabitants. Montgomery County is the biggest county west of Charlottesville in inhabitants. Whereas right here, you don’t sense the inhabitants density, you get a greater sense of the relaxed environment of small-town America. Pleasant, community-oriented, and a enjoyable place to go to.
It was a pleasure visiting and seeing the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. It was effectively well worth the quick flights from Canada to Roanoke, Virginia, and the scenic drive to Montgomery County. Belief me, you’ll wish to come again!
Margarita Ibbott is a journey and life-style blogger. She blogs about journey in Canada, the USA and Europe giving sensible recommendation by means of restaurant, resort and attraction evaluations. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and different on-line media retailers.
