College Town Charm Meets Outdoor Adventure Near Virginia Tech

Maybe you’re swinging through Virginia on a tour of colleges. Or, perhaps, you’ve planned an epic road trip along the state’s section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America’s most scenic drives. If you need a pit stop beyond Buc-ee’s, spend a day or two in Blacksburg, home to Virginia Tech, and neighboring Christiansburg.

Highlights:

• In one stop, you can tap into college town energy, stretch your legs on land shaped by one of the world’s oldest rivers and go treasure hunting in unique boutiques.
• The New River Valley setting offers quick access to the outdoors, with easy nature walks and longer mountain hikes.
• Blacksburg and Christiansburg deliver more than a typical college town, with a vineyard for tastings and a refined on-campus hotel.

Editor’s note: The writer was hosted.

Why Blacksburg Earned a Spot on My College Town Detour List

I’m a sucker for a college town. I’ve detoured through Ithaca, New York, to view Cornell’s famous gorges. Purchased not one, but two Harvard sweatshirts from the Cambridge bookstore on a trip to Boston. And watching the Cameron Crazies cheer on Duke’s legendary basketball team in Durham was a bucket list moment for someone like me who lives for March Madness.

So it’s not unusual that I would choose to detour through Blacksburg, home to Virginia Tech, on a road trip through southwest Virginia’s New River Valley. The south-to-north-flowing river, considered to be one of the oldest in the world, doesn’t run through town, but it shaped the mountains that define the landscape. The university, founded in 1872, covers 2,600 acres, has over 200 buildings and is home to approximately 31,000 undergrad students. From my home base, the Inn at Virginia Tech, I set out and sampled local restaurants, hiked area trails and scoured Montgomery County antique stores. I scored enough wins to put this on the must-return list.

Tour the Virginia Tech Campus

Pick up a map from the Inn's front desk and wander as long as you like around the Virginia Tech campus. The fortress-like buildings, constructed of local limestone, called Hokie stone, are softened in feel by the rolling landscape.

I recommend looping around The Drillfield, an undulating lawn oval bisected by paths. Overlooking the lawn is the primary administration building, Burruss Hall and, directly in front of Burruss, is a memorial to the 32 students killed during the 2007 campus shooting. It's a permanent recreation of the spontaneous stone arc constructed by survivors in the hours following the tragic event.

Hahn Horticulture Garden

Hahn Horticulture Garden is a six-acre oasis in Blacksburg. Interestingly, the Garden does not receive funding from Virginia Tech, but hosts many of the university’s Plant and Environmental Sciences programs. It’s a premier wedding venue in the New River Valley with an outdoor event pavilion elevated above the gardens. Take a self-guided tour of the display gardens, which include perennial and annual beds, a koi pond and a serene shaded woodland.

Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech

Check the event calendar at the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre during your visit. If your timing is right, you might catch one of the 25-30 music, dance and theatrical performances hosted annually. Located in the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, the theater features meticulously engineered acoustics. And the Center's visual arts galleries host rotating exhibitions throughout the year.

Go on an Antiques Roadshow

What you won’t find near Virginia Tech are cluttered antique stores that smell like damp basements. The ones I visited in Blacksburg and Christiansburg are large and bright with curated vendor spaces. My pulse quickened as I began hunting through the aisles, searching for items on my list.

I was pleased I’d decided to drive, not fly, to Virginia, so I didn’t have to say no to any of my purchases.

Where to Shop for Antiques Near Virginia Tech:

• Virginia Vintage:This Christiansburg shop recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. Don’t hesitate to ask owner Maggie Martin if you’re looking for something in particular. Her mom drove home to retrieve a plaid wool stadium blanket for me when I mentioned it was on my shopping list.
• Antiques on Main:I was wowed by the cabinets, sideboards, and consoles in this former Ford car-and-tractor dealership dating from the early 1900s. Vendors are selected who are actively sourcing, so the inventory is frequently refreshed.
• Cambria Station Antiques:Plan to spend some time exploring the three floors at Cambria Station Antiques. Bookaholics will be thrilled with the used collection, located beyond the arch constructed of 3,000 volumes. Instagram alert!
• Mountain View Mercantile: If you’re looking for a t-shirt that screams 1977, this petite boutique is for you. Since I’m a gardener, I was compelled to bring home a tiny vial of sunflower seeds harvested from a family garden.

SheBuysTravel Tip: When antiquing, I always bring a list of a few items I’m particularly interested in to avoid feeling overwhelmed. And a tape measure. There’s nothing worse than bringing home a treasure that doesn’t fit where you think it would.

The Chandlerie

Prefer new to old? Love the look of neutral, timeless home decor? You’ll swoon when you step inside The Chandlerie, owner Astleigh Hill’s Christiansburg shop. She’s grown an at-home candlemaking business into a dreamy brick-and-mortar outlet where she hosts workshops and sells interior design books and home accessories. I left with several bags of merch including Astleigh’s most popular candle; Stars Hollow is crafted to conjure up the mood of Connecticut in the fall and is the perfect gift for my Gilmore Girls-obsessed daughter.

Tasting at Beliveau Farm Winery

It’s a windy drive to Beliveau Farm Winery, but worth it. Husband and wife Yvan and Joyce Beliveau have created a 165-acre vineyard that generates award-winning wines. It all began with dreams triggered by travel to famous wine-producing regions around the world. Their first vintage from grapes bottled in 2011 featured 11,000 bottles and garnered the couple six medals. They never looked back.

The site features a variety of soils, from heavy clay to gravel. The couple’s popular cab franc grapes, for example, are grown in silt, infusing them with a soft spice.

If you dream it, Yvan can build it. The retired engineer has constructed the winery’s event space and two tasting rooms. Joyce handles the operations, which include a B&B with four bedrooms and one two-bedroom suite and Virginia’s only gluten-free brewery.

Explore the Outdoors

Blacksburg and Christiansburg are located in the New River Valley, one of America’s most scenic regions. It would be a shame to visit and, if the weather’s nice, stay cooped up in antique stores, no matter how tempting. Here are a few walk/hikes to check out during your stay.

• Christiansburg Huckleberry Park: This massive, $20 million municipal recreation complex has accessible playgrounds, playing fields and a dog park. The 1.5 miles of walking trails are cleverly blazed with colored path inserts to indicate level of difficulty. Want a longer trek? The Huckleberry Trail, a 15-mile rail trail connects Christiansburg and Blacksburg.
• Pandapas Pond at Jefferson National Forest: The one-mile loop trail around Pandapas Pond is a great way to start your day. Located in Jefferson National Forest, the pond was originally on private land purchased in 1948 by the owner of Blacksburg's first electric company. It was intended for his employees' use as a way to get outdoors. "The pond is loved, revered by the community," noted District Ranger of Forest Service Beth Christensen. Access will always be free, part of the agreement when the land was transferred to the US Forest Service.
• Brush Mountain: Blacksburg maintains an extensive network of trails, including the McDonald Hollow Trail System, accessed at the intersection of Glade and Meadowbrook Roads. These are shared-use trails; hikers need to be aware of approaching mountain bikers and horse riders. Trail difficulty is noted on the information sign near the parking lot. I hiked two of the easy trails – Ida May and Pine Forest.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Although you gain elevation, the generous trail switchbacks at McDonald Hollow take the strain out of the ascent.

Where to Eat

After days on the trail and hunting for treasure, fortify yourself at one of the casual restaurants in Blacksburg or Christiansburg. Options include Southern staples like smoked meats and biscuits, tasty tacos and locally brewed beers. Here are some of my favorites.

Feather Bone Provisions & Assembly

Every table is the cool kids’ table at Feather Bone. The restaurant occupies the auditorium in a redeveloped elementary school. Known as The Old School, the mixed-use project combines commercial ventures with affordable housing. Begin with a cleverly named cocktail, like the Dodgeball or Bug Juice. The menu, described as “casually modern and slightly southern,” reinvents classic fare with unexpected touches. For example, the satisfying crunch in the Our Big Fat Greek Salad comes from crisped marcona almonds. Salad protein add-on options are hangar steak or chicken nuggs. Save room for dessert. Why choose between Banana Pudding or the World’s Best Cookies? Have both.

Cabo Fish Taco

Linger over lunch at one of the outdoor picnic tables at Cabo Fish Taco. Housed in downtown Blacksburg’s second-oldest building, Cabo features the bright flavors of Baja California. The facade of the property, a former church, was recently updated with matching grant funding awarded through Blacksburg Spark, a local economic development initiative.

Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill

With locations in both Christiansburg and Blacksburg, Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill is a lively option for lunch or dinner. Don’t know what to order? Let your friendly server guide you. Try the Hush Puppies as a starter; the crisp exterior yields with a bite to a tasty cornmeal pillow.

More Montgomery County Eats:

• Bottom of the Stairs: Bottom of the Stairs, known as BOTS, occupies the lower half of a nondescript building on College Ave. in Blacksburg. It shares the building with Top of the Stairs (TOTS), a rowdy college bar that serves The Rail, a cocktail known less for its taste than its effect. BOTS offers a casual pub menu that leans on smoked meats and snackables. If you’re looking for a shareable, the TOTchos (pulled pork atop tater tots) is plenty for two.
• Brew Da Bean: New Orleans-inspired coffee shop in Christiansburg. Brew Da Bean has two large seating rooms and the beignet chips are a must.
• Lost in Taste: This former Denny’s has a retro diner exterior, cosmic memorabilia and the Lost in Taste menu references astronauts, aliens and outer space. Garlactic AstroKnotts (garlic bread bites served with marinara dipping sauce) might be the most clever.

Where to Stay: The Inn at Virginia Tech

Although located on the campus, the 147 rooms and suites at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center bear no resemblance to dorm rooms. My luxurious king room included a large desk, oversized window and comfy wingback chair and ottoman. The bathroom space includes two sinks, with one located outside of the shower/toilet room.

To the left of the intimate lobby is the entrance to The Loyal, the Inn’s just-renovated bar and restaurant. The host and wait staff were delighted to show off the new space, which they said differed dramatically from its dark and dated predecessor. The L-shaped bar with backlit, glass-fronted liquor cabinets draws happy-hour crowds. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch buffets and a la carte dinner service from 5 – 9 pm.

The Inn at Virginia Tech Additional Info

• A large, uncovered lot provides guests with complimentary self-parking privileges.
• The lobby gift shop is small, but well-stocked, with “oops, I forgot” items and VA Tech gear.
• The Inn at Virginia Tech is the only hotel located on the campus.
• No pets permitted.

Things to Do Near Virginia Tech FAQ

Read More:

• Road Trip Planner: How to Plan an Epic Road Trip
• How To Combine College Visits With Family Vacations
• Why Roanoke Is the Blue Ridge Mountain Escape Every Girlfriend Group Needs
• Great Places to Stay on Your Next Trip to Washington DC
• Fredericksburg, VA: From English Colony to Civil Rights

The post College Town Charm Meets Outdoor Adventure Near Virginia Tech appeared first on She Buys Travel.

She Buys Travel

This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 6:04 AM.