Located in Montgomery County in the Blue Ridge Highlands region of Virginia, Blacksburg is a university town rooted in rich history but also home to the quirky, the inventive, the creative and the sustainable. The home of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg has a certain vibe that’s equally attractive to young professionals, retirees, and weekenders. When planning your next visit to the area, be sure to add the following activities to your list!
Wine Down at Beliveau Estate Winery
Photo Credit: Montgomery County VA Regional Tourism Office
Known for their lavender, wine, food and beautiful vistas, Beliveau Estate Winery sits on 165 scenic acres just 12 miles from downtown Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. Try their many different varietals of award-winning red and white wines in a tasting, by the glass, or by the bottle. Bring a picnic or order from their chef’s daily menu. Take advantage of the property’s spectacular mountain views, on-site hiking trails, fragrant lavender garden, covered veranda, stocked ponds, hilltop pavilion, outdoor patio and tiki bar, on-site French Country-style Bed & Breakfast, and so much more!
Visit Virginia Tech’s Hahn Horticulture Garden or Moss Arts Center
World class performances, top of the line technology, and two changing gallery exhibits are only a few of the many things you at the Moss Arts Center. The Center for the Arts brings opera, ballet, noteworthy authors, and more. The Hahn Horticulture Garden encompasses nearly six acres of teaching and display gardens on the campus of Virginia Tech. The garden features perennial borders, water gardens, shade gardens, a meadow garden, and the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion.
Tube the New River Junction
A small, family-oriented campground with water, electricity, wi-fi, in-ground fire pits and picnic tables at every site, the New River Junction has been in operation since 1982. One of the oldest rivers in the world, the New River spans almost 300 yards across at its intersection with the Junction, meandering across its limestone bed before dropping off through McCoy falls. Go tubing, grill out and chill out at Big Falls Park!
Bike the Huckleberry Trail
The Huckleberry Trail is the New River Valley’s scenic paved bike and pedestrian trail, which began as a train path in 1902 to transport coal followed by passengers in 1904. The nickname “Huckleberry Crossing” came from the train’s tendency to stall, leading to passengers disembarking and passing the time by picking huckleberries from the overgrown bushes along the tracks. In the summer of 1966, the Blacksburg depot was closed and work began to transform the train path into a nature trail. The 8+ mile paved trail connects both the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. If you’re visiting Blacksburg and didn’t bring your own bike, find a rental through Roam NRV, a bike-sharing app that lets you rent bikes from hubs all over town.
Have a Beer or Kombucha at Rising Silo Brewery
Located inside Glade Road Growing Farm, Rising Silo Brewery brews craft beer and kombucha using ingredients grown on-site, pairing the beverages with wood-fired pizza as well as other tasty dishes. New craft beers are constantly rotating on tap, and specialty events fill their calendars, from Masa Monday to Pizza Friday. Farm fresh is only the beginning for this brewery. Enjoy a beer and then grab some fresh produce to take home with you!
Buy, Eat, and Live Local in Downtown Blacksburg
From the bustling Farmers Market, open Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round, to the historic Lyric Theatre, Downtown Blacksburg is a place where locals, students, and visitors mingle, shop, and dine. With a variety of restaurants and plenty of outdoor café-style seating, there’s something to satisfy every taste bud. Grab that perfect gift, sweet treat, or must-have item one of the many locally owned bookstores, artisans, jewelry stores, and more.
- Main Street Inn
- Clay Corner Inn
- Beliveau Estate Bed and Breakfast
- Cabo Fish Taco
- Blacksburg Taphouse
- Avellinos Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria
- Lefty’s