One of the beauties of living in or visiting a college town is that many of the school’s professors retire and start innovative businesses, many times based on their expertise. Such is the case with Blacksburg, Virginia, home to Virginia Tech and some of the brightest minds of the South. There’s plenty to do in this quaint town nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegany mountains, and much of it can be credited to those creating second careers.
Stay
The town contains numerous accommodations but a stay at The Inn at Virginia Tech marries comfort with collegiate ambiance. The property includes numerous guest rooms and suites overlooking the campus and its neighboring parks, a restaurant and lounge and the Skelton Conference Center, Blacksburg’s largest event venue with almost 24,000 square feet of flexible meeting spaces.
Dine
Virginia Tech geography professor John Boyer toured the world with his wife, Katie Pritchard, and experienced its viticulture and wine. It was only natural that the couple open the Blacksburg Wine Lab to share that knowledge. Not only may visitors indulge in wines from around the globe, but they can also sample a curated selection of cheeses and charcuterie plates, pates and spreads, house-made pimento cheeses and unique tinned fish with gourmet crackers. Need help choosing a wine; just ask.
Cabo Fish Taco serves up an incredible array of Mexican specialties (and yes, their tacos are divine) and a wide variety of tequilas housed in one of the Blacksburg’s oldest historical properties. For vegetarians, don’t miss the popular Gillie’s for innovative dishes served with fresh ingredients.
Drink
When civil engineer Yvan Beliveau retired as a faculty member from the College of Architecture at Virginia Tech, he and his wife, Joyce, opened the Beliveau Farm & Winery outside of town. The winery satisfies Yvan’s love of growing grapes and Joyce’s admiration of lavender and hospitality. Visitors can enjoy Virginia-grown wine, such as Yvan’s “Crazy Professor” series, on the 165-acre land with it 1900’s farmhouse, and stay at the property’s bed and breakfast.
Blacksburg natives Jayson Hudson and Jason Hardy started a local whiskey club called the Bourbon and Rye Drinking Society, or BARDS. It morphed into the J.H. BARDS Spirit Co. micro-distillery of craft whiskey and vodka using the region’s limestone- filtered mountain water. The taproom serves up craft cocktails as well.
The perfect place to watch the sun set over the region’s farmland outside Blacksburg while enjoying craft beers and brick oven pizza is Rising Silo Brewery and Farm. The farm-based brewery uses organic malts and water from the farm’s well and sells seasonal produce on the side.
The Outdoors
One of the best places to enjoy nature is the eight-acre Pandapas Pond that’s encircled by a one-mile loop trail that leads through wetlands and over boardwalks and bridges inside a hardwood forest. Be sure to look for wildlife.
For something more adventurous, Brush Mountain Park offers 758 acres of forest multi-use trails popular with hikers and mountain bikers. In the future, the park will expand with two more trail systems, thanks to the New River Land Trust with help from several regional organizations.
Virginia Tech Campus
The 147,000-square-foot Moss Arts Center on the Virginia Tech campus brings in both local and nationally-known entertainers. The Hahn Horticulture Garden features six acres of teaching and display gardens, including a water garden, herb collection and a landscaped meadow, all adorned with artwork.
A few steps from campus is the Blacksburg Farmers Market, held every Wednesday and Saturday on the corner of Roanoke Street and Draper Road. Farmers within 50 miles and regional makers gather to showcase regional produce, baked goods, meat and eggs, handmade goods and locally produced honey.
