Blacksburg

 

Step into Blacksburg, a beautiful outdoor mecca and bustling college town located on a plateau between the picturesque Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Known for its award-winning services, reasonable cost of living, abundant leisure activities, fascinating Appalachian history, and moderate climate, Blacksburg is a distinct and innovative community heralded for its entrepreneurial spirit. 

 

Blacksburg residents include a mixture of students, scholars, families, and permanent inhabitants, many of whom embrace the area's fascinating heritage. Blacksburg is also home to leading research institution Virginia Tech, also considered one of the commonwealth's most comprehensive universities.

 

Just 45 minutes from Roanoke, Blacksburg is a classic small-town with a robust, civic-minded community centered around the innovative Virginia Tech campus. Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the country, Blacksburg residents are attracted to the lack of urban congestion, well-ranked schools, access to scenic mountain views, and plentiful trails for equestrian use, hiking, and biking. 

 

A bike-friendly town, Blacksburg is equally appealing to scholars and outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate the Appalachian Trail passing through and the New River, which is perfect for water activities like kayaking and canoeing. The newly built Moss Arts Center on the Virginia Tech campus regularly attracts world-class musicians and performers for creatives who like to take in a show during the weekends. But overall, Blacksburg is a quiet, peaceful town with plenty of locally-owned restaurants and shops to support and plentiful leisure activities to keep you and your family entertained all year long.

 

A casual, Greek-Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of downtown Blacksburg, Cellar Restaurant encompasses a relaxed environment with great food and microbrews. Cellar's craft beer store has some of the best selections in the region. 

 

Downtown Blacksburg also hosts the Mexican Seagrill Cabo Fish Taco, a hot spot for Virginia Tech students looking to grab a quick bite. A casual, full-service Baja-Mexican restaurant serving unique dishes influenced by authentic Southern California cuisine, Cabo is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and carryout. 

 

For a casual brewpub experience, try Bull & Bones Brewhaus, which combines an upscale dining room and a sports bar with a casual dining area. Fresh lager and ale are handcrafted and served on-site, with the brewery visible through glass walls inside the restaurant. 

 

Sake House is Roanoke, Virginia's first and finest sushi restaurant. Opened in 1993, Sake House is a casual hotspot serving sushi, hot entrees, and of course, sake!

 

Living so close to Virginia Tech comes with many benefits, including access to Hokie sports, as the college hosts sports games on campus all school year at the Lane Stadium. The school also owns and integrates the school's ambiance into the Pete Dye River Course in Radford, a perfect place to satisfy your golfing and dining needs with beautiful New River views. As we mentioned above, Virginia Tech's Moss Arts Center has a calendar full of unique performances and world-class musicians. 

 

Sitting on 165 acres, the Beliveau Farm Winery is the perfect place to visit for a day trip. Named one of the best wedding venues in Southwest Virginia, the Beliveau Estate Winery includes an on-site bed and breakfast. The winery produces several acclaimed wines available to taste and purchase.

 

The Claytor Lake State Park is ideal for anyone looking to go swimming, camping, hiking, fishing, or boating. It's also popular for weddings, receptions, and reunions, with three lodges and 15 cabins overlooking the scenic 4,500-acre lake.

 

Apart from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg is home to several top-ranked schools like Blacksburg High, East Montgomery, Radford University, and Auburn High.