Quick Blacksburg Trip Recap
An extend stay in the New River Valley allowed for exploring without the rush.
I recently returned from an epic weeklong-plus trip to the Blacksburg area to catch Virginia Tech’s first two games against VMI and ODU.
After spending much of my life in Virginia, I’ve been living all over the country. It’s made me appreciate the beauty and awesomeness of so many other towns and locales. It’s also made me appreciate my trips back to Virginia all the much more.
Catching up with friends is an interesting phenomenon because in many ways we’re all the same but we’re all gradually evolving, developing, aging. The reminiscing and the re-telling of stories is still an exercise in therapy and joy. And the common thread is our love our school, our teams and college sports.
While we were in town, we got to visit many of our favorite places to eat, drink, stay and explore. Sharing those visits with all of you via ACC Road Trip (both our web app and on social media) is always a priority - whether in Blacksburg or in other ACC towns. I hope you enjoy what we share.
If you make visits, or plan to make them, to the Blacksburg area or one of the other 17 ACC towns, I highly recommend extending your trip by at least a day or two. I’ve learned in my travels that each place has its own unique feel, its own beauty and character. Rushing into and out of town for a game rarely does the town justice. If you can, slow down and live a little!
Anyway, on this trip, we made sure as always to balance caloric intake with physical exercise and outdoors. It might have been pickleball on the courts off Washington Street, or hiking and exploring the area. We hit Dragon’s Tooth off the Appalachian Trail, Bald Knob above Mountain Lake and Bottom Creek Gorge in Montgomery County near Roanoke and Floyd County lines. We couldn’t fit McAfee Knob or The Cascades in this time. The New River was also a little too low to enjoy a float trip. Something to look forward to.
And of course, I spent the GDP of Belize on Tech gear at Rally House Blacksburg and Campus Emporium. A tradition unlike any other.
On the food and drink side of things, we hit Cabo Fish Taco (twice!!), as well as Lefty’s Main Street Grille, The Maroon Door, Coffeeholics, Carol Lee Donuts, Benny’s, PK’s, and even got to Buffalo Mountain Brewery and Dogtown Roadhouse over in Floyd. All great experiences. Many of these have been favorites for years. We will return to all of them. While exploring, though, I also saw a ton of places I haven’t been to in a while, or that are completely new to me. I’ve started a list, and will share what I find as I knock some of these off in my upcoming trips. Special hat tip to Tom Norman and the great folks at Courtyard by Marriott Blacksburg. Their renovations are beautiful and they were terrific hosts.
There’s really so much about Blacksburg and the New River Valley in general to love. Not just during football season, either. Like lots of other ACC localities, there’s arguably more to gain from going there at other times of the year when the crowds are thinner.
I’ll be sharing more content from this trip on Instagram this fall, as well as other ones. I’m scheduled to head back to Blacksburg in October, to Dallas in November and to either Clemson or Miami later this season as well. I look forward to sharing the best of those trips when they get here.
Drop me a note via accroadtrip.net or on Instagram (@acc_roadtrip) and let me know what trips you’re taking this fall. I love to hear others’ perspectives and if you’re willing to share some of your trip with me, I’d be happy to share it with others!
IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR: Head to accroadtrip.net, click the "Got a promo code?" link and enter TAILGATE. If you do, you'll be entered to win free giveaways that I'll be doing throughout the year. No catch. Just sharing the love.