Explore Virginia’s New River Valley: What To Do Near Virginia Tech

12.05.2024 - 03:49 / forbes.com

The New River Valley in Southwest Virginia is a scenic vacation spot and the home to Virginia Tech, a large public university in Blacksburg, Virginia. It’s located in Montgomery County which touches three river drainages – New River, James River, and Roanoke River – so there’s an abundance of outdoor activities available. You’ll also find a classic cinema, a charming bookstore, an innovative arts center, and lots more. Here are the things you shouldn’t miss when you visit the valley.

What’s a visit to the New River Valley without experiencing the New River? To experience some of the natural beauty of the area in a fun and relaxing way, visit the New River Junction, a campground and recreational park that’s only 13 miles from Blacksburg. It has been owned and operated by the same family for decades.

When you visit this park, you can go tubing down the mile-long stretch of the New River. This part of the river is almost 300 yards wide, and it’s popular among families. It’s safe and fun for kids who can go tubing alongside their parents to float down a mile of calm water. Adventuresome tubers can enjoy the optional 200 years of rapids at the end of the mile-long stretch of calm waters.

Affectionately known by residents as the “heart of the Blacksburg”, The Lyric Theatre is more than a cinema. Yes, it plays new releases, but it also serves the community in many ways. Originally opened in 1930, it was one of the first theaters in Virginia to show sound pictures. This movie theater, located in downtown Blacksburg, is a sight to behold with its 1930s tapestries and replica lanterns. The fully restored lobby gives one the feeling of stepping back into Hollywood’s golden age.

While you’re in downtown Blacksburg, it will be hard to resist the charming Blacksburg Books. It offers a wonderfully curated selection of books, and you can find fun stuff like journals, stickers, patches, and more for sale. Then you can learn more about local history and culture at the Alexander Black House & Cultural Center Gift Shop.

There are a wide variety of hiking opportunities in and near Blacksburg. If you’re looking to get out in nature and savor a leisurely stroll, walk along a one-mile loop trail that encircles Pandapas Pond, a serene, eight-acre pond that lies just outside of Blacksburg. The trail is wheelchair accessible. Cross a wooden boardwalk to enter a wetland area where you might get glimpses of local wildlife.

If you are hoping for a more challenging hike, you can access the 17-mile Poverty Creek Trail system from the upper parking lot at Pandapas Pond. There’s also the Huckleberry Trail which connects Blacksburg to Christiansburg with more than 13 miles of paved trails. You can go rock climbing as part of your hike