Fall in love with small-town Virginia Neighbouring communities nestled among Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains will draw you in with natural beauty, southern charm By: Nadya Pankiw Posted: 11:15 AM CDT Friday, Oct. 18, 2024

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This article was published 18/10/2024 (538 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BLACKSBURG, Va. — It’s on licence plates, highway signs and even on stickers for sale at local shops: Virginia is for Lovers.

In two neighbouring towns, Blacksburg and Christiansburg, nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains the saying couldn’t be more true. But it also takes on new meaning — this part of the state is for lovers of nature, the arts and most importantly, community.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of big America, mall shopping and crazy crowds, these two towns offer Hallmark-movie-worthy scenery, quintessential southern hospitality and local wares like no other.

Blacksburg, which was established Jan. 13, 1798, is home to Virginia Tech, a buzzing campus that provides a youthful, vibrant energy to the town.

Since the horrific on-campus shooting 17 years ago which resulted in the deaths of 32 students and faculty members, the school has erected a memorial for the victims and honours them annually during remembrance walks.

The school, which is highly regarded for its engineering program is also home to the Moss Arts Center and Gallery, a partially-converted cafeteria with a stunningly spacious theatre that hosts professional artists and student groups throughout its season.

On the south side of campus the Hahn Horticulture Garden offers natural solace for the public and students with six acres to discover. Visitors are welcome to recharge and explore the unique annual and perennial plants offered, such as a banana tree and Zig Zag Redbud.

Established in 1984, the garden also boasts a koi pond, educational workshops for plant and bug identification, and various art sculptures including the Maid in the Mud garden sprite by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Blacksburg’s highly walkable Main Street is located a stone’s throw off Virginia Tech’s campus. Along the cobblestone sidewalks, its charming storefronts promote locally-made art, art supplies and Virginia Tech gear, and host an array of restaurants.

If you’re searching for southern comfort food, look no further than the Blacksburg Tavern. The town’s oldest home, originally constructed in 1892, was purchased by Daniel Riley in 2007 and converted into a restaurant. It’s now serving up hand-battered buttermilk fried chicken, beef brisket and of course you can’t forget the buttermilk biscuits and cornbread.

If you’re dining on the patio or porch, be sure to head inside the tavern to examine its interior — each wall features murals hand-painted by the owner’s great-aunt depicting local history and landscapes.

Located next door to the tavern, Cabo Fish Taco is a chain with locations in Virginia and North Carolina that serves up specialty tacos, burritos and quesadillas as well as an ooey-gooey queso dip that you simply must not skip.

Once you are satisfyingly stuffed, cool off from Virginia’s humid climate and head over one block to Sugar Magnolia.

The shop, which specializes in spectacular ice cream and delectable chocolates and stocks an adorable selection of stationery and giftware, was established in 2015 by husband-and-wife duo Michelle and Tom Raub.

After starting up in a 632-sq.-ft. shop down the road, the Raubs opened their current location in 2018 and even blew out the wall of the neighbouring building, a former bank, to expand their business.

“We have an awesome local base that really has a strong affinity to us,” said Michelle. “We’re the space where on a Friday, Saturday night, the middle schoolers are allowed to stay until 1 a.m.

“That was really our whole mission, was building community one gift at a time.”

Community also is the cornerstone of Blacksburg Farmers Market, an event that has brought vendors together since its inception in 1985.

The year-round producer-only market gathers downtown in a converted parking lot to host vendors selling items produced or grown within an 80-kilometre radius of Blacksburg.

During a Saturday-morning visit in early October, the market featured about 30 vendors selling blossoming floral arrangements, organic produce, dog treats, watercolour paintings, alpaca yarn, soaps, jams, honey, eggs, and various baked pastries and breads.

Debbie Edwards, manager of Blacksburg Farmers Market, says the event really comes alive around mid-morning as families often gather on the lawn space to listen to live music performed by local artists.

“There’s a vibe and an energy here that is very special to the community,” said Edwards.

An autumn visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the nearby Jefferson National Forest, which puts the state’s mountain landscape, tree foliage and wildlife on a platter for nature lovers. Surrounded by pine, oak and poplar trees, the eight-acre Pandapas Pond features a 1.6-km packed-gravel loop perfect for hikers, bikers, dog walkers, birdwatchers and baby strollers.

Families with younger children, however, may prefer the outdoor recreational offerings of Christiansburg’s 50-acre, award-winning Huckleberry Park.

The former cattle farm turned public facility opened in September 2023 and features a splash pad, state-of-the-art playground equipment from Sweden, turf field, trails and two dog parks.

Brad Epperley, director of parks and recreation for the town of Christiansburg says the park was designed intentionally to provide recreational opportunities for everyone, especially those with disabilities.

The family fun continues over at Sinkland Farms’ Pumpkin Festival. Over six weeks in the fall, owner Susan Sink, 71, says approximately 40,000 visitors come to enjoy the corn maze, food and craft vendors, live music, pig races and hay rides, and of course, to pick out a perfect pumpkin for the season.

Set on 125 acres, the festival is a highly Instagrammable affair if not for the breathtaking scenery then for the hay bales painted to look like farm animals and staff cosplaying in creepily convincing scarecrow attire.

Christiansburg’s history comes alive at the Montgomery Museum of Art and History. The museum moved into a former bank about two years ago, and the space has been creatively used to display regional history and art.

Sometimes, learning more about an area can go beyond the walls of a museum. Visitors with a knack for treasure hunting are best to head to Cambria Station Antiques.

The three-storey warehouse is situated beside active train tracks, so you won’t be sifting through the reasonably-priced vintage goods for long until the store’s hardwood floor begins to vibrate from the force of a passing train. Whether you’re searching for jewelry, dishes, clothing, records or furniture, shoppers are bound to come across a unique oddity.

Attached via a massive archway made of books, Old New River Books features used reads priced around US$3-4. By visiting this local gem, you’ll be sure to get a good story out of it.

Speaking of affordable, if you’re looking for a delicious meal that won’t break the bank in Christiansburg, head over to Gardner’s Grill. Head chef Matthew Tolbert trained at the Culinary Institute of the Carolinas and now works at the Grill with his mother, Cindy (also known as Mama C).

“In order to be a better place for Christiansburg, we needed to lower our prices,” said Cindy.

With Matthew’s culinary expertise, he revised the restaurant’s menu which serves up grab-and-go favourites like Mama’s Grilled Cheese, smash burgers and hot dogs. Matthew even cooks up specials like the Kickin’ Chicken and Waffles, to offer flavours locals usually couldn’t find around town.

“If I don’t like it, then I don’t sell it,” said Matthew.

As many of these destinations are within walking distance, renting a car at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport will allow visitors to get the most out of these two towns.

Nadya Pankiw was provided a promotional trip to Blacksburg and Christiansburg.

nadya.pankiw@freepress.mb.ca