Stunning mountain scenery, centuries worth of history and a beautiful university campus make this town in Southwest Virginia an idyllic holiday destination.
The charming town of Blacksburg sits on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. Blacksburg is the home of Virginia Tech, one of Virginia’s largest universities. Enjoy the historic and cultural attractions and the nature that surrounds the town. The pastoral and mountainous location provides an ideal setting for a range of outdoor pursuits, including fishing, mountain biking, hiking and tubing.
Explore the vast Virginia Tech campus with its neo-Gothic limestone buildings. Relax in the shade gardens and water gardens of the university’s Hahn Horticulture Garden. While you are on campus, study the extensive mineral and fossil collections at the Museum of Geosciences.
Browse the town’s museums and estates for insight into Blacksburg’s history. Step inside the late 19th-century Alexander Black House and browse the exhibits of the Museum of African American Culture at St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall. The story of Revolutionary War patriot William Preston is told at his 18th-century home, Smithfield Plantation. Stroll through the garden, see the period furniture and Native American artefacts and ask the volunteer guides about the two Virginia governors who were born here.
Children will love the ramps and tracks of Skate Park and playground in Sunrise Park. Swim at the Blacksburg Aquatic Centre or play golf with a view of the town. Meet the locals in one of the many bars and restaurants or at the farmers market in Market Square Park. The park also has weekly jam sessions.
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport connects to major cities in the USA. Trains run into Lynchburg, 97 miles (156 kilometres) away, where you can rent a car or take a bus to get to Blacksburg.
Around Blacksburg, hike in the vast Jefferson National Forest to the north. Go tubing or canoeing on the New River in summer or enjoy the views from the slopes of Peters Mountain. Bike the paved Huckleberry Trail from Blacksburg to Christiansburg. Further west, fish or swim in the 21-mile (33.8-kilometre) long Claytor Lake at Claytor Lake State Park. The park has picnic shelters, a marina, a camp ground and cabins.
