Things to Do in Blacksburg, Virginia

Things to Do in Blacksburg

Nestled in southwestern Virginia, Blacksburg is a passionate college town with plenty to do.

Downtown Blacksburg

Blacksburg has more students than it does permanent residents. The heart of downtown is Main Street, which features numerous bars, restaurants, and shops that cater to both the students and locals. The central business district is only about six blocks long, so it makes for an easy stroll. Downtown is cozy and relaxing: forget about making plans and go explore it for a while.

Visit Virginia Tech

Undisputedly the focal point in Blackburg, Virginia Tech is a big campus. Open and inviting, this beautiful campus has matching building material to make the campus seem as if it was all built in the 1800s: You’d never know some are modern. Its buildings are mostly built of Hokie stone in a style known as military gothic.

The centerpiece of the campus is the Drillfield, a large oval-shaped lawn surrounded by academic buildings on one side and dormitories on the other. Its name comes from a time students were required to join the Corps of Cadets, a military student group that drilled and marched here. Now a large green space for the campus, it’s a great spot to hang out in good weather. There is a War Memorial located at one end of the Drillfield. A small chapel is located underneath the War Memorial. There is a simple but moving memorial dedicated to the victims of the April 26^th 2007 shooting located on the Drillfield in front of Burruss Hall, Virginia Tech’s main administration building.

The duck pond is a pretty place on campus that is nice to walk around. It is a few hundred yards long and about 50 yards wide and is located at the end of the Drillfield.

College Sports

Blacksburg draws large crowds on game weekends. Even if you are not a fan, the energy and atmosphere is an awesome experience. There’s tailgating and parties after every game, win or lose. Basketball is also gaining popularity. Going to a VT basketball game is no longer an easy ticket go get: schools like Duke, UNC, NC State and Wake Forest play here, all in a facility that gives you the up-close feel of a high school gymnasium. Games (and hotels) sell out quickly during big game weekends.

While in town, also check out the 1774 Smithfield Plantation House, one of the first large farms established in Southwestern Virginia. Filled with early American history, the plantation house is now owned and run as a museum. For more fun, visit Adventure World skating rink or Crimper’s Indoor Climbing Gym in nearby Christiansburg. Or, during the summer season (starting Memorial Day), spend a lazy day tubing on the beautiful New River.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Blacksburg, Virginia.