VCOM visit

[USCguy]

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I was thinking of driving up to the Va. Tech campus this weekend to look around blacksburg, Va. tech, Vcom, etc. Any ideas on "must-see" things or places that would be good to visit, restaurants, etc.?

thanks

 

[Amy B]

Well just keep in mind that VCOM is not on the VaTech campus. It is affiliated with Tech but not part of Tech. What to look at ?? HHhmmmm.. i woul djust suggest you drive around teh VCOM building, then the Tech campus and Blacksburg downtown and then head to Chrisitansburg. Check out some places to live in both towns. Starbucks is a must(sorry I had to get that in since i love starbucks). Have fun.

 

[ezal36]

try the nerve in blacksburg. very good. also Poor Billy's and Big al's (they're both in the same building=same mgt) for a good time.

 

[VTbarrelracer]

I would definitely check out Tech's campus, even though VCOM isn't actually on the main campus. It's really pretty and has neat buildings with Hokie Stone. The football stadium is pretty impressive also.

Most of the undergrads will be leaving for spring break so Bburg won't be as crowded as usual.

Sharkey's has good food and is right on downtown mainstreet. There are several bars and neat stores on downtown mainstreet also. I'd walk around and get a feel for the town and people.

I'd also go to Coldstone Creamery in Chrisitansburg, great ice cream. There are several steak houses like Outback, Apple Bees,etc and other resturaunts in Chrisitansburg also.

If you like outdoorsey things, I would suggest maybe driving on down and hiking at the Cascades. It's maybe 20 minutes away from Bburg on 460 west. Unfortunately, the winter weather will prevent you from seeing some of the other outdoor activities available.

Most people do there major shopping in Roanoke, so you could drive up there too if you wanted.

 

[USCguy]

Thoughts after the visit:

The Va. Tech campus is beautiful. All the buildings look alike(hokie stone I was told). The VCOM campus wasn't too far off campus. Really, I wouldn't consider it "off-campus" considering that there is nothing between it and the school except the airfield. The outside of the building was nice, but I could only walk in the front door a few feet cause it was my lucky day and they were waxing the floors. I don't know what I expected to see, I guess I was just curious.

It really is isolated up there (good and bad). It seemed like Va. Tech was really the only thing in Blacksburg. Christiansburg wasn't too great besides the area around New River Valley Mall (I think thats what it was called). I went to the Valley View Mall area (Roanoke). It was packed. I guess the other towns around there didn't have much. One guy said he drove from Bluefield (which I think was 70 miles away) to go to the mall and Olive Garden.

Overall, I liked the area as a whole. My question is, if you weren't in school, would you want to live in Blacksburg/Christiansburg? I ask this, because my wife's happiness is important to me

 

[Monty Python]

.......My question is, if you weren't in school, would you want to live in Blacksburg/Christiansburg? I ask this, because my wife's happiness is important to me

Coming from Louisiana I cannot answer your question. However your comment about wife's happiness is quite correct ... if mama ain't happy, no one's happy !!!!

 

[mamitch4]

My question is, if you weren't in school, would you want to live in Blacksburg/Christiansburg? I ask this, because my wife's happiness is important to me

I lived in B-burg for my undergrad days and really liked it. Tech offers a little culture (plays, lectures, art exhibits, etc.) that is open to the public. I love the cute shops/coffee joints/restaurants downtown. And I like the outdoors-y location with access to hiking, etc. It is a small town, though, that definitely revolves around Tech. If you want big city, this is NOT it.

 

[VTbarrelracer]

I lived in B-burg for my undergrad days and really liked it. Tech offers a little culture (plays, lectures, art exhibits, etc.) that is open to the public. I love the cute shops/coffee joints/restaurants downtown. And I like the outdoors-y location with access to hiking, etc. It is a small town, though, that definitely revolves around Tech. If you want big city, this is NOT it.

I definitely agree with this statement. Blacksburg has a nice feel to it because it still feels like a small town but does have other amenities that most small towns don't have because of Tech. I think its been voted one of the best places to live or retire. Of course, if you love big city life, its not for you. You also have to be content about some things too, like having to drive to Roanoke to get good shopping or driving to Christiansburg for a Walmart.

It's also nice because you can go to a play one day, then drive 15 mins down the road to a national/state park the next. You can also do things/have things that wouldn't be possible in big cities. Like you can take affordable horseback riding lessons or even own your own horse but still live only 20 mins away without costing an arm and a leg (well, comparably, horses are expensive where ever you go).

 

[badgas]

I definitely agree with this statement. Blacksburg has a nice feel to it because it still feels like a small town but does have other amenities that most small towns don't have because of Tech. I think its been voted one of the best places to live or retire. Of course, if you love big city life, its not for you. You also have to be content about some things too, like having to drive to Roanoke to get good shopping or driving to Christiansburg for a Walmart.

It's also nice because you can go to a play one day, then drive 15 mins down the road to a national/state park the next. You can also do things/have things that wouldn't be possible in big cities. Like you can take affordable horseback riding lessons or even own your own horse but still live only 20 mins away without costing an arm and a leg (well, comparably, horses are expensive where ever you go).

Blacksburg is not for you if you are looking for anything that resembles a city. Roanoke is about 30 minutes away and truthfully most people from elsewhere would have a hard time considering that to be a city. The closest thing to a city would be greensboro, nc which is about 2 hrs away. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but if you are coming from Chicago or NYC, it is more than just a little bit of a change. Different strokes for different folks.