Blacksburg, Virginia, is a cozy college town framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering far more than just watching the Hokies play.
Start with a peaceful loop around Pandapas Pond before heading downtown for lemon-grilled shrimp tacos at Cabo Fish Taco. Just a short drive away, Huckleberry Park impresses with inclusive playgrounds, an American Ninja warrior-style obstacle course and hammock views.
The Lyric Theatre brings 1920s charm to modern movies and live shows, while Hamro Kitchen serves authentic Nepalese comfort food. Antique hunters will love Cambria Station’s massive trove of curiosities, and the Hahn Horticulture Garden rounds out any visit.
From ponds to naan, antiques to obstacle courses, here are 7 essential stops in Blacksburg, VA.
Pandapas Pond
One of the first things you’ll notice when flying or driving into Blacksburg is the heartstopping natural beauty. Regardless of the season, Blacksburg is postcard-pretty. But where should you stop and walk around?
To me, Pandapas Pond checks all the boxes. Located just 11 minutes from downtown, Pandapas Pond offers easy parking, well-paved trails and countless opportunities for group selfies.
The hike around Pandapas Pond is nice and flat, making it easy to carry on a conversation with friends
Cabo Fish Taco
Generous prices, insanely good shrimp tacos… no wonder it’s a magnet for college students
There’s a myth that coastal cities will always have better seafood than landlocked towns for obvious reasons. But in reality, we’ve become so good at freezing and thawing seafood that the gap in quality is rapidly shrinking.
If you don’t believe me, head to Cabo Fish Taco, order the lemon-grilled shrimp tacos and try convincing yourself you’re not at the beach.
Carnitas, seasoned shrimp and salted plantains… somehow even better than it looks. With 90% of the menu under $15, it’s also budget-friendly for students and visitors alike. So treat yourself to some salted plantains for dessert.
Huckleberry Park
Huckleberry Park is almost like a baby theme park with all of the high-budget activities on offer. Someone put a tremendous amount of thought into designing Blacksburg’s Huckleberry Park.
For one thing, it’s the first playground I’ve ever seen with a slide designed for children with cochlear implants. Instead of a smooth bottom that causes painful vibrations, it features dozens of “rollers” like a conveyor belt. You’ll find it near the wheelchair-accessible pirate ship.
There’s also plenty of shenanigans for tweens, teens and adults to enjoy – like an obstacle course and a 30-meter dash, both with digital timers.
There’s a bonafide, American Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course with a real digital timer
After you’re done placing bets and racing your friends, you can trot up the hill and hop in a hammock for a stunning 360-degree view of Blacksburg. Best of all, Huckleberry Park is free with ample parking.
The Lyric Theatre
The Lyric Theatre traces its roots all the way back to 1929 – meaning it was already 15 years old when Virginia Tech students were watching newsreels of the Normandy Invasion.
Today, the charming theater offers live music, classic and modern movie night, trivia and more. It’s worth looking at the official calendar to see what’s coming up during your visit. The intimate Lyric Theatre hosts live music, horror movies and trivia nights – and tickets are rarely more than $20.
Hamro Kitchen
Authentic yet unpretentious, Hamro Kitchen is a delightful hidden gem
Before you hit the theater you’ve gotta get dinner somewhere – and I submit Hamro Kitchen as a prime candidate. Located on the eastern tip of campus, Hamro Kitchen offers authentic Nepalese cuisine. The concept is simple, but the flavors are complex and delicious.
Speaking as someone who’s been to Nepal, this is about as tasty and authentic as you’re gonna get outside of Kathmandu.
We ordered virtually half the menu, filling the table with chicken tikka, goat biryani, butter naan, chicken momos, lentil soup and more. Trust me; even the pickiest member of your cabal will find something here to gush over.
Cambria Station Antiques
What makes Cambria Station Antiques worth visiting? For one thing, it’s huge! Cambria Station Antiques is worth popping over to for the sheer volume and variety of stuff to find there. While combing its three floors, we came across a rare Megadeth vinyl, some Simpsons-themed dishware and a disturbingly raunchy Rand Paul coloring book.
Speaking of books, you can easily spot the book section by its rather dramatic archway opening: It’s not hard to spot the book section: just walk through the book arch.
The book area is technically its own store called Old New River Books. The bookworm in your group will love it; not only are there countless rare books to find, many are arranged in clever and Instagram-worthy ways.
But since I’m a WHEELTOR™ full-time (a REALTOR for cars, thanks to Chris Schroder for the clever name), I couldn’t help but hunt around for some model cars. Thankfully, my search ended up rather fruitful.
Hahn Horticulture Garden
If you’re staying near campus, there’s no reason to miss a stroll through the gardens.
Finally, no trip to Blacksburg is complete without a casual stroll through Virginia Tech’s fancy gardens. Hahn Horticulture Garden features a wide array of sculptures, succulents and even a busy koi pond.
And since it was lovingly designed with student health in mind, there are plenty of places to quietly sequester with friends, family or just your own thoughts.
The Hahn Horticulture Garden is open from dawn until dusk every day of the year, with public restrooms open in the central building from 8:30am – 4:30pm.
Where to Stay
The Inn at Virginia Tech has one of the bougiest dropoff areas that I’ve seen outside of London.
While the Blacksburg area is replete with VRBOs, I can wholeheartedly recommend staying at The Inn at Virginia Tech. I really can’t think of a single critical thing to say about it; it’s fancy, quiet, the food is excellent, the staff are courteous and the rooms start at under $100 a night, depending on the time of year.
You’ll definitely want to book well in advance of any major football games, however, since Lane Stadium is right across the street!
To learn more and plan your visit, check out Blacksburg’s official tourism website: Step Into Blacksburg.
Please see our related stories on Southwest Virginia.
• Top 5 Amazing Things to Do in Abingdon, Virginia
• Luxury stay with infinite activities at Primland in Southwest Virginia
– Photos and text by Chris Butsch, staff writer