Virginia Tech in beautiful Blacksburg, Va., is located in the New River Valley just a half an hour southwest of Roanoke. The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail are nearby the plateau where the town sits between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. Blacksburg has a small town charm with many big-city amenities including world class dining, fine cultural activities and shopping, and unique recreational adventures.

Regional areas of interest include:

The Cascades Falls
A scenic, two mile hike to a beautiful 69 ft. waterfall.

The Blue Ridge Parkway
This very popular unit of the National Park System is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The parkway winds 469 miles through mountain meadows and features remarkable vistas.

The New River
Surrounded by scenic mountains and ideal for canoeing, the meandering New River is considered to be one of the oldest rivers in the world.

Smithfield Plantation
This 1774 plantation home is located on the edge of the Virginia Tech campus and is a living document of the rich history of the area.

Taubman Museum of Art
Located in the heart of downtown Roanoke, this contemporary structure evokes the drama of the surrounding mountainous landscape.

For more information about the Virginia Tech campus, visit: www.vt.edu/about/

For more information about opportunities for outdoor activities in the area, visit: www.roanokeoutside.com. Other recreational attractions are featured at http://www.stepinit.com.

Area YouTube videos

The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech
Virginia Cascades Slideshow
Pandapas Pond - Poverty Creek Trail

For further information about Virginia attractions, visit www.virginia.org/