Of all the places that I have traveled, I always keep coming back to the Appalachian Mountains, more specifically, the area of Southwest Virginia. It is unlike any place I have seen, with its prodigious forests, winding creeks, streams, and rivers, and the most varied communities that have their own identities. By no means can I tell you in one article about all the wonderful places that Appalachia holds, but I can tell you what we have that’s just outside the door.

The New River and its Valley

Named for the New River, the valley’s namesake starts in the Kanawha River tributary, starting in West Virginia and flowing through to the northwestern corner of North Carolina, and hosting a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Among the places to see this diversity is the trailhead for the Appalachian Trail, or AT, in Giles County. Among the many tree species, there are also shrubs and underbrush that grow naturally, particularly the cedar and honeysuckle, which give the Blue Ridge Mountains their name. Nestled in this valley are some of the most diverse and charming communities that are most unique in their identity, chiefly Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford.

Blacksburg

Stretching from the edge of Giles County to the north, Pulaski and Radford to the west, Shawsville and Salem to the east, and Floyd County to the south, Blacksburg is known to the locals as the biggest small town. This is due mostly to Virginia Tech, which encompasses most of Blacksburg. What is really unique about Blacksburg is the areas where the town ends and the smaller communities begin, such as McCoy, Longshop, and Prices Fork. These smaller places are filled with families that have been living in the area since before the foundation of the Country. Juxtaposed against the rural parts of the town, there is the downtown area, which has some of the most diverse fare and entertainment, such as Kababs and More, a restaurant that has a unique take on Middle Eastern and Greek food, and 540 Social Arcade and Axe Throwing. The crown jewel of Blacksburg is the Lyric Theater, which, during the summer months, it offers a matinee and live music and plays through the semester. 

Christiansburg

If Blacksburg is to be the hub of culture and academia, Christiansburg is the mercantile hub that provides the most diverse business and shopping opportunities. The town itself is split into two parts, Uptown and downtown, with Uptown offering stores and commercial restaurants. Connected to Blacksburg via the Huckleberry Trail, this makes up the economic powerhouse of the area. The Downtown area offers a more antiquated feel, featuring many antique shops along Franklin Street and Cambria. This section of town also houses the Courthouse and the representative seat. Once past the town itself, to the outlying areas, to the south are the rural communities of Riner and Pilot. Pilot boasts a paintball field known as Wolfsridge. To the east of Christiansburg is Shawsville, which is a very rural community and truly a “town with no stoplight’’, Elliston/ Allegheny Springs, and Lafayette. These communities often have smaller places that follow the valleys of the mountains, which sometimes don’t see the sun until almost ten in the morning. 

Radford

The only city between Roanoke and Bristol, Radford, sits west of Christiansburg and southwest of Blacksburg. It is home to Radford University, which offers a very scenic and lovely view of the New River. It also boasts a nature conservancy known as Selu, which is not just a conservancy but a preserve for some of the natural wildlife not found outside of the Valley. Just past the university is the community of Radford, which was once the industrial hub for the area. Amenities of Radford City include Bissett Park next to the New River and Wildwood Park, which traverses from Main Street by the Library and High School to the middle of the community. If you keep going down West Main Street, you will find a sign that takes you to a place known as Snowville. This takes you past the Little River Dam, which also has a nearby campground and boat launch. If you keep traveling down the way, you come out to Claytor Lake on the other side, viewing the public beach.

No matter where I travel to in the world, no matter what I see and experience, there is absolutely no place like the NRV. This area always has me coming back here for the beauty, the history, and the people. There may be larger mountains and grander cities with greater diversity, but none can really compare to the fresh air and sweetness of the waters here. The Blue Ridge Mountains have a special kind of magic about them. They almost feel like a Grandmother waiting for her children to come and visit at times. To quote the motto of Radford University, “Find Your Place Here,” and with a little looking, you can definitely find your home here in the New River Valley. 

Edited and Reviewed by Kien Powell