7 minute read
Staycation in the NRV
Recently I had the feeling that I was a million miles away from home, yet I had not even left the neighborhood. I was not daydreaming or meditating. I was tucked away in a private poolside oasis at Clay Corner Inn in downtown Blacksburg. For the first time in the bed and breakfast’s 30+ years, locals can reserve the pool area by the hour for private parties. Also provided are an on-site suite for changing and private restroom access, along with catering and bar services. So there I was, a mere two miles from home, yet finally able to relax and forget about the world’s problems for a few blissful hours with my family. We
Text by Emily Kathleen Alberts Photos courtesy of Clay Corner Inn
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had the idyllic spot all to ourselves. Local businesses are getting creative, working hard to keep us safe, yet give us the feeling of a nice, normal summer, and maybe, just maybe, transport us to a place in time when things were not so complicated. Ah, the good ol’ days when we could hug our friends. With everything going on, it’s no wonder that animal shelters are reportedly running out of adoptable pets. Animals give us that simple feeling of comfort and companionship, where we don’t have to worry about wearing masks and staying six feet apart. But it’s not just dogs and cats that need our love. Winterfrost Farm in Radford offers horse adoption and leasing, as well as horseback riding on rehabilitated rescue horses through their “Ride-A-Rescue” program. In addition to trail rides and riding lessons, they host birthday parties, which could be a fun social distancing activity for those celebrating quarantine birthdays. Summer brings longer days and more daylight for outdoor activities like hiking, camping and water sports. Back Country Ski & Sport in Blacksburg is open (by appointment only when this went to print) and can outfit you with the perfect tent, kayak or canoe for your outdoor needs. If you’re not fully ready to take the plunge, they offer equipment rentals. It’s
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While growing up in the New River and Roanoke Valleys, I have watched our local college and university leaders develop, expand, and promote our area into one of the best places to live in the country. Southern charm, quality of life, beautiful seasons, culture, technology, and year-round outdoor activities are just a few reasons I gain a greater appreciation for this area daily. Leveraging my experience as an occupational therapist and a successful business owner, I’ve had the opportunity to develop a firm foundation in communications, negotiation, organization, customer service, marketing, sales, and establishing and maintaining relationships. Building on these skills, buyers and sellers can be assured that I will focus and communicate their unique goals and create a personable and creative strategy to guide clients throughout the process. My breadth of knowledge and experience in this region provides clients with the utmost care and accurate knowledge of this fast-paced market, including trends, comparable sales and property values, and community and neighborhood insight. As a Blacksburg resident, my recreational interests are diverse; ranging from following Virginia Tech football to rock climbing and traveling. Whether you are selling or buying, please feel free to contact me any time. I look forward to working with you.
Having moved to the New River Valley from the Philadelphia area, Kelly knows more than most what it is like to fall in love with our mountain paradise! Prior to real estate, she worked in healthcare law and in hospitality. This experience provided her with a combined understanding of contracts and the importance of timely correspondence, as well as a passion for service, working with people, and doing whatever possible to ensure a positive and successful experience. Kelly is active in the New River Valley Association of Realtors and is the current chair of the Government Affairs Committee. She is also involved in a foster program for a local animal adoption organization. When she is not working with clients, Kelly enjoys traveling, hiking with her husband Joe, spending time with family, and watching her beloved Yankees.
NestRealtyNRV.com
A rare find on Claytor Lake Lovely open floor plan 3 BD/ 1.5 BA level lake front property awaits! Fully furnished with easy access from interstate 81 & close to amenities. Property boasts a dock, jet ski lift & boat house! Stunning views of the mountains & lake in a peaceful setting. A few steps to the water, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Perfect for getaway, residence or investment. Set the stage for lake life living!
192+ Acres available in Newport This majestic, one-of-a-kind 192.79 acre property awaits you with stunning views of the New River Valley. Let your imagination run free with the possibilities! Envision a winery, farm, hemp farm, multiple residential sites or a secluded private residence. Close to the New River. 20 Minutes to Blacksburg.
a great way to brave the wild and test the waters without breaking the bank. It’s easy to experience a summer state of mind with one of Gardner’s Frozen Treats in Christiansburg. Boasting shakes as thick as a brick and soft serve swirls as tall as your head, this place has it all. Their newest menu addition, “Watermelon Italian Ice,” is a sugar-free, dairy-free concoction that will have you carefree and stress-free in an instant. If wine is your dessert of choice, you can head out to Beliveau Estate Winery to soak up the scenery, enjoy a lite meal, and bask in the aroma of luscious lavender. Their back fields will be open for unpopulated hiking, running, skipping and jumping. Dogs welcome! There has never been a better time to shop small and stay local. Checking out what’s new in the retail shops is the best way to support them and bring a smile to the faces of small business owners, even behind a mask. The best local amusement parks might be in NRV treetops. Treetop Adventures at Mountain Lake offers “two and a half hours of an intense course that demanded concentration and the use of all our muscles and balance,” says a recent conqueror of the course. Buffalo Mountain Ziplines in Floyd County boasts the largest zipline in Virginia. We just might have the next best thing to ziplining in Costa Rica. Outdoor orienteering involves navigation with a map and a compass where you go from point to point in diverse terrain. The Blue Ridge Orienteering Club was founded five years ago by locals as a chapter of Orienteering USA. Look for their course maps for Mountain Lake and Heritage Park on their website: Blueridgeorienteering.org. They also produce a course map for the Virginia Tech campus, which takes you to some undiscovered campus spots while subtly teaching you about the university’s history. Music festivals, street fairs and outdoor concerts are not quite a thing of the past. There are swim-up concerts at Claytor Lake. Rent a paddleboard or kayak from Mountain2Island and paddle on over to The Rock House Marina to get a live music fix. Raise your knowledge of our history by visiting all or a few of the 11 museums throughout the New River Valley.
If you’re itching to explore a totally new place, take a day trip. Burke Gardens in Tazewell has been described as “God’s Thumbprint” and the “Garden Spot of the World” because it offers the most breathtaking scenery this side of New Zealand. Set aside plenty of time for this piece of paradise carved into the highest valley in Virginia, because once you get there, you won’t want to leave.
So don’t worry about any summer plans outside our region. There are wonderful B&Bs and hotels, back roads, photo opps, camping, water recreation, restaurants, trails and interesting places to discover, visit and re-visit right here. Go to nrvbook.com for ideas that will carry you through this summer and next summer in the New River Valley. And drop in on some of those advertisers plus ones in this magazine issue. They spend hardearned money to get your attention and offer neat products, merchandise and services. The local economy is vital to the region’s success.
Emily Kathleen Alberts is a freelance writer and NRV resident who’s traveled far and wide and can safely say: There’s no place like home.
