A Family’s Mountain Adventure

Spring in southwest Virginia is quickly becoming my favorite time of year here in the New River Valley! It is a time when buds burst forth with tender green leaves and redbud trees appear as pops of colorful sprays in a natural bouquet.  My husband and I, “Pops'' to the grandkids, recently set out on the first camping trip of the season. Visiting all Virginia State Parks has long been on our bucket list. We spent a long weekend in Claytor Lake State Park in Dublin, Virginia which is easily accessed from I-81 via Exit 101.  The park offers a wide variety of activities including swimming, fishing, boating, camping, cabins, and nature and history programs. This park, as with most of the state parks, has kids’ programs offering fun guidance on how to identify natural elements along hiking trails of which there are several varying from easy to moderate.  This will be the perfect weekend for exploring what to do with the grandkids this summer.

Once our campsite was set, Zelda the family dog and I walked down to the visitor’s center at the historic Howe house to sign up for a dog hike the next morning. I made mental notes along the way of playgrounds, an accessible fishing pier and bike rentals. The next trip would include two more passengers who are not as tall as Pops and not as furry as Zelda. I simply could not wait to convert these trip ideas to reality with the grandkids! The next trip with them would include:

A burger! The last thing I want to do after setting up camp is to cook. Yes, we are glampers! We’ll venture out on the first night for a Buffalo Burger at Buffalo and More located 20 minutes from the park in Riner, Virginia.  Do you ever wonder why hamburgers don’t taste like they did when you were a kid? These do! The owners of Buffalo and More own their herd which is raised only a few miles down the road from the restaurant. Buffalo is a lean and healthy meat. As they say, you are what you eat!

The smell of bacon will fill the air on the first morning. The sleepy heads will roll out of bed and immediately begin asking to go swimming. First things first. Pops and I feed the kiddos and the beagle. The kids and I walk to the beach through a dense pine thicket with a well-maintained trail. Spring has brought forth all sorts of plants and wildlife to see and talk about. Better have answers ready for lots of “whats” and “whys” from the kiddos.

The kids are tuckered out that evening. The hammocks under the shade trees are very inviting for a quick lounge. A regional store, Walkabout Outfitters, is a great place to find outdoor gear. The closest location to the park is in Blacksburg, VA which is 30 minutes away. Maybe an urban exploration for another day. It is almost time to start the grill and the campfire. A fire is welcomed as the warm temperatures of the day give way to cool spring nights. The hoot owls can be heard clearly among the chorus of spring peepers. Although TV and WiFi is available, not one electronic device is being used at this moment. How could they compete with Pops tales told around the campfire?

Rain moved in on this last full day. No problem! The Wonder Universe: A Children’s Museum. This well thought out venue has hands-on exhibits and learning opportunities through play.  It is located in the Uptown Christiansburg Mall. This is the perfect place to bring the kiddos in a rainy or sunny day!

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Share your #GoToMontVa experiences with us!
A warm, sunny day + a Love Potion milkshake from @sugarmagnoliashops = perfection 💖

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Come to the Blacksburg Community Center on Monday, January 29th from 4:30-8:30pm to learn more about the NRV Passenger Rail Project and share your input!

This project will bring passenger rail service to the region for the first time since 1979! 😮

In addition, a survey will be open from January 29th-February 28th for community members to share their priorities for the project.

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Have you visited the Montgomery County Coal Mining Heritage Park? ⚒️🌿 Located along the Huckleberry Trail between Christiansburg and Blacksburg, the park offers a 1.5 mile loop trail and the opportunity to learn more about the historic Merrimac mining community, which was in operation until 1935.

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Happy 2024! 🎉 If your resolutions include being more active, we've got plenty of outdoor options to help you get out and explore! 🚵‍♀️

Pictured: Pandapas Pond, Jefferson National Forest

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Happy Holidays! 🎄 Wishing you safe travels in Montgomery County and beyond. We'll look forward to seeing you again in 2024 for new adventures! ✈️⁠
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It might be chilly outside, but at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center, it's summer year-round! Escape the cold and have a blast on the giant two-story water slide, or kick back and relax in the 95-degree heated therapy pool! 🌊☀

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