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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Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 We may not have found a pot of gold but we did find a gold-colored, very cool bed & breakfast at the end of the rainbow (even better if you ask us! 😆). What else can you discover in Montgomery County? Head to the link in our bio to find out. 🌈✨

#GoToMontVA #gototown #oaksvictorianinn #visitchristiansburgva #stpatricksday #virginiaisforlovers
Christiansburg Industrial Institute, which was open from 1866-1966, was the first high school for African American students in Southwest Virginia. Today, its legacy is preserved and shared by @cburginstitute. You can visit the monument pictured here and see the last remaining building from the campus on Scattergood Drive in Christiansburg, and visit Christiansburg Institute Inc's museum at 125 Arrowhead Trail in Christiansburg to learn more about this historic school. 📚️🎓️
Happy National Drink Wine Day! From our scenic farm winery to local restaurants and specialty wine shops, we've got plenty of ways to celebrate in style. 🍷⁠
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#GoToMontVA #gototown #nationaldrinkwineday #virginiaisforfoodlovers⁠
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Valentine's Day is just around the corner! ❤️ Looking for something to do with your valentine (or pal-entines)? Here's a snapshot of the many Valentine's events going on this week and next in Montgomery County! For a full list, be sure to visit our online events calendar (linked in bio). 😍⁠
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Saturday, February 8th:⁠
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💞@blacksburg_books' Y'allentine's Book Fair at @moonhollowbrewing: Find all sorts of love-themed books, and enjoy a dessert bar and dried flower arrangements! 4-8pm.⁠
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💞Valentine Murder Mystery Fundraiser, McClain's at First & Main: Enjoy dinner and solve a murder mystery while raising money for a good cause! 6-9pm.⁠
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Valentine's Day (Friday, Feb. 14th):⁠
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💞Valentine's Day Beer and Cake Pairing: Come out and join @irontreebrewing and @bakingisforlovers for a wonderful pairing of delicious cake from Baking is for Lovers and tasty beer from Iron Tree! 3:00pm.⁠
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💞Valentine's Wine & Tapas at @beliveaufarmwinery: Join owners Yvan and Joyce for a romantic evening by candlelight for “Valentine’s Wine and Tapas." We’ll pair four Beliveau wines with four varied tapas. 6:00pm.⁠
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💞Line Dancing at @sinklandfarmsllc: All levels of experience welcome! 7:00pm.⁠
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💞Lakecia Benjamin at Moss Arts Center: Enjoy a memorable performance by award-winning jazz musician Lakecia Benjamin. 7:30pm.⁠
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#GoToMontVA #gototown #valentinesday #shoplocal #virginiaisforlovers⁠
Don't let the chilly temps this week get you down! 🥶 Warm up with a hot drink and a sweet or savory treat at one of our many local coffee shops. ☕️ For a full list, be sure to check out our Virtual Visitor Center at the link in our bio.⁠
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#GoToMontVA #gototown #cafe #winter #virginiaisforfoodlovers