We have an unusually long summer break this year…a little over 3 months in fact. The reason for the longer-than-usual break is to give the County time to finish the new high school. Although we will make up for the break next year (we only get 2 months off next summer), I plan to enjoy every moment of it! I will be out of town for about a month this summer spending time with all kinds of my favorite friends and family, but I am determined to use the rest of the time to do some things that I have either never done, or it has been years since I’ve done. So, I created a summer bucket list.
I have lived in Blacksburg my whole life. When you live somewhere forever, you tend to start taking for granted all of the beauty and attractions an area like ours has to offer. I never make the time to enjoy the things a visitor might, because I know I can do these things any time. The problem is, I don’t ever take the time to do them. So, I plan to change that this year! Here is my personal summer bucket list…
1. Pick berries at 3 Birds Berry Farm (formally Crow’s Nest) in Blacksburg
www.3birdsberryfarm.com
I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve never done this. You can pick your own blueberries, blackberries and raspberries…YUM!
2. Hike the Cascades in Giles County
www.gilescounty.org/cascades.html
I have done this many times, but it has been way too long. It’s a 4 mile round-trip hike to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Virginia. Note there is a $3 fee per vehicle…this is new since I was last there if that tells you how long it’s been!
3. Hike Virginia’s Triple Crown…Dragons Tooth, McAfee’s Knob and Tinker Cliffs
I have never really hiked before so this may be wishful thinking, but you have to dream big!
McAfee Knob is a 8.3 mile hike in Catawba that they say takes approximately 4 hours to complete. It has a difficulty of 3/5 and seems to be a good way to start my hiking adventures.
www.hikingupward.com/jnf/McAfeeKnob/
Dragon Tooth is a 5.7 mile hike in Catawba that they also say takes roughly 4 hours to complete. It has a difficulty of a 4/5 so we will see how I do!
www.hikingupward.com/jnf/dragonstooth/
Tinker Cliffs is a 7.7 mile hike in Mount Union (about an hour drive) that again takes about 4 hours to hike. The difficulty level is again a 4/5 and they say it’s brutal for beginners, so this will be last on my list!
www.hikingupward.com/JNF/TinkerCliffsAndyLayneTrail/
4. Go the Friday Night Jamboree at The Floyd Country Store
www.floydcountrystore.com/stage/jamboree-schedule
I have wanted to do this for 20 years! The March, 2000 issue of Country Living magazine identified the Floyd County Store as one of the two best places in the country to hear bluegrass music (the other place was a club in New York City). Show starts at 6:30 and ends around 10:30. Cost for admission is $5.
5. Eat at The Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Homeplace-Restaurant/115564841808913
I could not find a website, so this is their facebook page to learn more. I’ve eaten here before, but it’s been a LONG time! My mouth is watering already!
6. Spend a day on the Blue Ridge Parkway
www.blueridgeparkway.org/
I’ve done this once or twice, but hope to go on a gorgeous day with the top down on my jeep and enjoy the scenery! And maybe some pancakes from Mabry Mill!
7. Canoe on the New River
www.newriverjunction.com/
The river makes me nervous, but Todd and I did this one time (pre-kids!) and had a blast! If I can’t canoe, tubing will suffice! It’s been a while since I even did that!
8. See a movie at Starlite Drive-In in Christiansburg
www.starlitedrivein.info/
One of my favorite things to do and it’s been YEARS since I’ve been. Not only am I going to go, but I’m going to fill the back of Todd’s truck with lots of blankets and pillows and watch it from the bed of his truck!
9. Take advantage of the tons of amazing live music this area has to offer
www.nextthreedays.com/
There is so much live music going on in this area and especially in Blacksburg. Whether it’s at one of the local restaurants/bars or an outdoor event, I’m determined to make it out to some shows! I’m starting June 1 with the Blue Ridge Music Festival in Salem…very excited!
10. Have brunch at Mountain Lake in Giles County
http://www.mtnlakelodge.com/
Once again, something I haven’t done in years. The drive alone is beautiful!
I also have some silly, personal ones too…
1. Drink some Boones Farm wine by a bonfire
2. Have a cornhole tournament party
3. Go fishing, but more importantly, catch one!
4. Spend at least one day jet skiing or boating on the lake
5. Have a reunion bowling day with my bowling team (we came in last place by the way! Haha!)
6. See lots of movies
7. Walk around the Virginia Tech campus, downtown Blacksburg and visit the Farmer’s Market
8. Go to a wine tasting
9. Try some new restaurants I’ve never been to
10. READ!
Shew! I’ve got my work cut out for me! What’s on your bucket list this summer? What should I be adding to mine? Who wants to join me? I’ll keep you posted with updates and pictures to see how I’m doing! Keep me posted on yours as well!
I have lived in Blacksburg my whole life. When you live somewhere forever, you tend to start taking for granted all of the beauty and attractions an area like ours has to offer. I never make the time to enjoy the things a visitor might, because I know I can do these things any time. The problem is, I don’t ever take the time to do them. So, I plan to change that this year! Here is my personal summer bucket list…
1. Pick berries at 3 Birds Berry Farm (formally Crow’s Nest) in Blacksburg
www.3birdsberryfarm.com
I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve never done this. You can pick your own blueberries, blackberries and raspberries…YUM!
2. Hike the Cascades in Giles County
www.gilescounty.org/cascades.html
I have done this many times, but it has been way too long. It’s a 4 mile round-trip hike to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Virginia. Note there is a $3 fee per vehicle…this is new since I was last there if that tells you how long it’s been!
3. Hike Virginia’s Triple Crown…Dragons Tooth, McAfee’s Knob and Tinker Cliffs
I have never really hiked before so this may be wishful thinking, but you have to dream big!
McAfee Knob is a 8.3 mile hike in Catawba that they say takes approximately 4 hours to complete. It has a difficulty of 3/5 and seems to be a good way to start my hiking adventures.
www.hikingupward.com/jnf/McAfeeKnob/
Dragon Tooth is a 5.7 mile hike in Catawba that they also say takes roughly 4 hours to complete. It has a difficulty of a 4/5 so we will see how I do!
www.hikingupward.com/jnf/dragonstooth/
Tinker Cliffs is a 7.7 mile hike in Mount Union (about an hour drive) that again takes about 4 hours to hike. The difficulty level is again a 4/5 and they say it’s brutal for beginners, so this will be last on my list!
www.hikingupward.com/JNF/TinkerCliffsAndyLayneTrail/
4. Go the Friday Night Jamboree at The Floyd Country Store
www.floydcountrystore.com/stage/jamboree-schedule
I have wanted to do this for 20 years! The March, 2000 issue of Country Living magazine identified the Floyd County Store as one of the two best places in the country to hear bluegrass music (the other place was a club in New York City). Show starts at 6:30 and ends around 10:30. Cost for admission is $5.
5. Eat at The Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Homeplace-Restaurant/115564841808913
I could not find a website, so this is their facebook page to learn more. I’ve eaten here before, but it’s been a LONG time! My mouth is watering already!
6. Spend a day on the Blue Ridge Parkway
www.blueridgeparkway.org/
I’ve done this once or twice, but hope to go on a gorgeous day with the top down on my jeep and enjoy the scenery! And maybe some pancakes from Mabry Mill!
7. Canoe on the New River
www.newriverjunction.com/
The river makes me nervous, but Todd and I did this one time (pre-kids!) and had a blast! If I can’t canoe, tubing will suffice! It’s been a while since I even did that!
8. See a movie at Starlite Drive-In in Christiansburg
www.starlitedrivein.info/
One of my favorite things to do and it’s been YEARS since I’ve been. Not only am I going to go, but I’m going to fill the back of Todd’s truck with lots of blankets and pillows and watch it from the bed of his truck!
9. Take advantage of the tons of amazing live music this area has to offer
www.nextthreedays.com/
There is so much live music going on in this area and especially in Blacksburg. Whether it’s at one of the local restaurants/bars or an outdoor event, I’m determined to make it out to some shows! I’m starting June 1 with the Blue Ridge Music Festival in Salem…very excited!
10. Have brunch at Mountain Lake in Giles County
http://www.mtnlakelodge.com/
Once again, something I haven’t done in years. The drive alone is beautiful!
I also have some silly, personal ones too…
1. Drink some Boones Farm wine by a bonfire
2. Have a cornhole tournament party
3. Go fishing, but more importantly, catch one!
4. Spend at least one day jet skiing or boating on the lake
5. Have a reunion bowling day with my bowling team (we came in last place by the way! Haha!)
6. See lots of movies
7. Walk around the Virginia Tech campus, downtown Blacksburg and visit the Farmer’s Market
8. Go to a wine tasting
9. Try some new restaurants I’ve never been to
10. READ!
Shew! I’ve got my work cut out for me! What’s on your bucket list this summer? What should I be adding to mine? Who wants to join me? I’ll keep you posted with updates and pictures to see how I’m doing! Keep me posted on yours as well!
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