Column: Blacksburg in summer provides unique experiences

Most students pack up and head out of town as soon as finals end in May. Some go home to work a summer job they’ve had for years and some get a high-intensity internship that will get their foot in the door after college. I, however, have discovered one of summer’s better-kept secrets: Blacksburg. Summer in Blacksburg is certainly not your standard vacation. There is no ocean, no palm trees, and the sun is capable of hiding for days at a time. But if you love the town during the school year, do yourself a favor and experience how charming it becomes in the off-season.

The first thing you notice is the lack of people. Walking across the Drillfield doesn’t involve dodging people and bikes, saying “hi” repeatedly, or working to avoid awkward eye contact. In fact, it would be a busy day if you passed two people. Almost every restaurant or store on Main Street has a help wanted sign in the window and you almost never have to wait to be seated. You don’t hit the morning rush of traffic into the Prices Fork and Perry Street commuter parking lots, and you never have to be that driver who stalks people walking to their cars because there are no spots left. Playing pool at Sharkey’s or darts at Awful Arthur’s is actually possible without constantly bumping into people or asking them to move out of the way of your shot. You can get a table on the patio at Sharkey’s and sit there all night with no hassle.

If you take summer classes or have a job in town, you might realize that you make friends with your classmates and coworkers much quicker and easier than during the school year. Because so few people stay for the summer, almost everyone needs someone new to hang out with. Meet up with coworkers downtown or cook out with some people from class. You might be surprised how quickly you start habitually claiming a spot on their couch for “Entourage” every Sunday.

Some of the best summer nights involve a game of cornhole in the parking lot and a favorite band’s live album blaring outside. The beauty of congregating in the parking lot in Blacksburg is that cars very rarely come and go and break up the party. Bring out the grill, charcoal and burgers and you have the quintessential summer evening. If you’re lucky, a thunderstorm will sneak up complete with ridiculous lightening and thunder that will make your heart jump. Playing in the rain never gets old.

If you have never found the perfect weekend to experience the outdoor recreation surrounding Blacksburg, there is no better time to venture out than during the summer. The Cascades trail is shaded, so the heat is never too overwhelming. A 15-minute drive gets you to the New River Junction where you can rent a tube to float down the river or just park a picnic in the grass. If you keep driving down river and park on the side of the road, the campsites provide just enough shore to fit a few chairs, towels and coolers. Some sandwiches, snacks, beverages and popsicles can make this the epitome of a lazy summer afternoon. If you don’t bring reading material or something to play catch with, watch as tubers brave the rapids or jump into them from the rocks for entertainment.

One of Blacksburg’s most entertaining events that non-summer dwellers miss every year is Steppin’ Out. This two day street fair brings the town and surrounding community out in the Main Street area for good food, local art and live music. The most surprising part of Steppin’ Out is the revelation that the town is packed with people and a vast majority of them are not Tech students. It makes Blacksburg feel like more than just a college town.

The most valuable things you can take away from spending the summer in Blacksburg are not unlike what most of us will take from college as a whole: friends, memories, a farmer’s tan, maybe a degree or two. Spending a summer in Blacksburg is a great way to complete the Virginia Tech experience.