Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind

There’s something oddly comforting about rolling into a small town in summer and realizing you have it (almost) to yourself. No crowds. No waitlists. Just enough locals to remind you this isn’t a ghost town—just one that breathes a little easier when the semester’s out.

I was in Blacksburg for a few nights—technically work, but let’s be honest, travel days are as much about survival as they are productivity. First order of business: food. Second order of business: more food. Third: a good bed and a shower that doesn’t require a degree in engineering to operate.

Let’s start with the Hampton Inn in Christiansburg/Blacksburg. Either freshly built or freshly overhauled, it had that crisp, no-dust-yet vibe. My room was clean, modern, and generously sized—the kind of place where you don’t immediately shuffle furniture just to lay your suitcase down. The gym? Legit. Full set of weights, Smith machine, cardio gear, plyo blocks… enough to make you almost regret skipping leg day. Almost.

Oh, and shoutout to the J1772 chargers in the lot. They were always in use—good sign they’re functional, though I didn’t get a chance to plug in myself. Breakfast was classic Hampton: hot sausage, eggs, pancakes, and the eternal glory of a stocked Apple Jacks dispenser. Michelin-starred it was not. Satisfying? You bet.

Now, to the eats.

Night one, we hit The Cellar on Main Street. Solid beer list, chill ambiance, and one dish that stole the show: the Cajun Shrimp Dip. That alone was worth the visit, though their flatbread pizza also came to play.

Night two brought us a little outside town to Eastern Divide Brewing Co.. Don’t let the rural location fool you—it was packed. Think picnic-table energy meets craft-beer haven. I went with the “Staff Picks” beer flight, which offered a lovely tour of non-IPA options: lagers, a stout, a sour, and a cider. If you’re into bitter hops, there were plenty of IPAs too. Food-wise, the smash burger was well-seasoned (though a little overcooked for my taste) and the fries were dangerously addictive.

All in all? Blacksburg knows how to feed you and give you a decent night’s rest without demanding too much in return. Just how I like it.

— Roamwell