Blacksburg feels like a lively college town centered on Virginia Tech, with a compact, walkable downtown of restaurants, breweries, live music, seasonal events, and quick access to hiking, mountain biking and river recreation—great for multi‑week assignments where you want things to do after work.
Within about an hour you can tap into Roanoke’s bigger arts scene, medical centers and airport plus iconic outdoor draws like McAfee Knob and the New River, so you won’t feel stuck.