The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) Writes Article on Blacksburg, VA

here's the article in question: Link

was surprised they mentioned Cascades as a place to visit...

DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Comments

I enjoyed that article. A nice, albeit brief, showcase of Blacksburg with some good natured ribbing

"The Big Ten is always using excuses to cancel games with us. First Wisconsin. Then Wisconsin. After that, Wisconsin. The subsequent cancellation with Wisconsin comes to mind too. Now Penn State. What's next? Wisconsin?" -HorseOnATreadmill

It was a pleasant read. It is hard to touch on many of the places to visit in a short article but they did a nice job.

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders via Ricky Bobby

I appreciated the tone and upbeat assessment of the article. I do think our visitors will be charmed quite nicely until game time. After that, well, we all know what comes then. That six hour drive home will seem like 16.

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

Later, the gobbler evolved into a less turkeylike HokieBird. But today's Hokie looks a lot like a turkey. Just check out the giant bronze Hokie in the lobby of the Cassell Coliseum basketball arena. 'Nuff said.

Your mascot is a nut

Circa 1965... just to help prove your point.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

For the Southpark fans this picture reminds me of Chef's Salty Chocolate... just sayin

-Semper Primus

"put 'em in your mouth"

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

I read that in Sunday's paper. I enjoyed it.

It made me really want to see the memorial of the shooting. Gotta do that the next time I am through there. Like everyone, that affected me deeply. I am tired of people getting massacred who have no means of defending themselves.

I was not aware of the falls. The picture in the article was awesome. Gotta see that one.

But all of that was just window dressing for the author to tell the Buckeye faithful where they can get well oiled before, during, and after the game. Interesting that the one restaurant owner was a scUM fan.

Behind an Amish buggy going up a long, curvy hill

Here are a few photos I took of the Cascades last November.

They're even prettier in January/February when they're frozen.

A decade on TKP and it's been time well spent.

If you like a good hike check out Dragons Tooth in Catawba, its tough but a beautiful view.

Finish it off with a stop at Homeplace!

-Semper Primus

If you're in good shape, I'd also recommend Barney's Wall. You have to hike past the Cascades to get to it. THIS website says it's an 8 mile round hike, I thought it was a littler further than that when I did it a couple of weeks ago but it's well worth it. I'll see if I can get some pictures up

Ok so the pictures come up WAY too big to post here, so here's a link to the album they're in:

http://imgur.com/a/XCvGz

protip: you can change image size by adding height and width tags

Example:

input img src="http://i.imgur.com/phYd1Fi.jpg" height=480 width=279
gets you this

use preview to make sure it looks right/doesn't give you any errors. Also, put the image address in the box like normal for posting an image then add the height and width tags after the syntax is created. Otherwise, it will assume they part of the image address and they will be ignored

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Thanks! I used to know this stuff but I forgot it and was too lazy to look it up

Barney's Wall is a great little lookout! Once you get to Barney's wall, if you're feeling sporty, you can go back out to the jeep trail, turn left to head up hill, and go all the way to the old fire tower at the top of Butt Mountain. That is a really great view of the NRV and you can see clear into West Va from that spot. I'm not sure how much further it is from Barney's wall...maybe another .5 mile or so

Onward and upward

Is that where that goes? Cool! My friends and I talked about going back and following that part just to see where it went, good to know.

But really there are so many good hiking spots around here that no matter what you pick you're not gonna be disappointed. Well, ok, unless you're canine friend digs into a nest of hornets when you're about .2 miles from the top of whatever you chose. Then you're going to be really disappointed. This happened to me last weekend hiking to Kelly's Knob. Not a fun trip back down.

I appreciate that they mention the memorial. Respect.

Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor.

Good reminder. The support and solidarity we received from so many places was incredibly meaningful and important. I may poke some fun (that's what sports are for!), but I have a lot of respect for the OSU program, for this and other reasons.

"Exit light..."

Wow that hit a soft spot... Why couldn't this wait till after the game?

-Semper Primus

Wow, I completely forgot about this. Thanks for bringing it back to our attention. Deep respect for them and everyone else that supported us.

In fact, I truly believe we should pay this forward and only beat them by 10, maybe 20 points.

I don't think I knew about this when it happened, and somehow missed seeing it brought up for last year's game, but this is very touching. Classy move, Buckeyes. Hokie Nation appreciates it even now.

Reminds me of the huge outpouring of support we received after that tragedy from so many people and institutions.

"Virginia Tech: Our trees have more school spirit than your students."

I had no idea! How class is that! Thank you. God's Speed!

Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

Really great seeing this again.

On a side note, does anyone notice what number 29's name is in that picture?

I do. And it's LANE.

Slightly erratic, mostly sane, always a Hokie.

Shaun Lane is the son of OSU great Garcia Lane. Shaun was a 3 Star recruit out of Hubbard, Ohio in the 2005 class.

He cracked the special teams late in his career. He finished at Ohio State with 9 career tackles. In the bowl game vs. Texas in Jan 09, he suffered a brachial plexus avulsion that resulted in him being essentially paralyzed in his right arm.

We all love this game, but Shaun was one of its casualties. Not everyone walks away from it whole.

Behind an Amish buggy going up a long, curvy hill

Sometimes the jokes just write themselves....

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

see, l see this and all I can think is "man, it's been too long since I climbed up humpback rock"

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

who is this woman and why did she say wikipedia?

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

I don't know, she was on the wikipedia page you provided.

"What are you going to do, stab me? - Quote from Man Stabbed

If that pic panned to the left a little bit, you could see my neighborhood.

"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

That's very cool. Seen these used in real estate ads. Like seeing it used for more enjoyable topics.

Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

I LOVE 360cities! +1

Wiley, Brown, Russell, Drakeford, Gray, Banks, Prioleau, Charleton, Midget, Bird, McCadam, Pile, Hall, Green, Fuller, Williams, Hamilton, Rouse, Flowers, Harris, Chancellor, Carmichael, Hosley, Fuller, Exum, Jarrett

I used to live at the foot of the mountain where Humpback Rock is located, on the 'hooville side. Up Glass Hollow on Goodwin Creek in the old Chinrock Orchard.

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

What is this Social House they keep speaking of? New?

New bar on Main Street across from the National Bank.

Close to Cabo.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

Doesn't look like a bar by any means...it's an old house.

@AMB4VT

Food looks good! I knew it was a restaurant but didn't know
it was also a bar. Will have to check it out!

@AMB4VT

I tried it for the first time this summer. The food was good but, IMO, not quite worth what they charge for it. I suppose it's worth trying once but I don't think I'll do it again. Just one persons opinion but uh....well there it is.

I'm anxious to try out the Black Hen. I've heard it's also pricey but actually very worth it, can anyone confirm/deny?

I hate that there's so many places in Blacksburg that I don't know.

I'm not even that old (27) and I was just there for the UVA game last year.

Please don't change Blacksburg, I love you just the way you are.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

First lived in the 'burg in 1968. Wanna talk about change? I'd say that's the one thing that doesn't change about Blacksburg. And that is change.

Reel men fish on Wednesdays

as a townie, I can tell you that that is the consensus on Social House. Good enough to go once, too expensive to go back. Haven't done Black Hen yet, I've heard good things though if you're ok with dropping the cash.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Heard good things about the Black Hen, but that it's very pricey. Kind of an anniversary sort of place. I've had recommendations to just go for dessert, as that is the cheapest and best part.