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Places to Visit in Southwest Virginia
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items I live in the New River Valley, Southwest Virginia. Here are some amazing places to visit for family fun, honeymoons, or solo trips.
Sections
5
Halloween Fun 2025
Outdoor Recreation
Places to Shop
Arts and Crafts
Places to Eat
Halloween Fun 2025
Here are my top recommendations of places to visit in the New River Valley for Halloween. From haunted houses to pumpkin patches these are a must if ever in the area.
Saint Albans Sanatorium was once used as a boys home and later used to house mental patients. Before and after closing people were fascinated by “spirits” left within the walls of this old building. Featured on ghost hunting tours, Halloween in the N...
St Albans Sanatorium
Fithian Farms in Christiansburg offers The Dark Woods Haunted Trail. Open until November 1st, 2025 this trail offers spooky fun that's too big to have indoors.
Fithian Farms – Home of The Dark Woods
The Pearisburg Annual Scarecrow Festival is an event held until November 1st that offers fun for family and friends. If in the New River Valley during the Fall, this is a must stop!
Scarecrow Festival
Outdoor Recreation
Here are some of the best places to visit for outdoor fun; especially to view the Autumn foliage before winter is here. However, there are a lot of fun outdoor activity even in the Winter months.
Claytor Lake State Park in Virginia has a wide assortment of outdoor activities... A swimming area with a gift shop for summer months, boat rentals, cabin rentals, trails, camping areas, picnic shelters with grills, and plenty of holiday events.
Claytor Lake State Park
Bisset Park located in Radford, Virginia is a beautiful place to go for walks along the river, play sports, have cookouts, and enjoy holiday events hosted by the City of Radford. Some events include the 4th of July celebration, walkathons for differe...
Facilities • Bisset Park
Draper Mountain Overlook is awesome all year round; especially in Autumn when the leaves change colors. With shelters scattered along the paths, this is an amazing place to visit.
Draper Mountain Overlook (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go ...
Enjoy hiking, bicycling, or horseback riding along the New River Trail in Virginia for scenic views, picnic spots, swimming, and more.
New River Trail State Park
Starlite Drive-in located in Christiansburg Virginia has been a favorite locals hangout for years. With cheap tickets, snack stands and a huge screen off the main road, I'd recommend going to everyone.
Starlite Drivein Virginia | Christiansburg VA
Sinkland Farms in Virginia offers fun all year round but especially in the fall with their hay rides, haunted mazes, pumpkin carving and more. I highly recommend visiting the family owned farm whenever you're in the area. It's an adventure for adults...
Sinkland Farms
Randolph Park in Dublin, VA. is an amazing park to visit with family and friends. I had my oldest daughter's 1st birthday there! The shelters are awesome, the fields are well kept, the walking trail is beautiful and the swimming pool is loaded with f...
Randolph Park
Enjoy a 2 mile hike with resting points along the trail. Once you reach the top, you'll arrive at the beautiful Cascades where you can swim, picnic, take photos, and enjoy the view. A must see when visiting Southwest Virginia.
Cascade Falls Trailhead
While in the New River Valley, Mabry Mill along the Blue Ridge Parkway is an amazing place to visit for family fun.
Mabry Mill - Milepost 176 - Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service)
Places to Shop
Throughout the New River Valley and surrounding areas, there's shopping fun for any age group. There are craft stores, home-made goods, clothing, children's stores and more.
Walker Valley Market located in Bland, Virginia has everything from home-made baked goods, crafts and every day items. Owned by the Amish Community in White Gate, Virginia, this store is a must when in the area.
Walker Valley Market
Barnes and Noble in Christiansburg Virginia has the best layout and a huge assortment of novels to choose from. Have coffee while relaxing to a new found read. Highly recommended.
Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Spradlin Farms, VA
Ross Store in Christiansburg Virginia has some of the best outfits for men, women, and children with extremely low prices. They also sell furniture, books, speakers, shoes, bookbags, and other accessories. A must stop when visiting the New River Vall...
Ross Stores
Harmons Western Wear in Woodlawn, Virginia sells a wide assortment of western clothing and boots. They have something for everyone plus a museum to visit while in the store. If visiting Southwest Virginia, Harmons Western Wear is a must.
Harmons Western Wear | Woodlawn VA
The Floyd Country Store has a variety of everyday products & handcrafted items to purchase. Also, they're known for having live bands on weekends with the entire street closed off so people can listen while mingling outside. Floyd has a rich hist...
Floyd Country Store
Arts and Crafts
Places in the New River Valley for arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor.
Paint N' Fun located at the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg Virginia is awesome. Here you can take free classes on painting, clay, and ceramics.
You can also purchase a ceramic of your choice and settle down at their tables after picking out ...
Paint N' Fun Ceramics
Hobby Lobby located in Christiansburg Virginia is a store filled with every imaginable craft item you can think of. This store is fun for everyone.
100 Laurel St NE - Christiansburg - Virginia - Store Finder
Places to Eat
Here are my top recommendations for places to eat in the New River Valley. These are local places that are usually owned by a family in the area. I highly recommend Hank's Drive-In.
Hank's Drive-In has been open since 1972. The owner was from my hometown and they still have the best burgers and fries around the New River Valley.
Hank's Drive In
Brick House Pizza has been around since I was young. My best friend's mom worked there and much later I had my daughter's birthday parties there. Their pizza is amazing and it's a great place for people to gather. Highly recommended.
Brick House Pizza
Taste is awesome, they deliver to my doorstep, and the prices are good!
Fu Lin Restaurant
Dairy Queen is the best place around the NRV for ice cream, floats, burgers, fries, and other items to eat indoors or outdoors.
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill