[part of the Tuesday for Travel blog series – reviews, recommendations, and stories based on our travels and excursions]

It was Labor Day weekend I was seventeen…or rather, twenty-six.  So what if I sing sometimes while blogging? 😉

Really though, it was Labor Day weekend.  We had no plans, which for us is pretty unusual.  After a summer full of exciting travels, we were actually quite pumped for a long weekend at home.  You know, a weekend of relaxation.  Maybe some casual advancements on our long to-do lists, but nothing fancy.  All of that changed when I found out that Brad Paisley was making a trip to Blacksburg to put on a free concert.  What? Brad Paisley?? Chris’s favorite country artist? Coupled with Blacksburg, my home away from home, my decision was a no brainer.  I scoured the internet for tickets for the VT vs. Ohio State game that would take place the next day, but at a couple hundred dollars per ticket I quickly decided against all of that.  I excitedly called Chris to tell him the news.  As I shared the announcement and awaited his response I was quite shocked to hear him say “I know” in a completely unenthused manner.  Apparently he had known about this free concert for a few weeks but was more excited about a weekend of nothing at home.  What?!?!?!  As all good husbands do, he said that if I really wanted to go he would oblige.

We left that morning accompanied by my cousin/side kick, Adrienne.  Knowing we would arrive in Hokie land around lunchtime I was proud that Chris needn’t even ask my preferred lunch destination.  As we pulled into Downtown Blacksburg I could hardly contain my excitement.  We found a parking spot and headed straight for Cabo Fish Taco.

Cabo is known for its delicious…umm…fish tacos. Duh!  🙂  It is also the first place I legally consumed a beer in Blacksburg…AFTER I graduated from college.  Graduating from college in 3 years when you’re still 20 has its downside!  While I had snuck a few downtown trips in during my time at Tech, there were still a few places I was never able to go into or really enjoy because I was never legal while I was there.  Anyway, back to lunch.  Baja Shrimp & Crab Dip = AHmazing.

I had my usual BBQ Mahi Tacos which did not disappoint!

Chris enjoyed Tavarua Tuna Tacos and they were spot on!

Next, we did a little campus visiting before the bar hopping tour began, starting with War Memorial & Torgersen Bridge

Next, drillfield view of Burruss Hall.

neVer forgeT – 32 Hokies, forever in our hearts!

And a beautiful floral display next to the 4.16.07 memorial.

Next we passed Chris’s engineering buildings and the crest of his engineering frat.  It was more of a professional organization, but I always have to poke fun at Chris for being a member of a fraternity. 😉  It just so isn’t our style!

The archways and Hokie Stone never get old!

Lastly, we went to see the massive changes to the old commuter parking lot.  What was once a vast expanse of parking spots/prime tailgating spaces is now home to several new buildings and a parking deck.  After Chris graduated he was excited to get the chance to complete a project during the construction of the new Signature Engineering Building.

His project?  To install a suspended jet engine from the atrium of the building.

And get this – the model of the jet engine was the Trent 1000. How cool/ironic is that?

Here’s a little Hokiebird hanging out in the robotics lab.

After our campus tour we happily did a downtown bar hopping tour, then tailgated with our old roommate Chucker before the start of the concert.  Fast forward a few hours, enjoyed watching Brad Paisley perform, and then headed back downtown for a few hours to my favorite downtown Blacksburg bar, Hokie House.

We called it a night at 2am.  I had cut myself off at about noon knowing that I was the DD back to the good ol’ Shenandoah Valley.  So here’s the thing about being the DD after drinking until noon and then staying out till 2am sober…it’s pretty difficult to stay awake for a 2.5 hour drive home!  I embarrassingly stopped not once or twice but THREE times for a quick nap hoping to kickstart myself for the rest of the drive home.  That 2.5 hour drive took about 4 hours and we finally made it home around sunrise.

It was great to see my Hokie home again and I’m looking forward to our next trip (and really hoping it involves Lane Stadium 😉 ).

I love to hear from you! Comment below.

– Nikki

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