A Wedding at Nesselrod on the New: A Beautiful Day Marred by Broken Promises…read moreWeddings are meant to be magical and stress-free. When we began planning ours, we envisioned an intimate micro-wedding with about 50 guests on a crisp November day. We chose Nesselrod on the New, under new ownership, for its rustic charm. Unfortunately, what should have been a beautiful experience was marred by disorganization, broken promises, and unprofessional behavior. When we first toured the venue in July, Brittany, the new owner, promised the barn would be fully enclosed with permanent walls and heated floors by our wedding date. She also offered to decorate based on a Pinterest board I sent. However, early signs of disorganization appeared: Brittany gave different price quotes, delayed the contract (which still had the previous owner's information), and needed multiple reminders on details we had already discussed. The major issue arose two weeks before the wedding when Brittany casually texted us that the barn walls would not be built; instead, she would hang cream-colored tarps. A week before the wedding, she added that the heated floors might not work either. At that point, with guests' travel already arranged, it was too late to cancel. The night before our wedding, while we were in the middle of a special family dinner, Brittany sent a picture of the barn with clear plastic stapled up around it. Her accompanying message was, "I like it better without the tarps, brings in more natural light." I responded, "The main thing is to make sure it is warm. It's going to be dark. We want the tarps." Her response? "I'm not going to use them, they cost a lot for one-time use." This was the moment everything came to a head. She had promised tarps. She had promised walls. And now she was choosing, unilaterally, to back out of those commitments the night before the biggest day of our lives. Her tone grew increasingly defensive and dismissive. She claimed she'd gone "above and beyond" for what we had paid, even though she hadn't delivered what was contractually promised. She even said she had sold a car to afford the plastic sheets, which she insisted were superior to the tarps anyway. Her texts continued to get more hostile. When I began crying, my family insisted I cease communication. On the wedding day, Brittany and her husband were still stapling plastic up hours before the ceremony. Our florist arrived to install floral arrangements on the arbor, and Brittany's husband--Joe--helped her while muttering curse words and angrily saying, "Who the f** holds a wedding in November?"*. That is not something a vendor should ever say, let alone at the actual event. Guests had to wear coats indoors because the heated floors were non-functional. Brittany and Joe spent the reception sitting at the edge of the dance floor in casual clothing, scrolling on their phones. They looked completely disinterested and detached--like they were bored employees at a DMV, not hosts of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Two teenage girls--wearing jeans and sweatshirts--wandered through the barn mid-reception holding a small dog. They helped themselves to food, stood around the drink table, and chatted with Brittany like it was a casual get-together. They even let the dog run around the dance floor, posing a tripping hazard while people were dancing. These girls made it into our wedding photos. Let that sink in. After the event, our family stayed behind to help clean up. We had been told that we only needed to remove the trash and that the venue staff would take care of the rest. However, someone had apparently gotten sick in the bathroom--and rather than quietly taking care of it as a venue host should, Brittany confronted my family and asked indignantly, "Who is going to clean the bathroom?!" My father and daughter-in-law ended up cleaning the mess in their wedding clothes. As our family packed up the decorations, Brittany casually suggested they leave them for her to use. She also wanted to keep the extra plates, cups, silverware, and food. It felt exploitative and incredibly presumptuous. At this point, our family was so done with the situation that they only left behind a box of crackers--which Brittany said she could use to feed her chickens. Brittany may be new to owning a venue, but there's no excuse for this level of disorganization, broken promises, and rudeness. What was most disappointing wasn't just that things didn't go as promised--it was the lack of professionalism, the gaslighting, and the hostile tone she took when we asked her to follow through on basic commitments. Our wedding ended up beautiful because of our loved ones and in spite of Nesselrod. Brittany's behavior added unnecessary stress to what should have been a joyful occasion. If you're considering Nesselrod on the New for your event, I strongly urge you to reconsider. A pretty venue is meaningless without professionalism and trustworthiness behind it.

Great service, incredible property, and wonderful rooms!…read more My partner and I loved staying at this charming cozy inn. Our room, the Lily of the Valley, was clean, spacious, adorably decorated and exceedingly comfortable to stay in. We loved the wallpaper, elaborate seating, and wooden furniture accents. Most of all we loved the huge bathtub surrounded by gorgeous green tile. The inn keeper, Jeff, offered a delicious home-made breakfast in the morning and was a joy to talk with! Are you tired of staying at hotels that nickel-and-dime you and don't care about your comfort? Ditch the hotels and stay at Nesselrod of the New, you won't regret it!

My husband and I were passing through during the holidays going from Tennessee to New Jersey and…read morefound place only 15 minutes off the highway. There was live music which was great. The beer was solid and we drink a lot of beer. We didn't want to get too full so we ordered 3 appetizers and all of them were AWESOME. Not kidding. My husband was very satisfied. We got the Tenderloin Crostinis, Spinach and artichoke dip with chips, and peel and eat shrimp that was cook in their own beer. So. Freaking. Good. As for beer, I got the No. 4 Porter (loved it) and my husband got the 1/2 Shot IPA (loved it). Service was great. Our waitress was very sweet. As it's winter, we didn't get a chance to enjoy the back patio but the inside was very cozy. We sat in a booth and it was nice and secluded. You can even see into the room where the magic happens! If you're in the area, I definitely recommend. My husband already wants to come back on our way back down to Tennessee.

We came in at 6:55 on a Saturday night when they are advertised to stay open until 8:30. We only…read morehad 4 adults and did not have a strict timeline on things being quick. They turned us away and told us they just had no help and were too backed up to accept any more customers. Meanwhile, the parking lot was more than half empty. No one waiting. No lines. Horrible impression. Horrible customer service. Won't be back.

Dreams do come true The Pavilion at Blackwater Junction made…read moremy daughter's dream come true. The venue is just perfect for a partially outdoor wedding. The ceremony view of the amazing Virginia countryside with pond, hills and the changing fall trees was an amazing backdrop. With two sides enclosed, a fireplace and heaters the late night venue was cozy but yet open air (which can be important when pandemics threaten events). Melba made the event so easy for planning. Erica, the bartender, kept all our guests happy. The site has plenty of ice for all bartending needs, a kitchen for food setup and three eclectic bathrooms. We would highly recommend The Pavilion at Blackwater Junction for any event needs!!

From the owner: Our wedding venue is built on the family farm at the end of a road in the country. It has complete…read moreprivacy, beautiful mountain background views, surrounded by woods and horse pastures. The building itself has modern features such as a big screen TV with wifi for your slideshows or videos, yet it is built with old doors, wood and antiques. If you want an amazing wedding, our venue is the place for you!

Our son started at Radford University this weekend and we were looking for a place to stay. All…read morelocal hotels were price gouging with rates triple the norm. I looked into a Bed and Breakfast and found the Rockwood Manor. The price was what you would expect with no price gouging whatsoever. It turned out to be a very happy turn of events. Rockwood Manor is about a 15 minute drive from Radford university and was perfect for our needs. The Manor is on the historic register. A bit rustic on in places, it was last renovated in 2005. It is a beautiful place and our Hosts Frank and Rochelle were warm, friendly and very welcoming. We stayed in the Blakemore room. It had lots of windows which provided a nice view of the property. Our room also had a jacuzzi which we used and it was amazing after a long day on the road. The bed was a bit more firm than what we are used to at home and we recommended a mattress topper but by no means is this a negative as it is a personal preference. The linens were nice and clean and smelled fresh. We walked around the property and they looked to be all set up for wedding events. Lots of space, lots of areas for photo ops. It would be an ideal place for a wedding with room for a reception. The inside while at one point was the family home was like walking through history. We loved it. My favorite thing about the place was that I felt at home. Frank and and Rochelle are wonderful hosts. The breakfast the next morning was great with options for everyone. They also set the food up buffet style which made me feel like I was at a big family breakfast :) The only suggestion I would have is for our hosts to look into some professional rug cleaning. There were a couple of stains in the rug under the table in our room would need professional stain removal to get out. This place is one of the best B&Bs my wife and I have ever visited. We loved it!!!

A good friend of mine, David Hill recommended Rockwood Manor when I asked him where I should stay…read morewhen my son graduated from Virginia Tech on December 15, 2023. The grounds and the home are wonderful. The house is full of the history of the home, American values and beautifully addressed for the Christmas season. The services, food and amenities cannot be beat in a surreal time setting in America's past. Christy was wonderful; she reached out to ensure we could gain access, answers questions and prepared our breakfast the next morning. She is the best and should be acknowledged for her spirit of excellent service. Rockwood Manor also has a Hokie room in the basement, I am sure it was in tribute to my son's graduation. Rockwood Manor is the best of the best!

Such an amazing experience! Our server was very welcoming…read moreand interactive and funny. It was a bit busy so we expected a slight delay on drinks/food, but our server kept checking on us every few minutes and kept our drinks full. The atmosphere/design is very unique and offers great talking points for the table. You can look around and always find something new you haven't seen before. For food, I got the French dip, my husband got the fried catfish, and mom got the smash burger. Food was EXCELLENT. The au jus from the French dip was not overly salty as I've had in the past, and it was the perfect amount for the sandwich. Not like other places that will either give you a big tub of au jus or ever a small saucer cup. After lunch, we walked around as they have a shopping area inside with soaps, handmade pottery/kitchenware, and local vendor products such as hatch chile cream cheese and pickled vegetables. Price was very favorable too and didn't seem to be overly priced where the business/vendor up charges significantly to make a huge profit. Definitely worth stopping by even if you only have time for Togo coffee, a snack, of just to shop around!

We were looking for a brunch place on our way home from Charlotte and found this amazing restaurant…read morein Draper, Virginia. Tucked away in the hills of Draper, the Mercantile and Trading Company restaurant is in a remodeled restaurant that used to be a post office. It is reminiscent of a Cracker Barrel but with more style, pizzazz and variety of products available, from stationery to kitchen gadgets to homemade chocolates. The server seated us and was very attentive to our needs. From the bottomless coffee to the follow-up order for one of those homemade biscuits, our server made us feel like we were her only customer! We loved this! Our family ordered the eggs, bacon and toast, as well as a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, the granola parfait with berries, and the kid-sized omelette with a side of sausage patties. The portions were large and no one was left wanting for more food. We had to try the biscuit, so we sampled parts of it but ended up getting most of it "to go." The flavor reminded me of the biscuits my mom used to make when I was a kid. Delicious! We highly recommend this restaurant and know you will find a little bit of something for everyone here. The restaurant has plenty of room for all diners, inside or on the large wraparound porch. The food is served in large portions and the service is second to none. We will definitely be coming back the next time we are in the area.

My son and I moved here a little over a year ago and we stopped in for coffee. Coffee was…read moreexcellent. Customer service was great and it's such a cool spot. It's also super close by! The cranberry orange scone was also delicious. We will definitely be back!

The university has a constructed garden kind of on the edge near where the academic buildings end…read moreand the sports start. It has a variety of interesting plant life and the pond was filled with some lively fish. It's not a major destination like the botanical gardens and arboretums I've seen at some other universities, which was a bit of a surprise, but it's a nice place to stop through.

Stunning. Absolutely stunning…read more This seven acre garden is located on the Virginia Tech campus and does that a little winding to access. Established in 1984 as the Virginia Tech Horticulture Garden, it was renamed in 2004 to honor Mrs. Hahn and her husband, T. Marshall Hahn, former president of Virginia Tech (1962-1974). All features have been built and planted by students, staff, faculty, and volunteers. Several benches throughout allow you to sit in the shade, perhaps near the small waterfall, to relax and shut out the outside world. It is extremely peaceful and beautiful. The only problem I found was that parking is a PITA. Fortunately, there were a lot of open spaces and it seems like whoever patrols was off today. I do not have a VT decal and was not bothered. [Review 13816 overall, 1137 of 2020, number 1250 in Virginia.]

Bluefield's most precious gem! Full of well made eccentric art with plenty of interactive…read moreexperiences for all ages. The people that run this are the kindest you will ever meet.

A Very eclectic museum called the Thin Dime Museum or The Ramsey school has been started in an old…read moreschool in Bluefield, WV. Fortunately I called ahead to set up a tour (205-5404754) because they are only open Saturday 11-4. What a gem in local history and artists. They had just opened a section on "Wheels" by George T Anderson, Jr on the history of wheels brought to life with hand carved and handmade examples throughout time. There was a native American section with more arrowheads than I have ever seen collected. A 2 seater outhouse and an African-American musician section. Loads of local history and so many other sections to see. We were there almost 2 hours and you could easily spend more time if you wanted. If you are looking for a unique experience this is the place to go!

Best chicken Sandwich and sweet potato fries ever!! We were there at lunch. We sat at bar and…read morebartender was excellent also!

After hearing about The Farmhouse Restaurant located in Christiansburg, Virginia, and seeing a…read morephoto of it, I was intrigued by its appearance and intererested in finding out more information about it. So I did my research and found out that it opened its doors in 1963 in a 19th-century autentic farmhouse which once belonged to the Ridinger family. It has had several owners and managers throughout its history. Roger Neel and Neal Keesee, owners of Billy's and Cornbeef and Co. in Roanoke, purchased the restaurant and reopened it in 2016. Kevin Murphy was the general manager in 1996. Devin Whittaker is currently listed as the General Manager. The restaurant has been a long-standing establishment in the New River Valley, known for its beef dishes. Currently its menu has been expanded to include a nice selection of seafood items as well. Additions to the original house include several banquet rooms, a bar, an outdoor dining area that can be used year round, and a caboose annex. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And The Farm House in Christiansburg, Virginia, is the perfect example. So one day I made a reservation through Open Table and set out enthusiastically in my new car to go explore what it was all about. After driving in the highway through a nasty rain and thunder storm, the rain finally stopped as I arrived there and was parking in their nice size parking lot. The decor inside was rustic yet very cozy, with many booths inside small spaces, and a couple of very elegant dining rooms nicely set-up and decorated with one of a kind framed Virginia Tech Football memorabilia. It also contained a beautiful award winning wine cellar and exclusive bourbon room. The restaurant was divided into two sides with alleyways where the individual enclosed booths were located and each alleyway had a street name so one could find their way back if they had to leave to use the restroom. The left side was decorated with antique farm items and old photographs and the right side with beautiful colorful paintings by Rochthilde. The caboose annex is located on that side. When I arrived a friendly young lady hostess greeted and welcomed me and after confirming my reservation took me to my booth which was located in Hokie Hwy. You can see the location in my photo of their map. Soon after, my server greeted me and took my order. I started off with a Mojito Mocktail to drink. Their Crispy Fried Calamari as appetizer. Followed by a Caesar Salad. And as the main entrée I had their famous Prime Rib medium rare with the Grilled Shrimp enhancement and the two sides being a Loaded Baked Potato and a Special Corn which was the side of the day. The meal also included these special rolls with butter, which clearly pointed out the exquisite nature of the cuisine of this magnificent restaurant. At this time, I took a brief escape to go visit the bar area and there I happened to have met the Restaurant Manager who gave me a warm welcome and thanked me for having traveled all this way for the pleasure of dining at his restaurant. I found my way back and all the food was amazingly delicious. I invite you to take a look at my photographs accompanying this review. The Prime Rib one of the best I've ever had. Comparable only to Billy's in Downtown Roanoke. My server came by at the appropriate times to check on me and did an excellent job. The Restaurant Manager also came by a couple of times to see if I was enjoying my dinner and if all was to my satisfaction. It was nice to learn that he lived down in Cave Spring, my neck of the woods, and where one of my best and favorite restaurants is located, The OTH Chophouse. For the Grand Finale of what had been an amazing cuisine and an extraordinary dining experience, I had a slice of their Peanut Butter Pie for dessert. It too was amazing. To conclude I highly recommend this restaurant for those special occasions when you want to enjoy a fine dining experience in a very unique and historic restaurant, in a comfortable ambiance, with an amazing culinary masterpieces, and excellent service.

I would give this place 0 stars at possible. I have always been a huge fan of jimmy johns. It's one…read moreof my favorite places but this place was so rude. I order what I always do, a hunters club on French Bread. But they put iit on wheat then refused to see their mistake! It was my fault as the customer that I didn't order it (but I did and had the receipt to prove it) They reused to make me another sub or refund my money. Customer will be notified. Unless this is resolved I will never order from them again. Update: The owner of this jimmy johns has called me and apolgized. I was also given my money back in the form of a gift card. I am still very disappointed with this but will give them a second chance.

FAST! FREAKY FAST! They truly are incredibly fast. They always get my order right, the price is…read morevery fair, and their bread alone is 55 cents. The only thing is I never get a straw when it's delivery but I can live with it!