Hi ProudMom! Well, you may have just met his new "VIRGINIA MOM"!
Our daughter is a sophomore at William and Mary and she was 17 for 3 months of her freshman year as well so I know how you feel! We live in the Richmond area so let's connect our boys so your son has a place to come during short holiday weekends etc. if he won't be going home. We are used to having a housefull of kids and I will miss it!
We are three 1/2 hours from VT door to door (don't think I have not timed this! LOL). My best gal pal went to University of VA and her husband went to VT so we have attended a ton of VT events w/ them (nice rivalry there!). My husband and I have numerous friends who have graduated from VT! n We love it and my breath has always been taken away when the Corp marches in at the games. It's spectacular.
Someone posted a while back on another thred to be sure and make reservations for parents weekend now (It's in November)....there are not that many hotels in the area and they fill up FAST. We like to stay at the Inn at Virginia Tech. It's on campus and VERY convenient but a bit pricey. There is also the Hotel Roanoke (which is VERY nice and owned by VT....it's about 20 minutes from campus so not as convenient). Then you have your basic chains that are a bit more reasonable.
We are new to ROTC and the Corp but are very familiar with Blacksburg and teh VT area. I am happy to answer any questions in that arena as well. Let me know if we can help you out in any way! And congrats on VT ENG! Not an easy major to be accepted into at Tech!