Page 18 - Experiential Magazine - Vol 6
P. 18

DDEESTSINTAINTIOANTSPIOOTNLIGHSTPOTLIGHT

Roanoke, VA: Blue Ridge Metropolis

Roanoke, VA:

Blue Ridge Metropolis

Nestled against the eastern foothills of          Outdoor lovers: Rent a kayak and paddle        Harrison Museum of African American Cul-
       the Blue Ridge Mountains about two         the quiet pools and beginner-level rapids on   ture, the History Museum of Western Virgin-
hours from Charlottesville and three hours        the Roanoke and Upper James Rivers. Hike       ia, the Mill Mountain Theatre and the Sci-
from Richmond, Roanoke has been called the        or bike a segment of the 30-mile Roanoke       ence Museum of Western Virginia – offers a
commercial and cultural hub of southwest          Valley Greenways, or opt for a fat-tire moun-  multitude of special event spaces for groups
Virginia, thanks largely to its history as a      tain-biking experience at Roanoke Mountain     of up to 500.
thriving railroad junction and builder of 19th    Adventures. Walk the (3.4 mile roundtrip)
Century steam locomotives, and later as a         trail up Mill Mountain and check out the       As for cuisine, there’s everything from the
textile manufacturing center.                     100-foot-tall neon-lit star that watches over  decidedly downscale but delicious $1.30
                                                  its namesake city. There are extensive hik-    hamburgers at the Texas Tavern (go all in
Today its main claim to fame is as a health-      ing options along the Blue Ridge Parkway.      and order the “Cheesy Western” with cheese,
care and technology magnet, as well as being      History lovers: Experience Roanoke’s rich      relish, pickles, onion and a fried egg on your
the gateway to myriad recreational opportu-       railroad heritage at the Virginia Museum       burger) to the venerable Regency Room at
nities centered around the nearby mountains       of Transportation, with its extensive collec-  the Hotel Roanoke, where peanut soup and
and the Roanoke River, not to mention the         tion of locomotives and train cars, vehicles   spoonbread are the specialties of the house.
Roosevelt-era Blue Ridge Parkway that fol-        and aircraft. Families: Don’t forget the Mill  And don’t forget the Home Place Restaurant
lows the ridgetop of the Blue Ridge moun-         Mountain Zoo, home to 90 species of animals    in nearby Catawba for some of the best south-
tains for nearly 470 miles connecting the         from all over the globe, and available after   ern fried chicken on the planet.
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with         hours for weddings, receptions, reunions and
the Great Smokies National Park in North          special events.                                If you’re in search of history, heritage, real
Carolina. Think hiking, paddling and ped-                                                        southern hospitality and home-style cuisine,
aling (the Roanoke Valley was named one of        Event planners will also appreciate the over-  Roanoke and the nearby towns of Fincastle
the ten most bike-friendly areas in the U.S. by   the-top Tudor elegance of the Hotel Roanoke    and Salem are worth adding to your Short
USA Today Travel), and scenic drives, as well     and its 63,000 square feet of meeting space,   Escapes itinerary. More information can be
as less physical activities like antiquing, vis-  which caters to virtually any configuration    found at www.visitroanokeva.com
iting museums and sampling the area’s rich        and crowd size, from 20 to 1,200. And the
culinary possibilities.                           nearby Center in the Square – home to the

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