Do you have any Roanoke, VA area travel tips?

[Ann1965]

As I said in an earlier post, my sister and b-i-l will be relocating to VA soon. I'm going up in a couple of weeks to help them take a look around and was wondering if y'all had any must see, must do, or must eat places we should know about. I've been to Roanoke about 10 years ago for a wedding but I was sick as a dog and the only thing I remember about the trip was having to stop at each rest area. Hopefully, this will be a much more enjoyable trip! TIA.Ann

[SusanMac]

I used to travel to Roanoke for work occasionally, but it's been ages & I don't remember many details. We also didnt' get out & do that much. I always stayed right downtown, and thought it was charming. They have a great little farmer's market, although I'm sure it's closed for the winter. There is a really fabulous Brazilian restaurant, but I don't remember the name. It's not one of the national chains. It's a real, family-owned Brazilian restaurant. Yummy.

Much of the town is chain-restaurant oriented. But I'm sure there are some gems that locals would know about.

[SusanPC]

I went to school about 45 minutes North of Roanoke and it was considered the "Big City." Hahah. We really only went to the movies there once in a blue moon and to catch a flight out of the airport.

If you travel North on 81 (maybe 20 minutes?) there is are some caverns to tour at "Natural Bridge Caverns." There is a nice inn there, perhaps you could do lunch, etc and make a day of it. http://www.naturalbridgeva.com/more.html

I think downtown Roanoke has an artsy quaint downtown area (if I remember correctly). It may be worth exploring.

Sorry I don't have more ideas. Enjoy your trip.

[tmsl]

I grew up in Roanoke, please pm me for anything specific.

Laura

[jmarie]

http://www.10best.com/Roanoke/Sights_&_Activities/

http://www.millmountain.org/

There are quite a few festivities at Market Square. They have a farmers market there and lots of shops. A web site I looked at said Market Square is among the most popular areas of the city.

There is a zoo at Mill Mountain, as well. Maybe Mrs. Reber can chime in and give you some help, as she lives there now, or close to there.

Smith mountain Lake is nearby as is Claytor Lake State Park, cool for this time of year, but definately worth checking out when the weather turns warm. Both are very nice recreational areas. There is snow skiing about 2 hours up the road at Massanuttan near Harrisonburg.

Have fun!
Joyce

[stefania4]

Do try to get dinner at The Homeplace, in Catawba - it's about 15 minutes north of Roanoke, on the side of the mountain. It's family-style dining - they bring out big bowls of amazing mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade everything, with cobbler for dessert.

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kdesrosi/thehomeplace/

[zackaboo]

Do try to get dinner at The Homeplace, in Catawba - it's about 15 minutes north of Roanoke, on the side of the mountain. It's family-style dining - they bring out big bowls of amazing mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade everything, with cobbler for dessert.

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kdesrosi/thehomeplace/

I love, love, love The Homeplace and have been craving a dinner there for a while now! They have the best fried chicken that I have ever had.

Anyhow, I lived in Roanoke for about 12 years and would like to get back there one day. Market Square is neat and the Farmer's Market there is open year-round...it is small, but there are some really cute shops there. Mill Mountain Theater is downtown as well. I would highly recommend checking out their schedule to see if anything is playing while you are in town. It is a really small theater but they have great perfomances. Also, if you are coffee drinkers, be sure to check out Mill Mountain Coffee. In the downtown area, I have to recommend Corned Beef and Company as one of my favorite restaurants. However, my very favorite restaurant in the area is Carlos Brazilian restaurant - which may be what SusanMac was referring to. We were just there recently for a wedding rehearsal dinner and the food was still fabulous.

Someone mentioned the Mill Mountain Zoo...even if you don't check out the zoo, you have to make the trip up the mountain to the star. There is an overlook there with a great view of the city - especially at night. If you can't figure out how to get there, anyone in the area should be able to direct you there.

The Grandin Road area is also a neat part of the city to check out. It is largely residential with several restaurants and shops. The Grandin Theater is there, which is a neat old theater which now shows movies...a fun place to go.

One more suggestion would be to take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway if you have never done so before. Roanoke is right off of the Parkway, so it is easy to access. The Peaks of Otter is a fun destination if you have any interest in hiking - although it is about an hour away.

Let me know if you have any other questions. :)

[mbrogier]

I second the Natural Bridge and Wax Museum. (don't leave without a thumb tack made from a wax thumb! :p )

Lexington isn't too far past the Natural Bridge, and it is a beautiful little town. My aunt and uncle live there. He's a colonel at VMI, and she's an interior designer that has worked on several houses in the area. There are some good restaurants in Lexington. I think one is call The Clay House? I think it's the Best Western right be Washington and Lee that is just gorgeous. It is in a historical building, but it has been completely modernized. The rooms are just sumptuous.

If you like to browse cool artisan shops and go antiquing, be sure to visit Lexington.