News Release
May 2012
Virginia's Blue Ridge boast a bevy of outdoor adventures
Rich in mountain beauty and natural wonder, Virginia's Blue Ridge offers an abundance of open-air adventures for outdoor enthusiasts of all types. From miles of lush trails and unspoiled views to a host of scenic byways and expansive state parks, the Roanoke Valley is boundless in recreation and excitement.
Begin your outdoor exploration with a ride - by car or by bike - along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Touted as America's favorite drive, the scenic 469-mile route winds along ancient ridges and into lush valleys from its start in Waynesboro to its final turn in Cherokee, N.C. The Parkway is easily accessible to and from Downtown Roanoke with multiple entrances at Mill Mountain, Route 220, Route 460 and Route 24.
News Release
February 2012
Meet Me in Virginia's Blue Ridge
Virginia's Blue Ridge is the perfect destination for a meeting in the mountains. Framed by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, the Roanoke Valley provides premiere meeting facilities and accommodations while offering fantastic dining and recreation opportunities, creating a memorable experience for any meeting, convention, or special event.
Location, Location, Location
Thanks to easy access from Interstate 81, Route 220, Route 460, Route 11, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia's Blue Ridge is a convenient destination within a day's drive of two-thirds of the nation's population. And with daily arrivals and departures, Roanoke Regional Airport offers more than 50 scheduled flights daily, providing nonstop service from Roanoke to nine major cities.
News Release
January 2012
Explore Virginia's Blue Ridge with your Four-Legged Friends
Just as resounding as the grandeur and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Roanoke Valley offers an abundance of fresh-air adventures for all types of outdoor enthusiasts - even the most devout four-legged fanatics. With an array of greenways, parks, trails and special events, the Roanoke Valley is a premiere pet-friendly destination for all visitors.
Let the journey begin at the Roanoke Star & Overlook, located on Mill Mountain, one of 60 parks complete with a trail system and a host of outdoor recreation. Roanoke City also offers a Dog Park, where dogs of all sizes can romp and roam off leash within the special area, which is part of the larger Highland Park. Open since 2009, the site allows owners to bring up to two dogs at a time from 6pm - 11pm, and includes convenient Mutt Mitt stations for immediate clean up and disposal of pet waste, and plenty of open space for the most rambunctious dogs to run about.
News Release
December 2011
Find Treasures in the Roanoke Valley: A Shopper's Delight
The hidden treasures of the Roanoke Valley go far beyond the outdoor splendor of our Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you're on the hunt for fine antiques or fine wines, fashionable trends or inspiring artwork, let our bounty of boutiques and specialty shops lure you inside for an array of one-of-a-kind finds.
Begin your tour at the Historic Roanoke City Market where you'll find a shopper's paradise of locally grown produce, enticing homemade goods, hand-crafted jewelry and other artistic treasures. The market is a local favorite that boasts a storied tradition as the heart and soul of downtown Roanoke, and a coveted recognition as a "Great American Public Place" by the Lyndhurst Foundation. The market is open year-round.
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News Release
November 2011
The Capital of Cuisine in Virginia's Blue Ridge
Food is one of the most exciting aspects about a vacation destination. Visitors will remember an area because of a delicious meal at a romantic restaurant, a unique dish at a quirky hole in the wall or a special delight made by a local. Visitors can enjoy all of these things and more among a rich variety of eateries as robust as the region's wonderful flavors, making the Roanoke Valley the capital of cuisine in Virginia's Blue Ridge.
If you are seeking to sample some of the region's rich ingredients, a number of farm to table restaurants feature locally grown and raised products on their menus. Alexander's Restaurant in downtown Roanoke creates sophisticated, gourmet dishes with fresh ingredients from their 7Hills Farm, located in nearby Floyd County. In their cozy Grandin Village spot, Local Roots prepares unique and delectable delights, featuring many ingredients from their own city garden, as well as other local farms. In Salem, visitors can spread their culinary wings by enjoying local ingredients with a modern French twist at Blue Apron Restaurant & Red Rooster Bar. The gourmet restaurants in the Roanoke Valley make this an emerging destination for exceptional local cuisine.
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News Release
October 2011
Fall Foliage Interview
The following interview was conducted by Foliage.org and focuses on the fall season in the Roanoke Valley. All responses are from the RVCVB.
Foliage.org: What are the projected dates for Roanoke Valley, Virginia peak foliage season?
Peak foliage in the Roanoke Valley is usually in mid-October but may occur earlier at higher elevations in the mountains. The fall season is spectacular from the middle of October to the first of November, displaying radiant mountain landscapes of red, yellow, and orange.
Foliage.org: Are there areas, vistas, scenic lookouts or other destinations within Roanoke Valley, Virginia that are known for their uniquely beautiful fall foliage displays?
The Roanoke Valley is full of places to view our beautiful fall foliage. The Roanoke Star & Overlook on Mill Mountain provides the opportunity to look out over the Roanoke Valley and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains while standing under the largest, freestanding, man-made star in the world. Check out the current view atop Mill Mountain by visiting www.roanokeva.gov/starcam. Nearby McAfee Knob provides breathtaking views and is one of the most photographed parts of the Appalachian Trail. The Blue Ridge Parkway also features various overlooks and opportunities to view the vibrant color.
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News Release
September 2011
A Holiday Setting in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains
As the holiday spirit begins to fill the air, the Roanoke Valley transforms into an inviting scene for events, shopping, and dining. You'll find all three at one of the most classic holiday experiences in the Valley, Dickens of Christmas. This event is regularly rated among the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society and takes place in downtown Roanoke. It features carriage rides, a Christmas parade, tree lighting, street performances, caroling, costume contests and more set among the many vibrant shops that are all very walkable.
As part of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, even the trees transform to become part of the celebration. Enjoy the festive decorations and get ideas for decorating your own Christmas tree by visiting Fashions for Evergreens, a tree competition at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center which showcases 25 professionally designed and decorated trees. Along with ideas for decorating your tree, pick up some tips for decorating your home by experiencing the Old Southwest Holiday Parlor Tour. The parlor tour showcases many of the beautiful homes that are decorated for the holidays in one of the Roanoke Valley's most historic communities.
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News Release
August 2011
Virginia's Blue Ridge Region - Mountains of Possibilites
The Roanoke Valley - this scenic, vibrant urban area nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains has something for everyone. Roanoke is known for its beautiful location as part of the Shenandoah Valley, rich railroad heritage, adventurous outdoor activities, blossoming arts community, abundant home-grown-to-home-made markets, and much more. With so much to offer, this region has become a must-see spot, whether for an afternoon or as your vacation destination.
When you come to the Roanoke Valley, you will be able enjoy the vast outdoor opportunities that await you during any season. If you have access to a car, take an afternoon drive on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, one of America's favorite drives, and home to some of the nation's most beautiful scenery in the spring and fall. Have a mountain bike? Try a challenging single-track ride through the nationally known Carvin's Cove Natural Reserve, the second largest municipal park in the country. You can even enjoy the Roanoke Valley on foot by taking a leisurely walk on the ever popular greenways or hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail. And don't forget about the fishing, boating, and water activities just a short distance away at Smith Mountain Lake. If you're more of an urban-dweller, take to the downtown part of Roanoke by foot and check out the city's great local retail and market vendors.
News Release
July 2011
Roanoke Boasts a Unique Rail Past
Rail lines weave romantically throughout Roanoke, tying the town to ports and portals, far from the beckoning Blue Ridge. Once a place called "Big Lick," Roanoke took its present name - for an Indian word meaning "shell money" - not long after the railroad arrived in western Virginia in the 1850s.
Today, the city skyline glistens in the starlight, as well as Roanoke's man-made wonder - the Roanoke Star - while, at the city's heart, rail lines shine in the summer sun, providing a continuing link to the city's past. In nearly all ways, the railroad has spurred a sophisticated spin within this city - and continues to inspire wonder through the mystique of its museums, train-side thoroughfares, architectural gems and the fabulous Hotel Roanoke.
