Roanoke in Virginia's Blue Ridge is one of America's "20 Cool Cities You Should Check Out Before Everyone Else Does," according to a new article by Matador Network.

The story was produced by Matador Network in partnership with Greyhound, and the Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Public Relations Department assisted by providing information and images of the region.

Roanoke made the list along with other up-and-coming cities like Pittsburgh, Pa., Greenville, SC, Kansas City, Mo., and Richmond, Va.

Due to Greyhound's involvement in the project, the story included many things to do in the area that are convenient to the Greyhound station in Downtown Roanoke, such as staying at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, exploring the galleries at the Taubman Museum of Art, attractions at Center in the Square, and taking advantage of the Zagster Bike Share program to get around the city.

The following is an excerpt from the section on Roanoke:

"It would be hard (and a bit sad) to visit Roanoke and not take advantage of its location in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, with access to 600 miles of hiking trails (including some of the most scenic sections of the Appalachian Trail), 300 miles of mountain biking trails, and tons of rivers and lakes for paddling, SUPing, and rafting. But even if you’re keeping it urban, the city has tons to keep you busy."

Click here to see the full article and complete list on the Matador Network website.