The Roanoke Valley in Virginia's Blue Ridge is well represented in the Best of Virginia 2016 awards by Virginia Living magazine.

The Best of Virginia issue hits newsstands on Friday, May 13 and winners throughout the state were selected after more than 30,000 ballots were cast.

Many local businesses and experiences in Virginia's Blue Ridge are featured in the Southwest Virginia section of the issue, and it's another example of the amazing variety and quality of what you can expect to find when you visit this region.

Many of the awards are for visitor-related experiences, including the Roanoke Star being named the Best "Do Not Miss" Tourist Attraction, Harvester Performance Center being named the Best Music Venue, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center as the Best Hotel, and many more.

You could plan an entire vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains around visiting Best of Virginia award-winners, which would include stops at Black Dog Salvage (Best Antiques), Chateau Morrisette (Best Winery), Historic Smithfield Plantation (Best Historic Site), and chocolatepaper (Best Chocolatier).

The following is a list of all the local businesses from Virginia's Blue Ridge that were selected as award-winners. You can also order your own copy of the Best of Virginia 2016 issue on the Virginia Living website.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

  • Best Annual Charity Event: Thanksgiving Drumstick Dash
  • Best Food Festival: Community School Strawberry Festival
  • Best Movie Theater: The Grandin Theatre
  • Best Music Venue: Harvester Performance Center
  • Best Bed & Breakfast: The Inn at Riverbend
  • Best "Do Not Miss" Tourist Attraction: Roanoke Star
  • Best Gym: YMCA of Roanoke Valley
  • Best Historic Site: Historic Smithfield Plantation
  • Best Hotel: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
  • Best Hunting Preserve: Primland
  • Best Resort: Primland

Food & Drink

  • Best Breakfast Restaurant: The Roanoker Restaurant
  • Best Caterer: Blue Ridge Catering
  • Best Chocolatier: chocolatepaper
  • Best Gourmet Grocery Store: The Fresh Market
  • Best Italian Restaurant: Luigi's
  • Best Local Ice Cream Shop: Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar
  • Best Mexican Restaurant: Alejandro's Mexican Grill
  • Best Steakhouse: Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse
  • Best Winery: Chateau Morrisette
  • Most Creative Cocktail Menu: Lucky

Shopping & Services

  • Best Accounting Firm: Brown Edwards
  • Best Air Charter Service: Signature Flight Support
  • Best Antiques: Black Dog Salvage
  • Best Architecture Firm: Mid Atlantic Architects Group
  • Best Book Store: Barnes & Noble
  • Best Cosmetic Surgery Practice: Alouf Aesthetics
  • Best Event Planning Company: Simplicity
  • Best Eye Care Provider: Vistar Eye Center
  • Best Home Builder: Dollman Construction, Inc.
  • Best Hospital: Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
  • Best Pediatric Practice: Physicians to Children
  • Best Shopping Area/Mall: Valley View Mall