Hit the trails, check out a festival, and other fun activities to enjoy this spring in Virginia's Blue Ridge.
We are thinking of our neighbors in SWVA and are grateful for the first responders and organizations that are providing assistance. Virginia's Blue Ridge region (Cities of Roanoke & Salem and Counties of Botetourt, Franklin, & Roanoke) was fortunate to sustain minimal damage from the storm and our local businesses are open and ready to welcome visitors. Learn More
There are many reasons to visit the Roanoke Region in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. As the largest metropolitan area in the Blue Ridge Mountain chain, the region boasts a great collection of experiences for a metro mountain adventure.
We've put together a list of 75 reasons to visit Virginia's Blue Ridge. It can be your bucket list for when you experience your own Blue Ridge Day!
Think you can check all of these off? Let's give it a try.
1. Scenic Beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains
2. Hot spot for activities and events
3. The Virginia's Blue Ridge Visitor Information Center - open daily from 9:00am - 5:00pm
4. Trains! The Roanoke Region features a rich rail heritage
5. Running & Biking on the Roanoke Valley Greenways
6. The Historic Roanoke City Market - recognized as a "Great American Public Place."
7. Multi-cultural cuisine from local restaurants
8. Local produce, plants and specialty items at farmers markets throughout the region
9. Cool off with a breathtaking waterfall hike, such as Roaring Run Falls in Botetourt County
10. The view from the Roanoke Star & Overlook
11. Ride the ZooChoo at the Mill Mountain Zoo
12. Have a classic cocktail at Lucky Restaurant
13. Historic steam locomotives at the Virginia Museum of Transportation
15. Wine Festival at Smith Mountain Lake
16. The Taubman Museum of Art in Downtown Roanoke - Art on the inside and out
17. Find your favorite machine and play a few rounds at the Roanoke Pinball Museum
18. Shopping - Antiques, Boutiques & More
19. See a Salem Red Sox baseball game
20. Take a motorcycle route through the Blue Ridge Mountains
21. Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail
22. See over 500,000 sunflowers in bloom at the Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival in Botetourt County - the largest sunflower festival on the East Coast
23. Tour Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest
24. Camping at one of our Virginia State Parks
25. Take in the views from the rooftop at Center in the Square
26. Hands-on activities at the Science Museum of Western Virginia
27. Take the Amtrak train for a scenic ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains
28. Play a round of golf on a scenic golf course
29. Have a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway
30. See railroad photography at the O. Winston Link Museum
31. Get the day started with a delicious biscuit at Scratch Biscuit Company
32. Hear award-winning performers at the Jefferson Center
33. Olde Salem Days in the City of Salem
34. Exploring all the fun museums at Center in the Square
35. Stay at a friendly, quaint Bed & Breakfast
36. Dickens of a Christmas Festival in Downtown Roanoke
37. Enjoy a Cheesy Western at the Texas Tavern and become part of Roanoke's Millionaires Club
38. Get to know the culture of craft beer, craft spirits, and craft ice cream.
39. Rich history at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture
40. Follow the bluegrass culture of The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail
41. Enjoy the hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway
42. Have a chocolate treat from Chocolatepaper
43. Get on the Roanoke River or take a walk in the woods and be surrounded by nature at Explore Park.
44. Visit our beautiful college campuses, such as Virginia Tech, Roanoke College, Hollins University & Ferrum College
45. Honor our allied forces of World War II at the National D-Day Memorial
46. See a live performance at the Showtimers Community Theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre, or Attic Productions - our great local community theatres
47. Attend a concert at the Berglund Center
48. Taste locally-grown ingredients at a farm-to-table restaurant
49. Having a tour and tasting at a local winery
50. See the unique antiques at Black Dog Salvage, which is featured in Salvage Dawgs on the DIY Network
51. Explore underground at Dixie Caverns
52. Visit the art galleries of Downtown Roanoke during Art by Night, held the first Friday of every month
53. Learn about African American history at the Booker T. Washington National Monument
54. Fall foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains
55. Spend a day splashing around at Splash Valley Water Park
56. Go fishing for local trout on the Roanoke River
57. Stand in awe of the iconic Natural Bridge of Virginia
58. Grab a pair of binoculars for bird watching on the Blue Ridge Parkway
59. Sample beer from the local breweries of the region
60. Listen to great live music as part of our unique nightlife scene.
61. Discover the charm and history of Roanoke's Old Southwest Neighborhood
62. Take a walk across the Historic Swinging Bridge over the James River in Buchanan
63. See Virginia's Blue Ridge from the Roanoke Mountain Overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway
64. Stop by the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Milepost 115 in Explore Park
65. Taste the banana pudding at The River and Rail, which was named one of the best desserts in America by Food Network Magazine
66. Sample your way through the wineries along the Blue Ridge Parkway
67. Take a kayaking trip with Twin River Outfitters on the Upper James River Water Trail
68. Hit the trail for mountain biking at Carvins Cove
69. Make new friends on a guided tour - Food Tours & Beer Tours
70. Hear the sounds of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
71. Attend a concert at the Harvester Performance Center
72. Get your picture taken on the ledge at McAfee Knob.
73. Pitch a tent and spend the night camping under the starlit sky
74. Take a scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains
75. Conquer the mountaintop at the River Rock Climbing Wall
Header photo via Star City SkyCams in Botetourt CountyHit the trails, check out a festival, and other fun activities to enjoy this spring in Virginia's Blue Ridge.
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Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE Roanoke, VA 24016 (540) 342-6025 (800) 635-5535
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is committed to cultivating an atmosphere that welcomes and celebrates the unique backgrounds, abilities, passions, and perspectives of our vibrant community. As our region’s only destination marketing organization, we have a responsibility to showcase the best the Roanoke Region has to offer, and those assets and strengths come in varied forms. We embrace differences in race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, language, visible and invisible disabilities, and all the intersecting identities that make Virginians and visitors alike so unique. We believe our differences make us stronger– and better.