roanoke virginia area
Oct 11th, 2006, 08:01 AM
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roanoke virginia area
My husband needs to go to Radford/Blacksburg area for training first week of December. I was thinking of joining him and wonder if there are some intersting towns in that area. We like to hike and eat good food. Thanks!
Oct 11th, 2006, 08:52 AM
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There ARE no interesting towns anywhere in the area.
There is, at least, plenty of parks and hiking - including the Appalachian trail. Not sure what your plan is while DH is in his classes. If you plan on hiking or fishing by yourself, it might be OK.
I'm not sure what you mean by "good food". If it's fine dining or inventive cuisines, then you'll be disappointed. Most places will be "home style" establishments.
There is, at least, plenty of parks and hiking - including the Appalachian trail. Not sure what your plan is while DH is in his classes. If you plan on hiking or fishing by yourself, it might be OK.
I'm not sure what you mean by "good food". If it's fine dining or inventive cuisines, then you'll be disappointed. Most places will be "home style" establishments.
Oct 11th, 2006, 10:42 AM
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I can't help with restaurants but since you like to hike don't miss the Cascades National Recreation Trail, located about 15 minutes from the Virginia Tech campus right off of Rt. 460 West. It's a 2-mile hike up to a 66 foot waterfall and it is just beautiful. There might also be hiking and other outdoor activities available at Mountain Lake Hotel, also located off of Rt. 460 and not far from the Cascades.
Oct 11th, 2006, 12:10 PM
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I beg to differ! There are many cool little towns in the area - I guess it depends on what you find interesting.
Roanoke has a wonderful small downtown area - it has a very long running Farmer's Market, lots of cool shops and great restaurants. Center in the Square has an art museum, science museum and a theater. The Hotel Roanoke is really lovely too - fun for lunch or a beer at the bar. Downtown Salem has great boutiques and is very pretty as well.
Drive through Catawba to get to Blacksburg - it is a peaceful and beautiful drive! Stop at the Homeplace for dinner - definitely home cooking, it is an area tradition and sitting on the front porch looking at the mountains with a belly full of good food can't be beat!
Along that area is the Appalachian Trail - we used to hike Dragon's Tooth and McAfee's Knob.
In Blacksburg the main attraction is the University. It is a gorgeous campus. Downtown IS tiny. but there is a nice little gallery store, several cool clothing shops, bookstores, etc. I used to love to eat at The Cellar - cheap, and they have the best spinach calzones! Watching a football game at Lane Stadium is my idea of heaven, but since you'll come in after our last game try watching a soccer game or basketball game.
If you venture outside of town towards Newport go up to Mountain Lake. The road up is a little hairy but worth it! Check first to see if the hotel is open (they do close when the weather turns bad I think). This is where much of the movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed - great old stone hotel, the lake of course, and trails all around the area. They have small cabins to stay in that are nice too!
Near Mountain Lake is Wind Rock - such a gorgeous view and a great place to watch a sunset.
There is great hiking throughout the area - Cascades Park is great - maybe a 2.5 or 3 mile hike up to a lovely waterfall.
Other options -
Check out the drive to Floyd, a funky little artists town complete with a commune. Nearby is Chateau Morrisette, a beautiful winery that is worth a visit.
Go antiquing! Montgomery Co and Pulaski Co have so many antique shops that are not yet overpriced.
Blacksburg has been named one of the top ten places in the country for hiking, mountain biking, rafting and other outdoor activities (by Outdoor magazine) - if you like that stuff you will have a blast!
Roanoke has a wonderful small downtown area - it has a very long running Farmer's Market, lots of cool shops and great restaurants. Center in the Square has an art museum, science museum and a theater. The Hotel Roanoke is really lovely too - fun for lunch or a beer at the bar. Downtown Salem has great boutiques and is very pretty as well.
Drive through Catawba to get to Blacksburg - it is a peaceful and beautiful drive! Stop at the Homeplace for dinner - definitely home cooking, it is an area tradition and sitting on the front porch looking at the mountains with a belly full of good food can't be beat!
Along that area is the Appalachian Trail - we used to hike Dragon's Tooth and McAfee's Knob.
In Blacksburg the main attraction is the University. It is a gorgeous campus. Downtown IS tiny. but there is a nice little gallery store, several cool clothing shops, bookstores, etc. I used to love to eat at The Cellar - cheap, and they have the best spinach calzones! Watching a football game at Lane Stadium is my idea of heaven, but since you'll come in after our last game try watching a soccer game or basketball game.
If you venture outside of town towards Newport go up to Mountain Lake. The road up is a little hairy but worth it! Check first to see if the hotel is open (they do close when the weather turns bad I think). This is where much of the movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed - great old stone hotel, the lake of course, and trails all around the area. They have small cabins to stay in that are nice too!
Near Mountain Lake is Wind Rock - such a gorgeous view and a great place to watch a sunset.
There is great hiking throughout the area - Cascades Park is great - maybe a 2.5 or 3 mile hike up to a lovely waterfall.
Other options -
Check out the drive to Floyd, a funky little artists town complete with a commune. Nearby is Chateau Morrisette, a beautiful winery that is worth a visit.
Go antiquing! Montgomery Co and Pulaski Co have so many antique shops that are not yet overpriced.
Blacksburg has been named one of the top ten places in the country for hiking, mountain biking, rafting and other outdoor activities (by Outdoor magazine) - if you like that stuff you will have a blast!
Oct 11th, 2006, 12:28 PM
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great info. Thanks! My DH will be there all week and I'll fly in to meet him on Friday and we'll stay in the area for the weekend and then drive home (to NJ) together. By good food I mean both fine dining and creative cuisine. Roanoke sounds nice.
Oct 18th, 2006, 04:48 AM
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I have only been to the area twice, to visit friends who build a beautiful B&B in the area at
http://www.innatriverbend.com/
They get lots of hikers, fishermen and kyackers (sp?)
Anyway, I believe they just opened a very nice restaurant in their town in an antique bank building. Email them and they will give you their info and menu.
http://www.innatriverbend.com/
They get lots of hikers, fishermen and kyackers (sp?)
Anyway, I believe they just opened a very nice restaurant in their town in an antique bank building. Email them and they will give you their info and menu.
