LifeOutside

Two smiling hikers in sunglasses and backpacks pose in front of a spraying waterfall over mossy rocks.

Taste Spring!

The lushness of new-season vegetation, combined with snow-melt high flows in streams and some great views make these five hikes perfect for spring.
Aerial view of a snow-covered mountain ridge with frosted trees, a bright low sun, and a ski slope.

Baby, It’s Not THAT Cold Outside!

How to make sure you don't hibernate this winter.
Five young men pose on a green couch and armchair atop a rocky cliff overlooking blue mountain ridges.

Front Row Seat at McAfee Knob

Wait, a couch on McAfee?!
Four festival scenes: a BMX rider, an acrobat flipping, a dog leaping into a pool, and a chainsaw carver under a STIHL banner.

Go Fest Turns 5!

Here's your guide to the fifth edition of the region's premier outdoor festival.
Autumn lodge by a pond, cyclists on a wooden bridge, and a woman and boy beside an airplane.

Fall with the Family

Here are four great spots where mom and dad and the kids will have a great time.
Into the Night Trail Race

24 Gotta-Do’s for Fall

Hike or bike, ride of rumble - here's the checklist.
Group of cyclists in helmets posing with road bikes outside the pink-lettered CUPS storefront.

20 miles from CUPS

Looking for a new kind of bike ride for any skill level? Check out CUPS Rides.
A man in a gray t-shirt and cargo shorts photographs a valley from a rocky outcrop beneath an overhanging pine tree.

New Rec Area Near Wytheville

Crystal springs offers camping and more.
A smiling woman in sunglasses paddles a pink Ascend kayak on a lake with forested mountains behind.

The Rookie: Pass It On

Crystal Wilkes has caught the paddling bug.
Blue and green running shoes sit in front of brown hiking boots and tan sandals on a wooden deck.

It’s the Shoes!

What's your favorite piece of gear?

Departments

Brushed-steel faucet and gray tile backsplash in a renovation; banner reads "The Roanoker presents Ask the Experts.
Features

Ask the Experts: Homes

Local homes experts answer all your questions about decor, maintenance, real estate and more.

A young child with brown hair in a gray shirt and navy polka-dot skirt paints colorful swirls on a white wall, under the words "Living with Kid Art.
Features

Living with Kid Art

Get great tips on how to display your kids’ artwork at home.

Painted wood statue holding a teacup, a chandelier-lit dining room, and a wood-paneled sitting room.
Features

The House on the Hill

Stewardship of the signature structure on the city side of Mill Mountain is in the very conscientious hands of Drs.