Whether it’s right in town and neglected for years or up the road 50 miles to a place put off too long, the Roanoke area is not just a great place to raise a family; it’s a great place to take that family out exploring and experiencing the region.
Note: The story below is an excerpt from our Jan./Feb. 2015 issue. For the full story download our FREE iOS app or view our digital edition for FREE today!
What better day with the family than a day outside. Especially in the Roanoke metro area, where outdoor treasures not only abound, but are all easy to get to. Here, in no particular order, are 10 ideas for your family, ranging in duration from an afternoon to a weekend.
For families who love getting out on the water: Franklin County rivers – Day Excursion
Over the last 15 years Franklin County has taken the greenway concept in a different direction by creating “blueways” with developed put-ins and take-outs along the Pigg and Blackwater rivers.
If you want to explore in a social, guided way, consider Franklin County’s Ramble Weekend each spring (May 15-17, 2015). The Pigg River Ramble serves as the anchor event, drawing both racers for an 8-mile run and more casual “floaters” for a 4-mile version. Saturday’s Ramble is bracketed by a raucous night run on Friday night and a casual, catered float on Sunday, both on the Blackwater River.
You don’t need to wait until Ramble Weekend to try those routes, or another route along the Smith River or Roanoke River. There’s even a 34-mile run from the Blackwater River all the way out to Smith Mountain Lake. (See routes, directions and maps at franklincountyva.gov/blueways.) If you don’t have a boat, try renting one from Back Country Ski and Sport in Salem (bcski.com, 540-389-8602) or Parrot Cove Boat Rentals in Westlake (parrotcove.com; 540-721-5363).
If you run the Pigg River – which the state stocks with trout in Waid Park – make sure to stop by Bowlings Place (540-483-3403) to get a couple of hot dogs, a bowl of beans and a slice of wheel cheese.
For outdoor and small town-loving families: Douthat State Park and Clifton Forge – weekend
Virginia’s flagship state park is located just across the border from Botetourt County in the Alleghany Highlands. It’s worthy of a weekend to mountain-bike its trails and fish the trout in the lake and surrounding creek. In the summer months, rent boats, swim and camp as well. Make sure to grab an ice-cream cone from the Buckhorne Country Store (buckhorne.com; 540-862-4502), located just outside the park’s boundaries.
If you haven’t been to Clifton Forge in several years, prepare to be amazed. The small railroad town, which you pass by (or through) on the way from Roanoke to Douthat, has seen a dramatic revitalization, under former Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham no less.
Go there to visit the C&O Railway Heritage Center (candoheritage.org; 540-862-8653), the award-winning Masonic Amphitheatre (historicmasonictheatre.com) and the Alleghany High-lands Arts & Crafts Center (highlandsartsandcraft.org; 540-862-4447). Grab a bite to eat at Vic’s Family Restaurant (vicscliftonforge.com; 540-862-1620) or stay over at one of the town’s numerous inns or bed and breakfasts.
For families who love art, science and big machines: The museums of downtown Roanoke – day
Some families spend nearly every weekend in downtown Roanoke, but if you’ve been putting off a visit – whether for crowds, parking worries or just falling out of the habit – set aside a day to see what all the fuss is about.
Start with the museums. You can balance the cost of a Center Pass (a joint ticket for Center in the Square’s numerous museums (centerinthesquare.org; 540-342-5700): the Harrison Museum of African American Culture, the History Museum of Western Virginia and the Science Museum of Western Virginia) with the free cost of admission for the Taubman Museum of Art (taubmanmuseum.org; 540-342-5760). And don’t forget the Virginia Museum of Transportation (vmt.org; 540/342-5670),and the O. Winston Link Museum hidden gems that kids love.
As to where to eat? It’s hard to go wrong with any of the great restaurants abounding both in the Market district and the blocks surrounding it.
For families who love hiking, fishing and a bit of solitude: Arcadia – weekend
Head north on I-81, take exit 168, drive back a few miles into Arcadia and you’ll find an outdoor paradise.
Take a fishing pole (and your fishing licenses) for Jennings Creek and North Creek, both of which are stocked with trout in season. Resist the temptation to stop at the first big swimming hole you see and probe a little deeper, and you’ll be rewarded with a slew of good spots.
Plan an overnight stay at the National Forest Campground (540-291-2188)on North Creek Road, either in a tent or RV (there are no hookups for the latter), or up the road at the The Natural Bridge Park Historic Hotel (naturalbridgeva.com; 800-533-1410), and you can really explore. Hike the Apple Orchard Falls-Cornelius Creek loop, and plan to watch the sunset from the aptly named Sunset Fields pull-off up the mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
For a restaurant-cooked meal, explore the small town of Buchanan just to the south, or head a little bit farther north and grab a burger from the Pink Cadillac Diner (pinkcadillacdineronline.com, 540-291-2378) in Natural Bridge.
For bargain-loving families: Starlite Drive-In Theater and Golden Hills Disc Golf Course – day
Every few years, fear strikes that Christiansburg’s Starlite Drive-In Theater (starlitedrivein.info; 540-382-2202) might close down for good. It hasn’t happened yet, and that’s all the more reason to visit now. The drive-in shows movies every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the summer, and although the films appear only late in their runs, you can’t miss with the bargain prices – last year it charged $6 for adults, and that’s for a double-bill. Grab a meal at the snack bar during the show, but be aware the Starlite accepts only cash, and there’s no ATM on-site.
Ahead of a night of movies, get out and throw some discs around Golden Hills Disc Golf Course (montgomerycountyva.gov/content/1146/98/165/1837/2819.aspx), one of the few 37-hole courses in the country. The wood-bound course is challenging for beginners, but the atmosphere is laid back and supportive – a perfect place to enjoy time with family members while trying out a new sport.
For families who want a nationally renowned vacation without going too far: National D-Day Memorial, Peaks of Otter, Smith Mountain Lake – weekend
Enjoy a getaway vacation within an hour of Roanoke by planning a weekend in Bedford County. If that sounds odd, consider that people from around the world make the pilgrimage to the county for the National D-Day Memorial (dday.org; 540-587-3619), Smith Mountain Lake (visitsmithmountainlake.com) and the Peaks of Otter (peaksofotter.com; 540-586-1081).
Book a stay at the Peaks of Otter lodge or a cabin or campsite at Smith Mountain Lake State Park (dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/smith-mountain-lake.shtml; 540-721-1639) and use that as base camp for a weekend of hiking, boating and paying tribute to World War II veterans for their sacrifice.
At the lake, try The Landing (thelandingsml.com; 540-721-3028) for a gourmet meal, or if you’re in Bedford, try a cheesecake at Olde Liberty Station (oldelibertystation.com; 540-587-9377), a restored railroad station house.
For families who like to dance and buy local: Floyd harvest – day
Floyd can be pretty packed in the summer and during leaf-looking season in fall, for good reason. It’s one of the best times to visit, as the Blue Ridge Plateau explodes in shades of crimson, orange and yellow. The Floyd Farmers Market (sustainfloyd.org/farmers-market/) winds down, but you can still catch pumpkin-carving contests and apple cider pressings. You really don’t need an excuse to visit the Floyd Country Store’s Friday night jamboree (floydcountrystore.com; 540-745-4563) – a decades-long institution that still draws flat-footers from around the world – but you can always schedule around a trip to buy a pumpkin, turkey or Christmas tree from one of the county’s many farms.
You can find plenty of locally sourced menu items at the country store, but for a change try Mickey G’s (mickeygsbistro.com; 540-745-2208), an Italian restaurant that carries the usual assortment of pizza and sandwiches, but also a varying selection of gourmet specialties as well.
For families who crave a mix of activity and local history: Salem history – day
Satisfy your craving for history, exercise and beer all in one afternoon with a visit to Salem. First, visit the Salem Museum and Historical Society (salemmuseum.org; 540-389-6760) in the Williams-Brown House that sits next to Longwood Park (itself a great place for the kids to play). Then go take a walk along Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail (traillink.com/trail/hanging-rock-battlefield-trail.aspx), which offers a mix of local and national history.
Wrap up your day with a visit to Parkway Brewing Company (parkwaybrewing.com; 540-314-8234). Grab a locally brewed beer and perhaps a meal from Bruno’s GastroTruck (brunosgastrotruck.com), which makes regular visits to the brewery’s parking lot.
For the family that wants to get out in the woods without leaving Roanoke city limits: Trails of Mill Mountain – afternoon
Everyone’s driven to Mill Mountain’s summit to see the star. But have you hiked to the top? True to Roanoke, there are plenty of ways to get to A from B, but for variety’s sake try something of a mix of trails (maps: mountainjunkies.net/Roanoke_Area_Trails_files/MillMtn_Map_New.pdf). You could start from the parking lot by Garden City Boulevard, head up the Star Trail, take a right on Monument Trail, then head up the old road, take a right in the switchback at Big Sunny, take a left at the Riser Trail and then return down the Star Trail.
That route should help you build an appetite for a meal at Abbott’s Restaurant (540-427-9808), located just around the corner in Garden City.
For the family who understands that ‘rubbing is racing’: Motor Mile Speedway – evening
Simply put, it’s a crime to live in southwestern Virginia and not attend a racing event at some point. Roanoke is within striking range of the Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway, each of which hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup races annually. You can see the other side of the racing spectrum at Franklin County Speedway in Calloway. Or you can split the difference at Motor Mile Speedway (motormilespeedway.com; 540-639-1700) in Radford, a NASCAR-approved, 0.416 -mile asphalt racing oval that offers the best of both worlds. General admission tickets are $10 (and kids under 12 get in free).
Grab a bite to eat, and a locally brewed beer, at the River Company (therivercompanyrestaurant.com; 540-633-3940) before the race. I