Things to see in the Roanoke area ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

So, what are some of the places that are recommended to see in the area ? Historical sites ? Neat old towns ? Must ride roads ? Civil War attractions ?

[RP#62]

Hadn't been there is a while, but I know Appomattox and Natural Bridge aren't too far away.  Plus a lot of nice riding in the hills.

-RP

[Jess from VA]

Well first, the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) is only 20 miles away from Roanoke, and a nice ride north or south (admittedly not as nice as much farther south).  If you have never seen or ridden the Skyline Drive, which is just the top two exits of the BRP (not technically, but in fact) that is a beautiful place to ride and visit.  But it's a long way up the BRP to get there, and of course since Skyline Dr is a National Park, you have to pay to get on it (though a free lifetime pass for 62 and older, I think).  All the way up and back would probably be more than most would want to do in one day.   If you went easy up the BRP to Skyline, then came home by freeway, the time from I-66 south to Roanoke down I-81 is about a 3 hour freeway combat drive back to the hotel.


Riding over into WVa will also be nice.  North is both the Geo Washington and Jefferson National Forest, and further up the Monongahela National Forest.  White Sulpher Springs WV has the famous Greenbrier Hotel where congress spent big money to hide themselves in case of attack (part of that bunker is available for tours, I think) (about an hour and a half away)


In the direction of White Sulpher Springs (maybe on the way) is the Humpback Bridge in Covington, the oldest of Virginia's surviving covered bridges, and a rare example of an arched bridge. It was built in 1857 and spans 100 feet.  No driving traffic. (one hour & 15-30 minutes from Roanoke)



Distance from Roanoke to Natural Bridge is only 40 miles.


Right in Town, VA Museum of Transportation (trains). http://www.vmt.org/




One of Virginia's most popular lakes, Smith Mountain Lake has nearly 500 miles of shoreline.


Mill Mountain Zoo. http://www.mmzoo.org/ (another train)


Roanoke from Mill Mountain. (the Blue Ridge Mts out there)


An 8,000-gallon Living-Coral Reef Aquarium, indoor multi-story Butterfly Garden, and unique museums including the Science Museum of Western Virginia, all at Center in the Square in the heart of downtown Roanoke.

A local brewery (craft beer) with tours.

Climb and Boulder at McAfee Knob (if hiking your ass off feels fun)


About an hour and a half to Appomattox Courthouse Park. (not that much to see)


Two to two and half hours to Jefferson's Monticello




55 miles north to the Virginia Military Academy, the oldest state funded military academy in the US.  The Barracks.


About an hour north to Washington and Lee University.  Lee Chapel (he's actually buried under the chapel, not in the sarcophagus).

[John Schmidt]

I plan to spend some time with my sister-in-law. She's 96 and still lives alone, the epitome of the genteel southern lady....and full of mischief. 

[Serk]

I hear rumors there might be a Valkyrie related gathering near there this summer... 

[Farside]

  Thanks for all the info Jess! 

[..]

Monticello is definitely worth a visit.

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for all the info Jess! 

Welcome.  I am going to come back and update my post above, if I find more things to post.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks for all the info Jess! 

Welcome.  I am going to come back and update my post above, if I find more things to post.

Thanks. It's appreciated. 

[Thunderbolt]

Jess did a good job on the Chamber of Commerce tour.  If you have ever seen the show Salvage Dawgs where the tear down old buildings and re purpose the pieces and parts, their retail store is there in Roanoke.  It is worth an hour or two just to see what they salvage.  We were camping in Floyd Va. a couple of years ago and made a couple of trips to their store.  On Saturday night in Floyd they play bluegrass music downtown, in a couple of businesses and in the park.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Jess did a good job on the Chamber of Commerce tour.  If you have ever seen the show Salvage Dawgs where the tear down old buildings and re purpose the pieces and parts, their retail store is there in Roanoke.  It is worth an hour or two just to see what they salvage.  We were camping in Floyd Va. a couple of years ago and made a couple of trips to their store.  On Saturday night in Floyd they play bluegrass music downtown, in a couple of businesses and in the park.

[Farside]

Jess did a good job on the Chamber of Commerce tour.  If you have ever seen the show Salvage Dawgs where the tear down old buildings and re purpose the pieces and parts, their retail store is there in Roanoke.  It is worth an hour or two just to see what they salvage.  We were camping in Floyd Va. a couple of years ago and made a couple of trips to their store.  On Saturday night in Floyd they play bluegrass music downtown, in a couple of businesses and in the park.


  Yes, he really did. VA is a beautiful state. Williamsburg, Charlottesville I really enjoyed and I can listen to some Bluegrass music too! I enjoy Salvage Dawags so would love going thru their retail store. Thanks Thunderbolt for your additional info. Maybe I'll see you up that way or along the ride up. We were planning on leaving Milton Friday before the event. 

[vanavyman]

Our 5 favorite roads in VA:

1. Back of the Dragon RT16 - Tazewell to Marion
2. RT33 to WV. Awesome on both sides of the border to Senec Rocks, WV
3. RT58 "The Crooked Road" from I81 east for 30 miles.
4. Skyline Drive
5. Blue Ridge Parkway

Dan & Trish

[The emperor has no clothes]

Our 5 favorite roads in VA:

1. Back of the Dragon RT16 - Tazewell to Marion
2. RT33 to WV. Awesome on both sides of the border to Senec Rocks, WV
3. RT58 "The Crooked Road" from I81 east for 30 miles.
4. Skyline Drive
5. Blue Ridge Parkway

Dan & Trish

thanks

[Bighead]

Our 5 favorite roads in VA:

1. Back of the Dragon RT16 - Tazewell to Marion
2. RT33 to WV. Awesome on both sides of the border to Senec Rocks, WV
3. RT58 "The Crooked Road" from I81 east for 30 miles.
4. Skyline Drive
5. Blue Ridge Parkway

Dan & Trish

Good roads for sure.

[Pappy!]

Bronxboy and I made it to Seneca Rocks from Inzane 16. Well worth a visit to see the history made there.

[3fan4life]

I'm working on some self guided rides for the area.

All of them loop rides from GZ.

I'll post links here and plan to have hard copies that people can pick up and use at Inzane.

Appomattox Courthouse is a 165 mi loop that takes the scenic route (straight there and back is about a 150 mile round trip).

For Civil War history Lexington, VA is full of it. Both Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are buried there.

Plus there is some great riding around there.

Here's one example of a ride from Roanoke to Lexington and back to Roanoke via Goshen and Covington:

https://goo.gl/maps/gSBgaSmwicH2    

Changed the link to include Humpback Bridge

If anyone has an interest in Civil War history and can only work in one self guided ride, I highly recommend this one.

In addition to Lexington and its history it includes some of the best and most scenic roads in the area.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm working on some self guided rides for the area.

All of them loop rides from GZ.

I'll post links here and plan to have hard copies that people can pick up and use at Inzane.

Appomattox Courthouse is a 165 mi loop that takes the scenic route (straight there and back is about a 150 mile round trip).

For Civil War history Lexington, VA is full of it. Both Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are buried there.

Plus there is some great riding around there.

Here's one example of a ride from Roanoke to Lexington and back to Roanoke via Goshen and Covington:

https://goo.gl/maps/b3RRcF9kBBo   

Thank you 

[NewValker]

Thanks for all the legwork Mark!
Looking forward to riding with you again.
Craig

[3fan4life]

As for things to see in or near Roanoke:

Mill Mountain Star



https://www.playroanoke.com/the-roanoke-star/

The view is best at night.


The Pinball Museum in Downtown Roanoke is fun:



https://www.roanokepinball.org/


The Transportation Museum in Downtown Roanoke is also worth a visit:




http://www.vmt.org/

Natural Bridge is now a state park:



http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/natural-bridge#general_information


I like Natural Chimneys Park:



https://www.co.augusta.va.us/government/parks-recreation/parks-facilities/natural-chimneys

It's a ways out of Roanoke but the ride there and back is nice.

There are plenty of other places as well.

[3fan4life]

I almost forgot about this place:

Mountain Lake, VA

Mountain Lake was the primary filming location for the movie Dirty Dancing.



The lake was beautiful:


However it has disappeared:



Mountain Lake was the only non man made lake in the state of Virginia.

Geologist are trying to figure out why the lake went away and find a way to bring it back:

https://youtu.be/C9Ui8TCJKoY

Meanwhile the lodge is adding things to keep people coming.

Like a Zip line:

https://youtu.be/fKM_aIrZ6HA


Here is a scenic route to get there and back:

https://goo.gl/maps/3YFqi1RzkD22

[henry 008]

thanks for the day route info! I hope there are some print outs or maps available at ground zero like they did at inzane in Bellaire Mi.

[3fan4life]

thanks for the day route info! I hope there are some print outs or maps available at ground zero like they did at inzane in Bellaire Mi.

I'm working on several day rides.

My plan is to post them here with links and to have some paper copies available at Ground Zero.

[Farside]

thanks for the day route info! I hope there are some print outs or maps available at ground zero like they did at inzane in Bellaire Mi.

I'm working on several day rides.

My plan is to post them here with links and to have some paper copies available at Ground Zero.

Very nice 3fan4life. I will be taking you up on some of those visits to local attractions. Most of all I'll be picking up one of the hard copies you'll have available for rides. Thanks for your efforts. 

[Oss]

we are psyched for your rides 3fan !

Odds are we will be stopping around Winchester on the way down and then taking BRP but you never know till you know  

On the Marlinton trip with the former voai I got to ride 39, 50 and 250 and a bunch of other nice roads  that I dont think had numbers. Detours thru hollows and small towns it was a great week

Hope to finally ride thru 16. Last time a rider went down and just about the whole group missed out

[3fan4life]

we are psyched for your rides 3fan !

Odds are we will be stopping around Winchester on the way down and then taking BRP but you never know till you know  

On the Marlinton trip with the former voai I got to ride 39, 50 and 250 and a bunch of other nice roads  that I dont think had numbers. Detours thru hollows and small towns it was a great week

Hope to finally ride thru 16. Last time a rider went down and just about the whole group missed out

We'll definitely do the section of SR 16 between Tazewell, VA and Marion, VA (Back of the Dragon) taking the scenic route there and back of course.

And we have to ride over to Homestead Creamery one day for Ice Cream.