Roanoke, VA

Address:Roanoke, Virginia

Roanoke, Virginia is a hi-tech small southern city, nestled in the Roanoke Valley with the cobalt backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains close by. The Blue Ridge parkway passes right through the outskirts of the city about halfway between Shenandoah National Park and the North Carolina border, making Roanoke a convenient hub for exploring the area. The main places of interest in Roanoke, VA are in downtown at revitalized Market Square. That is where you will find museums, dining and entertainment and shops. Visitors to Roanoke will certainly be interested in the Taubman Museum of Art (formerly the Art Museum of Western Virginia), if not the inside exhibits, at least from the outside – the building is a controversial architectural masterpiece. If science or history is more exciting to your group then just cross the street – the History Museum of Western Virginia and the Hopkins Planetarium are right here. Back to Market Square, don't miss the historic City Market for fresh food.

The most places of interest near Roanoke, VA are those amazing mountains. For a good vantage point cross the Roanoke River to Mill Mountain Park. Visit the zoo and check out Roanoke in the valley below and then it is time to head off to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Roanoke makes for a very good base for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, with a drive time of about four hours from Washington, DC on I-81. If you plan on continuing south, the drive to Asheville, North Carolina will take another four hours via I-81 and I-26. We suspect that you will spend more time in the car, so that you can enjoy the sites along the way.