Roanoke

Roanoke, Virginia, called the "Star City of the South" and "Magic City," is a charming city with beautiful views. A colorfully lit 100-ft star atop Mill Mountain graces the Roanoke Valley. The city sits between Virginia Tech and Smith Mountain Lake in Southwest Virginia. The Roanoke Valley had a population of around 315,000 in 2020.

By bus
A Greyhound bus station is located on Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke.

By train
Passenger rail service has returned to

By car
Roanoke is at exit 146 on I-81, about 40 minutes north-east of Blacksburg, 40 minutes south of Lexington. It is about 4 hours drive from Washington, D.C. and 3 hours from Richmond.

Get around
The city layout of Roanoke does not lend itself well to effective mass transit, and in fact most locals never use mass transit at all.

By bus
The city does operate a fairly extensive bus system, Valley Metro, that serves most commonly-visited points in the valley. The main transfer points in downtown are along Campbell Ave SW near 1st street. A trolley called The Star Line Trolley runs in downtown along South Jefferson Street between Campbell Ave SW and Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital on the other side of the James River. Valley Metro operates a bus service called The Smart Way that connects Blacksburg and the New River Valley with Roanoke.

The town of Blacksburg, a small college town not far from Roanoke, operates Blacksburg Transit, has a far more effective mass transit system. Many students at Virginia Tech do not own a vehicle of their own and rely on the "BT" for their daily commute.

See
In addition to its other attractions, Downtown Roanoke has at least 2 great old restored and lit neon signs perched up on the roofs of buildings. One for Dr. Pepper and the other for H & C Coffee.



Do
Outdoor activities include hiking on the Appalachian Trail, boating, camping, and fishing. Other activities include:


 * Old Salem Day's
 * Virginia Tech Football
 * Roanoke River Greenway - bike trail, also suitable for walking or running

Buy

 * Roanoke's City Market. The largest continuously running open-air market on the eastern seaboard. Good place to look for fresh produce and herbs in the summer, and gifts and decorations in the winter. In addition, numerous shops & restaurants surround the market area.
 * Tanglewood Mall I-581/220S at Franklin Rd., Roanoke.
 * Valley View Mall. A major shopping mall in the region featuring 130 stores and 4 anchors serving an estimated market of over 800,000 people, near the Roanoke Regional Airport at I-581 and Hershberger Rd. Be aware that children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to shop after 6PM.

Eat
Roanoke has many nice restaurants, some of the notable ones are listed.

Budget

 *  Tazaa Restaurant, An amazing Indian Restaurant.
 * Texas Tavern, (Roanoke's Millionares Club), (Downtown). Only seats 10, but also has a walk-up order window. Try the Cheesey Western and a bowl of chile.
 * Renee's Restaurant, Washington Ave. in Vinton.
 * New York Pizza, Hardy Road in Vinton.
 * The Dogwood Restaurant, (downtown Vinton, about 5 minutes from downtown Roanoke), Home style cooked food.

Mid-range

 * Alejandro's, (downtown Roanoke near the market), Tex-Mex cuisine.
 * Bridge Water Marina, Smith Mountain Lake. Restaurants & shops.
 * Fork in the Alley, Crystal Spring Ave. Brick oven pizza and draft beer.
 * Grace's, Grandin Court. Pizza.
 * Kabuki. Japanese restaurant which is popular for parties, they prepare the food at your table.
 * Mac & Bob's, Salem.
 * Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea, (alt: Mill Mountain). There are several locations throughout the Roanoke Valley, including the Roanoke market area, Salem, and Daleville. The Market area Mill Mountain Coffee outlet serves food. Good for lunch or breakfast, or open late for a cup of coffee or tea.
 * Nawab, (in the market area). Indian. Has an all you can eat buffet for lunch.
 * The Red Palace, Valley View and Tanglewood Malls. Chinese cuisine.
 * Nawab, (in the market area). Indian. Has an all you can eat buffet for lunch.
 * The Red Palace, Valley View and Tanglewood Malls. Chinese cuisine.

Splurge

 * Bernard's Landing, Smith Mountain Lake.

Go next

 * Appalachian Trail.
 * Blue Ridge Parkway.
 * Mountain Lake Resort.
 * National D-Day Memorial, Bedford.
 * Natural Bridge.
 * Peaks of Otter Lodge, (Milepost 86 off the Blue Ridge Parkway), Bedford. Hiking trails, overnight lodge with food buffets, Abbott Lake contains catfish, smallmouth bass, golden shiners, sunfish, and blue gill. Virginia State fishing licenses, Bedford County licenses, or short-term permits are required. Sharp Top Mountain - 3 mi, Flat Top Mountain - 5.2 mi, Harkening Hill - 3.5 mi.
 * Smith Mountain Lake, . State park & public beach.
 * Bernard's Landing
 * Bridge Water Marina
 * Virginia Tech Blacksburg.