Things To Do In Roanoke
Planning a trip to visit Roanoke, Virginia? Here are a few fun possibilities to consider -- especially if you love to experience the great outdoors!
Take a Hike! Stroll along one of our many regional trails -- it's free and freeing! The Roanoke area is famous for the "Triple Crown" of the Appalachian trail, which includes Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs. But did you know that you can do miles of amazing hiking or trail running without ever leaving the city? The Mill Mountain trail system (and adjacent Chestnut Ridge loop) weave up to and around the Star of Roanoke. Hike right up out of the city or drive to one of several trailheads.
Join an electric bike tour and visit local breweries! Our Views & Brews e-bike tour is the coolest new way to enjoy Roanoke! It's an awesome way to get the lay of the land if you're just encountering the city and its surrounding mountains. Whether or not you take the tour, we highly recommend visiting some of the local breweries that trace the route. Favorites include Golden Cactus, Olde Salem, Big Lick, A Few Old Goats, and Starr Hill.
Float the Roanoke River and grab a bite! The Roanoke River offers a nice respite and surprisingly natural experience right in the heart of the city. You can float the river by way of a relaxing river tube excursion or fun paddling adventure through our kayak outings. Best of all, you don't even need to leave the city to participate ... meaning you'll not only save time on your travels but will end your outing right back in the small but sweet Wasena neighborhood. There are numerous great, locally owned options within just a block of our shop:
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Bloom for farm-to-table dining in a setting that's equal parts stylish and friendly.
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Wasena City Tap Room and Green Goat for quality casual fare. (The Tap Room also boasts a great regional tap list!)
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RND Coffee for locally roasted coffee and other great food and beverage options; Field Day for delicious and nutritious smoothies and juices; and Kind Baking Co. for incredible small-batch baked goods.
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Creme Fresh and Hang 10 for sweet treats. (Creme Fresh makes amazing dairy free ice cream; the latter does soft-serve & Hawaiian ice!)
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We're also right next door to Grandin Village, which offers its own variety of small local businesses to explore. Be sure to check out the historic Grandin Theater for a throwback moviegoing experience, Pop's for an amazing retro ice cream shop, and Farmburguesa for a fresh local burger with Colombian flare.
Additional Resources
For everything outdoors in the surrounding area. Our friends at Roanoke Outside have a website packed with great info to help you get on your way.
Looking for something new and interesting to do in the Roanoke region? This is a great Instagram account to follow to find fun local shops, restaurants, and events.
A great website for locals and visitors alike. VBR is our tourism and convention bureau and works to promote our region. Always up to date with special offers, packages and featured events in the area.
Carvins Cove is a beautiful 12,000+ acre mountainous park in the Roanoke Valley with a great trail network and a 630 acre reservoir. A great area for paddling, hiking, biking or horseback riding!
All info pertaining to boating and recreating on 45 miles of the Roanoke River between the headwaters in Montgomery County to Smith Mountain Lake.
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests make up nearly 1.8 million acres of land in western Virginia and are the backbone of our public lands here. A mountainous outdoor playground for hiking, biking, paddling, camping, fishing, hunting and more!
A great resource for our Downtown area. Whether you’re looking for local restaurants, shops or museums they’ve got it covered here.
Roanoke County Parks and Recreation and Explore Park. Camping, outdoor outings, parks info and more!
Roanoke City Parks and Rec. Trail and park info, outdoor outings and more!
Everything you need to know for all 469 miles of the Parkway. Right in our backyard.