With its many restaurants and breweries, eclectic mix of shops and museums, and ample trails, a visit to Virginia’s Blue Ridge — the city of Roanoke and the surrounding area — is a treat any time of year. But if you ask me, the ideal season to visit is fall, when the foliage decorates the Blue Ridge Mountains and the warm-but-not-too-hot days and cool nights are perfect for hiking and biking.
Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in Roanoke and Blue Ridge, Virginia
On a recent three-day visit to Roanoke, I toured the city via e-bike, recreated in the mountains, and tucked into some great food and brews. Roanoke is extremely bike-friendly, with dedicated bike lanes and trails. My guided e-bike tour with Roanoke Mountain Adventures took us up the slopes of Mill Mountain, to Starr Hill Brewing, and then into downtown Roanoke where we stopped at two more breweries.
Photo: Bart Beeson
Then there’s the hiking. Just 20 minutes outside of town is Mcafee Knob, which is said to be the most photographed spot on the entire 2,198-mile Appalachian Trail. After finishing the nearly four-mile gradual hike to the top, I understood why — a protruding rock ledge at the summit provides truly spectacular views of the valley below, made even prettier by the autumn colors. One piece of advice when you come: get an early start to avoid the crowds and snag a good parking spot.
Other Blue Ridge hikes to enjoy include nearby Dragon’s Tooth, which entails a challenging rock scramble on the way to the giant monolith, and Roaring Run Falls, a mellow, family-friendly hike that follows a river through a steep gorge to the namesake falls. (Anglers might want to stop and cast a line here as it’s a trophy trout stream.) To make the hike a loop, take the Woodland Trail on the way back, and make sure to check out the mammoth stone iron furnace near the parking lot.
Meanwhile, when you’re not taking advantage of Blue Ridge’s vistas, trails, and fall colors, get to know Roanoke — a small city with a surprising amount to offer.
Things to do in Roanoke
Mill Mountain Park
Photo: WhiteHotRanch/Shutterstock
Mill Mountain Park is a 900-acre green space that crowns Mill Mountain, home of the famous Roanoke Star, the world’s largest human-made star that’s both free-standing and illuminated. In addition to outdoor recreation venues like miles of trails, scenic lookouts, and picnic areas, Mill Mountain Park plays host to the Mill Mountain Zoo, which serves as a safe and rehabilitative space for endangered, injured, or otherwise “non-releasable” animals.
Mill Mountain Park: 2198 Mill Mountain Spur, Roanoke, VA 24014
Virginia Museum of Transportation
Photo: Bart Beeson
The Virginia Museum of Transportation has three main focuses: cars, planes, and trains. In the Auto Gallery, you can see a collection of classic cars whose oldest models date as far back as the 1930s, as well as aircraft in the Aviation Gallery. The museum also displays an outdoor trainyard full of locomotives and railcars, allowing visitors to touch, board, and otherwise interact with the vehicles up close. During my visit, I particularly enjoyed the “Cotton to Silk” exhibit on African American Railroad Workers.
Virginia Museum of Transportation: 303 Norfolk Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
Roanoke Pinball Museum
Photo: Bart Beeson
At the Pinball Museum in Roanoke’s Center in the Square complex — which houses a group of the city’s cultural and educational institutions, including the Kids Square children’s museum, the Roanoke Starcade arcade museum, and a series of small aquariums — $15 gets you unlimited play on dozens of classic and modern pinball games. I spent a good 20 minutes trying to bring the ring to Mordor in the Lord of the Rings-themed game.
Roanoke Pinball Museum: 1 Market Square SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
Chocolatepaper
Photo: Bart Beeson
Chocolatepaper is a fun shop in Roanoke that, as its name suggests, sells both chocolate and paper. The chocolate comes in all different shapes, sizes, and flavors, from delectable little truffles to baskets full of assorted goodies. The shop’s paper products also come in different shapes, such as greeting cards and wrapping paper, which are sold alongside other cute gifts and souvenirs like mugs, Mill Mountain Star pint glasses, and various trinkets.
Chocolatepaper: 308 Market St SE # 3, Roanoke, VA 24011
Where to eat and drink in Roanoke
Big Lick Brewing and Golden Cactus Brewing
Photo: Bart Beeson
There are a handful of breweries in downtown Roanoke. In the name of research, I did my best to visit as many as I could. My favorites were Big Lick Brewing and Golden Cactus Brewing, conveniently located just across the street from each other. Both places feature spacious interiors, tons of dog-friendly outdoor seating, and a variety of tasty beers. I particularly liked two New England-style IPAs: White Bronco at Big Lick and Money Tree at Golden Cactus.
Big Lick Brewing: 409 Salem Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
Golden Cactus Brewing: 214 5th St. SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
The Vault at the Liberty Trust
If you’re looking for a restaurant with character, head to The Vault at the Liberty Trust hotel. It features marble floors, columns, and, appropriately, a massive vault that you can dine in (as long as you reserve ahead of time for the vault room). I enjoyed a picanha steak served with chimichurri aioli and a delicious potato salad. If you sit at the bar, you might be lucky enough to be served by the bar manager, Sarah, who makes a mean cocktail (but if she asks you to guess her age, don’t fall for it — it’s a trick question).
The Vault: 101 S Jefferson St, Roanoke, VA 24011
Williamson Road
Photo: Bart Beeson
While you may not think a city in rural Virginia would be known for its international cuisine, Roanoke has a thriving immigrant community and has been named a “Certified Welcoming” city by the Welcoming America organization. Check out the Williamson Road corridor for a variety of locally owned, authentic restaurants plating up everything from Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine to Mexican and Cuban specialties. I went to Cuban Island for some tasty beef empanadas stuffed potatoes, which is one good place to start.
Williamson Road: 5508 Williamson Rd, Roanoke, VA 24012
Where to stay in Roanoke
Fire Station One Boutique Hotel
Photo: Bart Beeson
You can’t get a more unique lodging experience than the Fire Station One Boutique Hotel. It’s located right in downtown Roanoke and is within easy walking distance of all the central restaurants, shops, bars, and museums. As the name implies, the hotel is located in a converted fire station, with an old bunk room that’s now a common room and event space and seven high-ceilinged guest rooms. I was lucky enough to stay in the fire chief’s office, which looks out over a quiet, tree-lined pedestrian walkway.
Fire Station One Boutique Hotel also provides nice touches like granola bars and beef jerky (which are perfect to grab on your way out for a hike) and sodas in the guest-room fridges. While many of the fire station features remain, the firefighters’ poles have been closed off — so don’t get your hopes up for a dramatic exit.
Fire Station One Boutique Hotel: 13 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
How to get to and around Roanoke
Photo: Bart Beeson
Coming from the Northeast, I flew into Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA), which is a 10-minute drive from downtown. Roanoke is also located a few minutes from Highway 81 and is easily accessible from various metropolitan areas — it’s a 3.5-hour drive from Charlotte, NC, for example, and about four hours from Washington, DC.
Downtown Roanoke is extremely walkable, so there’s no need for a car if you’re just looking to stay in the city. I rented a car so that I could drive to nearby hikes, and a vehicle would also be helpful if you want to see some of the neighboring towns — both Grandin and Wasena, where my bike tour started, are worth a visit. You can also rent a bike during your stay (though you may want to splurge on an e-bike with all the surrounding hills). 