Roanoke: Hiking Trails, Scenic Views and Family Experiences
Accommodation in Roanoke
Roanoke combines impressive hiking destinations, waterside trails, culture and a variety of experiences for families. Those planning a trip with active days will find both manageable routes and more challenging mountain hikes. There are also museums, historic buildings, water activities and special opportunities to observe nature. When choosing a vacation rental in Roanoke, it therefore helps to first determine your preferred focus: panoramas and high-elevation trails, relaxed greenways, family attractions or a combination of nature and culture.
Hiking Trails between Greenways and Mountain Panoramas
A notable starting point for those interested in nature and history is Explore Park, located directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 115. The park has 14 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Historic buildings stand along a loop trail, while the visitor center includes a museum on the history of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This makes it possible to combine physical activity with an insight into the development of this well-known road.
For a hike with scenic views, Read Mountain Preserve is a good choice. The main attraction is a two-mile trail to the summit of Read Mountain, known as Buzzards Rock. The panorama at McAfee Knob is even more expansive: From there, the 270-degree view stretches across the Catawba Valley and North Mountain to the west, Tinker Cliffs to the north and the Roanoke Valley to the east. The trail is rated moderate. The hike from the parking area on VA 311 to McAfee Knob is just under eight miles long and includes 1,400 feet of elevation gain. Take the distance and elevation gain into account when planning your day.
Catawba Greenway offers a variety of options. A 1.2-mile, wheelchair-accessible out-and-back hike leads to a picnic pavilion. A four-mile hike connects two sections of the greenway with a section of the Appalachian Trail. Catawba Greenway also provides an alternative connection to McAfee Knob via the Appalachian Trail. At the McAfee Knob trailhead, a pedestrian bridge carries the Appalachian Trail over Route 311, also known as Catawba Valley Drive.
Those looking for a different character can include Tinker Creek Greenway in their plans. It begins at the Hollins Trailhead parking area and connects with Carvins Cove Natural Reserve. In Green Hill Park, one mile of shoreline extends along the trout-stocked Roanoke River. A paved, ten-foot-wide section of the Roanoke River Greenway complements this offering.
Water, Adventure and Activities with Children
For families, Splash Valley offers two 34-foot-high water slides, a lazy river and a water playground for children. Green Ridge Recreation Center is a public recreational facility covering 76,000 square feet. Its amenities include an indoor track with mountain views and an indoor pool with water features; day passes are also available. Camp Roanoke adds more active options with archery and an adventure course featuring a 44-foot-high climbing tower.
At Explore Park, Treetop Quest is one of the family attractions. The adventure course includes zip lines and increasingly challenging elevated obstacles. Also available there is a two-hour paddling trip through the Roanoke River Gorge, with Class 1 and 2 rapids. Explore Park is also home to Mayflower Hills Disc Golf Course. Depending on your preferred pace for the day, these activities can be combined with a hike or a museum visit.
Culture and Nature for Balance
The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University presents exhibitions across a wide variety of media and genres. Another distinctive natural setting is Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve. It contains intact pine-oak forest communities and is also home to the world's largest known population of the rare shrub Piratebush. For a culinary finale, visit the historic Twin Creeks Brewpub in Brugh Tavern, which offers local craft beer, wine and cider as well as a meal.
Choosing the Right Starting Point
When looking for accommodation in Roanoke, it is worth organizing your planned experiences before booking. For long hikes, information about distance and elevation gain is crucial, while greenways, museums or water activities allow for different daily plans. A vacation rental or vacation home should therefore above all suit your preferred travel pace and the composition of your travel group. The variety of landscapes and experience areas makes Roanoke a destination that can be explored both actively and in a diverse way.
Discover More Places
For further orientation, you can also explore Roanoke, Hollins, Bent Mountain, Cave Spring and Vinton.
For the overview of the broader destination: Virginia.
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