Roanoke Valley Recreation & Tourism
Roanoke County is fortunate to have an abundance of recreational activities and high-quality, award-winning fine arts and cultural organizations. Facilities for meetings, conferences and conventions also abound, making Roanoke County the regional hub for such gatherings.
Year-round activities, events and exhibits increase the quality of life in the Roanoke Valley and further the attraction to the area, consistently voted one of the best places in America to work and play.
Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau
www.VisitRoanokeVA.com
Website provides extensive information on Roanoke Valley attractions, events, festivals, accommodations, meeting facilities and more.
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
www.roanokechamber.org
Website provides important information, opportunities and contacts for existing and potential local businesses.
Roanoke Valley Greenways
www.greenways.org
A greenway is a corridor of protected open space managed for conservation, recreation and non-motorized transportation. In the Roanoke Valley, the Greenways are administered by the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission, local governments and organizations, and a citizen's support group.
Virginia Tourism Corporation
www.virginia.org
Serves the broader interests of the economy of Virginia by supporting, maintaining, and expanding the Commonwealth's domestic and international travel market and motion picture production. The Corporation develops and implements programs beneficial to Virginia travel-related and motion picture production-related businesses and/or consumers.
Blue Ridge - Southwest Virginia Film Office
www.blueridgeswvafilm.org
The Blue Ridge - Southwest Virginia Film Office works to attract television, film, video and commercial productions to the area while nurturing regionally-based film and media production companies. Staff serves as a liaison between regional governments, residents, corporations and the film industry.
Blue Ridge Parkway
www.blueridgeparkway.org
America's longest unspoiled roadway, winding from the Shenandoah Valley through North Carolina into the Great Smokies. The parkway attracts more than 20 million visitors annually. Roanoke is the largest city in the parkway's path.
The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a continuous public footpath covering over 2160 miles from Maine to Georgia. The path is considered to be pristine, protected by the state or federal government over 96 percent of its course. The trail intersects the Blue Ridge Parkway in Botetourt County, just 15 minutes from Roanoke.
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
www.hotelroanoke.com
A vintage 1882 hotel listed in the national Register of Historic Places, Hotel Roanoke is located just a few blocks from historic downtown Roanoke. Classic design and service is complemented with state-of-the-art technology and modern convenience.
Center in the Square
www.centerinthesquare.org
As home of the Art Museum of Western Virginia, the History Museum & Historical Society of Western Virginia, the Science Museum of Western Virginia & Hopkins Planetarium, Mill Mountain Theatre, and proud sponsor of the Roanoke Ballet, Center in the Square serves this area with educational, informative and entertaining events of all kinds.
Mill Mountain Zoo
www.mmzoo.org
Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at the top of Roanoke's Mill Mountain, this three-acre Zoo is AZA accredited, exhibiting over 50 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Virginia Museum of Transportation
www.vmt.org
The official transportation museum for the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Roanoke's historic freight station, offers an informative collection of antique and modern modes of transportation.
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
www.rso.com
The region's only professional symphony orchestra, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra presents classical, pops and education concerts from September to May. The RSO also sponsors two youth orchestras, a harp ensemble, and a symphonic chorus.
Opera Roanoke
www.operaroanoke.org
Opera Roanoke, located in the restored Jefferson Center, is a professional, regional opera company that produces two fully-staged operas each season.
Harrison Museum of African American Culture
www.harrisonmuseum.org
The Museum seeks to research, preserve and interpret the achievements of African Americans in western Virginia, and to provide an opportunity for citizens to come together in appreciation of this rich culture.
Virginia's Explore Park
www.explorepark.org
Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, it offers multiple recreational activities.
Natural Bridge
www.naturalbridgeva.com
Natural Bridge, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is located approximately 35 miles north of Roanoke off I-81. Surrounding the bridge is a wax museum, caverns and a living-history Monacan Indian village.
Smith Mountain Lake
www.smith-mountain-lake.com
Located just 45 minutes from Roanoke, Smith Mountain Lake offers 500 miles of shoreline with recreational facilities, a beach and campground.
National D-Day Memorial
www.dday.org
The National memorial built to honor the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Armed Forces who landed in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. Located in Bedford, approximately 30 miles from Roanoke.
Roanoke County Parks & Recreation
www.roanokecountyva.gov/Departments/ParksRecreationAndTourism
Offers a licensed after-school daycare program, a full residential camp, new park developments, a teen center, and many leisure and athletic programs for adults, youth, seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Salem Avalanche Baseball
www.salemavalanche.com
An advanced Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, located at the modern, 6,000-seat Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.
Roanoke Civic Center
www.roanokeciviccenter.com
Western Virginia's premier full-service convention, exhibition and cultural complex, located within walking distance of downtown Roanoke. The Roanoke Civic Center consists of a spacious coliseum, state-of-the-art theater, and multi-purpose exhibit hall, supported by complete kitchen facilities and a multitude of dressing rooms.
Salem Civic Center
www.salemciviccenter.com
Plays host to trade shows, concerts,
banquets and more.
The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge
www.theartscouncil.org
The Arts
Council of the Blue Ridge was established in 1976 to strengthen and maintain the cultural activities of
southwestern Virginia. The Council is the only organization in the region that can speak with a unified voice
for the arts and cultural organizations which comprise its membership.
O. Winston Link Museum
www.linkmuseum.org
Celebrating the photography of O. Winston Link.
Showtimers
www.showtimers.org
Community theatre since 1951.