Roanoke, Roanoke County & Salem
Roanoke, capital of the Blue Ridge since the days when settlers came westward, has become the focal point of Western Virginia. The city, which began as a salt marsh named “Big Lick" and later became a booming railroad town, is now a major vacation destination.
Nestled in the midst of a rich Appalachian heritage in the heart of the mountainous west, the Roanoke Valley is a great place to discover Virginia. Just a short drive from the city, you will find a number of interesting and historical attractions, including Civil War battlefields, pioneer living at Virginia's Explore Park, and the majestic views off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Roanoke was incorporated in 1882 when it became a junction of the Norfolk and Western Railway and the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. Nicknamed the Star City, it remains the cultural, convention and industrial center for western Virginia. The 88-foot tall, neon-lit star that overlooks the city from a perch atop Mill Mountain, remains a landmark for the entire region.
A visit to the Roanoke Valley with its nearby areas of natural scenic beauty can provide a natural high. There are a number of invigorating recreational options that include bicycling along the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking the great Appalachian Trail and a variety of smaller but no less rewarding local trails.
For the shopper, Roanoke is a haven of antique stores, tiny gift shops, arts and craft outlets and a couple of hundred specialty stores that offer everything from fresh vegetables to the finest in haute couture.
Roanoke at night
Sights
The Harrison Museum of African-American Culture, 523 Harrison Avenue in Roanoke, is dedicated to preserving, documenting and presenting African-American art and history of western Virginia. The museum is located on the ground floor of the first black public high school in western Virginia and is open daily except Monday. Admission is free. tel. 540-345-4818.
The Virginia Museum of Transportation, 303 Norfolk Avenue in the downtown district of Roanoke, displays vehicles from the past and present, including large steam, diesel and electric locomotives. Other exhibits include vintage cars and carriages, aviation and a large model train exhibit with 600 feet of track and seven model trains. The museum, located in a restored railway freight station next to the Norfolk Southern main track line, is open daily (closed Monday in January and February). tel. 540-342-5670.
The Science Museum of Western Virginia, located at the Center in the Square at One Market Square in downtown Roanoke, provides a number of hands-on exhibits that interpret the natural and physical sciences. These exhibits include animals of the land and oceans, computers and a television weather station. The museum offers a number of workshops and programs for children and adults, as well as special exhibits, shows and films. The Hopkins Planetarium shows films interpreting the night sky in their mega-dome. The museumis open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. tel. 540-342-5710.
The History Museum of Western Virginia, in the Center in the Square at One Market Square, Roanoke, contains a number of permanent exhibits that interpret Roanoke's history from the earliest times until the present. The museum is open daily except Monday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. tel. 540-342-5770.
The Art Museum of Western Virginia, in the Center in the Square complex, Roanoke, hosts major national touring exhibits and work by local artists. The Rosalie K. and Sydney Shaftman Gallery is dedicated to traditional and contemporary decorative arts. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free. tel. 540-342-5760.
Mill Mountain Zoo, a short drive from downtown Roanoke and off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 120, next to Mill Mountain Park, exhibits 50 plus exotic and native animals on 3½ acres of mountaintop country. A Siberian tiger, red pandas, golden-lion tamarins and snow leopards are among the zoo's prize species. Special events throughout the year celebrate conservation and animals. Closed Christmas Day. tel. 540-343-3241, or visit www.mmzoo.org.
To The Rescue Museum, on the upper level of Tanglewood Mall on Electric Road (US 220), commemorates the work of Julian Stanley Wise, who formed America's first rescue and first-aid crew in the Roanoke region in the 1920s. Visitor can participate in a life-saving scenario and view equipment used by today's emergency workers. Open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on major holidays. tel. 540-776-0364.
The Blue Ridge Parkway links the Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smokies National Park in Tennessee via 469 miles of pristine highway. En route, it passes Roanoke at Milepost 120. Numerous hiking trails intersect with the parkway, including the renowned Appalachian Trail, and there are countless scenic viewing areas. There are some food and lodging stops off the parkway. tel. 540-857-2213.
The Salem Museum, 801 E. Main Street in Salem, preserves relics of this small city's past. Housed in the historic Williams-Brown House, its exhibits include Civil War memorabilia, Native American artifacts, as well as photography and art. Open Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. Guided tours are available. tel. 540-389-6760, or visit www.salemmuseum.org.
Roanoke's Historic Farmer's Market, shown below, on First Street next door to Center in the Square, is a crowded market flush with fresh fruits and vegetables operating Monday through Saturday from 7:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. Besides produce, shoppers can browse specialty shops, antique stores, bookstores and gardening displays. Running since 1882, this market is Virginia's oldest farmer's market in continuous operation. tel. 540-342-2028.
Dixie Caverns, 5753 Main Street in Salem, offers a twist on the tried-and-true caving experience. This cavern goes up into a mountain, opens onto a large cathedral room and leads further still to interesting rock formations. There's a pottery shop, rock and mineral shop, basket shop and an antique mall. Open year-round. tel. 540-380-2085.
Blue Ridge Institute and Farm Museum, at Ferrum College in Ferrum, is the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore, housing a vast collection of mountain crafts, music and other items relating to Blue Ridge culture. Also on site is a re-created 18th-century farmhouse highlighting the German-American roots of Blue Ridge culture. Gallery admission is free. tel. 540-365-4416, or visit www.blueridgeinstitute.org.
Virginia's Explore Park, tel. 800-842-9163, is 1½ miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 115. The park exhibits life in Virginia from the 1671 to 1850, with interpreters performing skills such as flint knapping, log hewing and blacksmithing. Nearby, Brugh Tavern serves an authentic 19th-century meal. The mountain setting and 1,100 acres of park are ideal for a hike or bike ride. Visit their Web site at www.explorepark.org.
19th-century spinning at Explore Park
Recreation
Water Sports
Smith Mountain Lake, west of Roanoke on VA 24, covers 22,000 acres and 500 miles of shoreline. This 40-mile long lake is ideal for fishing and boating, water-skiing and windsurfing. Onshore, you can sunbathe, picnic or camp. tel. 540-721-1203.
Appalachian Adventures, Inc., 1122 Wasena Avenue, tel. 540-342-2858, will take individuals and groups on canoeing trips down the rivers of southwest Virginia. Groups should give two weeks notice for reservations. Guests are served a boxed lunch. Visit www.zip2.com/roanoke/adventure.
Golf
Six of Roanoke Valley's golf courses have joined with area hotels to offer enticing golf/vacation packages. From tee times to car rentals to room reservations, a single telephone call can net you a great golf trip. Special rates for golf and lodging are available only by calling tel. 877-GOLF-MTN. Participating golf courses include: Ashley Plantation, the Valley's newest residential golf community, Countryside, minutes from downtown Roanoke, Draper Valley, regarded as one of the best conditioned courses in the Valley, Hanging Rock, ranked one of the top three courses in Virginia by The Golfer's Guide, London Downs, located in historic Bedford County, and Westlake, on the shores of Smith Mountain Lake.
When the golf game is over, you can look forward to a good meal, some entertainment and quality rest at one of 10 area hotels. Participating hotels include Best Western Inn at Valley View near the Roanoke Regional Airport, Clarion Hotel Roanoke Airport, Comfort Suites: The Inn at Ridgewood Farms, located in nearby Salem, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, a bed and breakfast style motel, Holiday Inn Roanoke Airport, Holiday Inn Hotel Tanglewood, located in southwest Roanoke, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, a Tudor-style hotel in the heart of downtown, The Patrick Henry Hotel, in downtown Roanoke, Sleep-Inn Tanglewood, near Tanglewood Mall, and the Wyndham Roanoke Airport.
Entertainment
The Center in the Square, at One Market Square in downtown Roanoke, is a unique facility housing seven independent cultural organizations under one roof. The Mill Mountain Theatre brings professional theater to the Center in the Square. A year-round professional playbill offering a variety of dramas, musicals and comedies, as well as lectures and dance. Theatre B, located on Level 1 in the Center in the Square, provides a second venue for the performing arts. Also at the Center in the Square are The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge and the Art Museum of Western Virginia. Admission to both is free. For schedules, reservations and information, tel. 540-342-5700, or visit www.cits.org.
The Roanoke Express plays championship minor league hockey at the Roanoke Civic Center from late-fall through spring. For schedule and ticket information, tel. 540-989-4625.
The Salem Avalanche, an A-level minor league team affiliated with the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball, plays home games at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. For schedule and ticket information, tel. 540-389-3333.
Shopping
Large department stores and flagship units of leading regional retailers have been joined by a number of fascinating shops that provide exciting opportunities for antique shopping and browsing. More than 130 retailers, specialty shops, boutiques and stores call downtown Roanoke home. Travel farther afield, to Salem, Vinton and Rocky Mount, and discover a wealth of antique boutiques and specialty shops. Listed below are a sampling of Roanoke's larger shopping centers.
Valley View Mall, on Valley View Boulevard off I-581 at Hershberger Road, is the largest mall in southwest Virginia, with 130 stores, restaurants and a six-screen cinema. Department stores include Belk, Sears, Hecht's and JC Penney. tel. 540-563-4400 or visit www.valleyview.com for more information.
Crossroads Mall, at the corner of Hershberger and Williamson Roads, and Towne Square, located behind Crossroads, mix specialty shops and big box retailers such as Sam's Wholesale Discount Club and Office Max Crossroads recently opened Cinema Grill, a two-screen cinema and sit-down restaurant.
Tanglewood Mall, at Route 220 and 419 on Electric Road, was Roanoke's first regional mall. Today, 105 stores and eight restaurants do business in the two-story shopping center. Inside the mall's center court, antique vendors and mountain crafters display themed exhibits. tel. 540-989-4394 or visit www.tanglewood.com for more information.
Towers Shopping Center, at the corner of Colonial and Brandon Avenues, is a full-service shopping center with more than 50 stores, restaurants, services and specialty shops. tel. 540-982-6791.
Galleries
Frames 'N Things & The Gallery, in Roanoke on Brambleton Avenue, and in Vinton, 1223 E. Washington Avenue. Besides custom framing, the galleries are distributors for David Winters collectibles. tel. 540-774-8171.
The League of Roanoke Artists sponsors monthly showing of regional artists' work at the Lewis-Gale Medical Center and Roanoke Memorial Cancer Center. tel. 540-774-4904.
The Little Gallery,16430 Booker T. Washington Memorial Highway in Moneta near Smith Mountain Lake, tel. 540-721-1596, displays original art and prints, museum-quality crafts, framing and corporate art.
McMann-McDade Fine Art, in Roanoke, tel. 540-345-5123, specializes in work by regional southwest Virginia artists in a multitude of media, including serigraphs, oils and watercolors.
Olde Salem Framing & Gallery, 210 E. Main Street in Salem, tel. 540-389-4553, features Don Hatfield serigraphs, Eric Fitzpatrick originals and prints.
White House Galleries, 1302 Second Street, tel. 540-344-9600, features oils, watercolors, engravings, serigraphs and art restoration.
Theater
Henry Street Players presents a historical revue of downtown Roanoke in the jazz age. Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald were once regulars at Henry Street night clubs. The players perform at various locations around Roanoke. tel. 540-981-9110 for a listing of performances and locations.
Mill Mountain Theatre, in Center in the Square, is regional professional theater that produces a variety of shows throughout the year. Drama's, musicals, children's plays and comedies are all on the playbill. Free to the public are monthly readings of new one-act plays. tel. 540-342-5740 for ticket information, or visit www.millmountain.org.
Showtimers Theater, off Route 419 across from Allstate, tel. 540-774-2660, is the oldest continuously performing community theater in Virginia.
Annual Events
The Roanoke Festival in the Park occurs over 11 days during May and June, when Roanoke celebrates arts and crafts, sports, food and live entertainment. Other area activities include First Night Roanoke in December, ShrimpFest in April and an International Wine Tasting & Tour in February. tel. 540-342-2640.
The Annual Vinton Dogwood Festival in downtown Vinton has been a springtime tradition for 45 years in the Roanoke Valley. tel. 540-983-0613.
The Virginia State Championship Chili Cookoff,held in Roanoke on the first Saturday in May, is a statewide event culminating in the award to the champion. tel. 540-344-0876.
The Salem Fair and Exposition at the Salem Civic Center Complex, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, is Virginia's largest free-admission fair. It is held in July. tel. 540-375-4013, or visit www.salem-va.com/fair.
Roanoke's annual Henry Street Heritage Festival kicks off every September in conjunction with the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture. tel. 540-348-4818.
Taste of the Blue Ridge Blues & Jazz Festival, at Elmwood Park in Roanoke, welcomes regional artists and national performing acts for a foot-tappin' good time. Held in September. tel. 540-853-2889.
The Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree takes place in Roanoke during early December. Call the City of Roanoke at tel. 540-853-2000.
The Annual Christmas Parade through downtown Roanoke is held the first week in December. tel. 540-342-2028.
A Dickens of a Christmas takes place in downtown Roanoke on the first, second and third Friday evenings of December. tel. 540-342-2028.
Dining
Roanoke has more than 60 restaurants, many of them offering live entertainment. Those listed below offer especially good value and service.
Alexander's, 105 S. Jefferson Avenue, tel. 540-342-3937, offers visitors a fine dining experience from its gourmet menu. Open Wednesday for lunch; dinner served Tuesday through Saturday.
Billy's Ritz, on the first floor at 102 Salem Avenue, tel. 540-342-3937, is open for dinner, with a casual but elegant atmosphere in five dining rooms, including an open-air courtyard. Specialties of the house include steaks, chops, chicken and grilled fish.
Carlos Brazilian International, 312 Market Street, tel. 540-345-7661, is open for lunch and dinner, serving Brazilian and international cuisine. Dress is casual. Closed on Sundays and major holidays.
The Library, 3117 Franklin Road in the Piccadilly Square shopping center, tel. 540-985-0811, is a fine restaurant for a candlelight meal. The menu is American- and European-influenced, and the dress code is casual. Closed on Sunday, Monday, and major holidays.
Montano's International Gourmet, 3733 Franklin Road in the Townside Festival Mall, tel. 540-344-8960, serves an eclectic mix of food, and features great wine and tiramisu, the rich Italian dessert. In the evening, the smooth sounds of live jazz entertain diners. In the afternoons, this restaurant-delicatessen is popular with the business crowd. Children's menus and carryout are available. Closed on Christmas, New Year's and the day before Thanksgiving.
Norberto's, 1908 Memorial Avenue, tel. 540-342-1611, features traditional Italian fare.
Corned Beef & Co., Inc., 107 South Jefferson Street, tel. 540-342-3354, is one of Roanoke's hottest night spots for live entertainment, featuring jazz, rhythm & blues and reggae. The restaurant is famous for its overstuffed sandwiches, aged hand-cut steaks, soups, salads and fresh grilled seafood. There is outdoor patio seating, pool tables and shuffleboard.
309 First Street Fine Food & Drink, 309 Market Street, tel. 540-343-0179, is known for its gourmet hamburgers and homemade onion rings. If you're wondering about the address, Market Street used to be called First Street and the restaurant kept their name! Open for lunch and dinner, it has consistently been voted Best Market Area Restaurant and Best Pre-Theatre Dinner by readers of the Roanoker Magazine.
The Roanoke Market Building, 32 Market Square in downtown Roanoke, was built in 1922 and once served as the place to meet and greet in Roanoke. Today, it houses a diverse sampling of lunch counters and ethnic restaurants. Great for a quick bite to eat.
Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, 112 Campbell Avenue, tel. 540-342-9404, specializes in dessert delicacies and a variety of coffees.
Accommodations
Most establishments offer both handicapped-accessible and non-smoking rooms, but be sure to ask when making reservations.
Hotels & Motels
There is no shortage of places to say in and around Roanoke – the region's 30-plus hotels and motels have more than 4,800 rooms. Whether you need a convenient, no-nonsense evening's rest or the comfort and pampering of a luxury hotel, area hostelries offer something for all travelers. Listed below are a sampling. For more complete list, call the Roanoke Valley Visitor Information Center at tel. 800-635-5535.
Baymont Inn, 140 Sheraton Drive in Salem, tel. 540-562-2717, has 68 guest rooms. There are Jacuzzis in the rooms, as well as coffee makers. A continental breakfast is delivered to the room. $-$$
Best Western Inn at Valley View, 5050 Valley View Boulevard, tel. 540-362-2400, has 85 guest rooms, all equipped with in-room coffee makers and hair dryers. There is an indoor pool. $$
The Clarion Hotel Roanoke Airport, 2727 Ferndale Drive, tel. 540-362-4500, has 154 guest rooms. Amenities include a full-service restaurant and café, bar, meeting rooms and swimming pool. Free airport transportation; senior citizen discount. $$-$$$
The Colony House Motor Lodge, 3560 Franklin Road, tel. 540-345-0411, has 69 guest rooms. There is a meeting room and a swimming pool. Free continental breakfast and a senior citizen discount are offered. $$
Comfort Suites: The Inn at Ridgewood Farms, 2898 Keagy Road in Salem, tel. 540-375-4800, has 78 guest rooms, and offers an outdoor pool and a fitness center. Continental breakfast is served. $$-$$$
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, 7860 Plantation Road, tel. 540-366-5678, is a small hotel with 43 guest rooms and suites. The hotel has an indoor pool and serves a complimentary continental breakfast. $$-$$$
Days Inn Civic Center, 535 Orange Avenue, tel. 540-342-4551, has 165 guest rooms. Continental breakfast is served and pets are allowed. $$
Hampton Inn Airport, 6621 Thirlane Road, tel. 540-265-2600, has 79 guest rooms. Each room is equipped with a small refrigerator and a VCR. $$
Hampton Inn Salem, 1886 Electric Road in Salem, tel. 540-776-6500, is a large hotel with 114 guest rooms. Each room is equipped with a small refrigerator, VCR, coffee maker, hair dryer and ironing board. $$
Holiday Inn-Tanglewood, 4468 Starkey Road, tel. 540-774-4400, has 196 guest rooms. There is a restaurant and café, a bar, meeting rooms and a swimming pool with poolside service. There's also a concierge level where guests have access to a private lounge, a free continental breakfast and complimentary refreshments. The management allows pets, provides free airport transportation, and offers a senior citizen discount. $$-$$$
TheHotel Roanoke & Conference Center, shown below, 110 Shenandoah Avenue, tel. 540-985-5900, has 332 guest rooms and occupies a sprawling 19th-century building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Regency dining room features a gourmet menu and daily specials. There is also a conference center. $$
The Howard Johnson Express-Airport, 3695 Thirlane Road, tel. 540-563-0229, has 138 guest rooms. There is an outdoor pool, fitness facilities and the hotel offers shuttle service to nearby restaurants and shopping. $$
The Jefferson Lodge, 616 S. Jefferson Street, tel. 540-342-2951, is a medium-sized hotel with 98 guest rooms. Facilities and services provided by the hotel include a swimming pool with poolside service and a café nearby. The hotel provides free airport transportation and complimentary continental breakfast. Senior citizen discount. $
The Patrick Henry Hotel, 617 S. Jefferson Street, tel. 540-345-8811, has 117 units. The hotel has a full-service restaurant and café, a bar, several meeting rooms and a beauty shop. It also offers free airport transportation, health club privileges, and a senior citizen discount. $$-$$$
Patrick Henry Hotel
Quality Inn-Civic Center, 501 Orange Avenue at Williamson Road, tel. 540-342-8961, is a fairly large hotel with 150 guest rooms. Facilities include a full-service restaurant and café, a bar, meeting rooms and a swimming pool. Pets are permitted in the guest rooms. Free airport transportation. Senior citizen discount. $$
Ramada Inn River's Edge, 1927 Franklin Road, tel. 540-343-0121, has 126 guest rooms. There are fitness facilities, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant and lounge. Continental breakfast is served. $$
Wyndham Roanoke Airport, 2801 Hershberger Road, tel. 540-563-9300, is a large luxury hotel with 320 guest rooms. Facilities include a full-service restaurant and café, a bar, meeting rooms and a swimming pool with poolside service. There's also a luxury level where guests have access to a private lounge, a free continental breakfast and complimentary refreshments. The management allows pets, provides free airport transportation, and offers a senior citizen discount. $$-$$$
Bed & Breakfasts / Inns
Warm country inns, stately turn-of-the century mansions and old farms-turned-secluded country retreats await visitors to the Roanoke region. There are more than 24 inns, lodges, and cottages sprinkled throughout the Valley, some a short drive to downtown Roanoke, others more remote, tucked in the vales and hollows of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Listed below is a sampling. For a more complete list, call the Roanoke Valley Visitor Information Center, tel. 800-635-5535.
The Maridor Bed & Breakfast, 1857 Grandin Road, tel. 540-982-1940 or 800-631-1857, offers privacy and intimacy with two guest rooms and two suites, each with private bath. A short drive to downtown or the Blue Ridge Parkway, the inn can accommodate up to 200 guests in its ballroom facilities. $$-$$$
In Salem, the Inn at Burwell Place, 601 W. Main Street, tel. 540-387-0250, serves up elegant fare and home-baked goods, and pampers guests with complimentary robes and slippers, custom European bedspreads and down comforters. It has two guest rooms and two guest suites, each with a private bath. The inn's 77-foot veranda overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visit www.burwellplace.com for more information. $$-$$$
Crosstrails Bed & Breakfast, 5880 Blacksburg Road, tel. 540-384-8078, is a mountain getaway tucked in the Catawba Valley west of Roanoke. There are three guest rooms, including a secluded carriage house bedroom. All rooms have private baths. Visit www.crosstrails.com for more information. $$
Meadowood Bed & Breakfast, 6235 Buffalo Mountain Road, Milepost 174.5 (an hour south of Roanoke on the Blue Ridge Parkway), tel. 540-593-2600, has three spacious guest rooms, each with a private bath. The mountain estate's great room has a stone fireplace and serves a full country breakfast. Outdoors, 20 acres of mountain meadows unfold from the inn's 60-foot front porch. $$
The Olde Manse, 530 E. Main Street in Salem, tel. 540-389-3921, offers two guest rooms in an 1847 home that is listed on the National Historic Register and chock full of antiques. Innkeepers serve a full Southern breakfast. $$
Walnuthill Bed & Breakfast, 436 Walnut Avenue, tel. 540-427-3312, is just five minutes from either the Blue Ridge Parkway or downtown Roanoke. Features three guest rooms, a gourmet breakfast and European charm and elegance. $$
Camping
Bordered by the Blue Ridge Mountain to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, the Roanoke Valley offers many camping opportunities. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, tel. 540-265-5100, have several developed recreation and tent camping areas, as well as a multitude of backcountry camping sites. Dixie Caverns in Salem, tel. 540-380-2085, has 75 tent sites and 56 trailer sites with hook-ups for RVs and guest showers. The Peaks of Otter Campground, on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 86, tel. 540-586-4357, is open May to November, with 86 tent sites and 59 trailer sites. Handicapped-accessible campsites are available. At Roanoke Mountain Campground, off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 120.5, tel. 540-982-9242, there are 74 tent sites and 30 trailer sites, including some that are handicapped-accessible. The Rocky Knob Campground, on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 167.1, tel. 540-745-9664, has 81 tent sites and 28 trailer sites. Smith Mountain Lake Campground, on Route 1 in Huddleston, tel. 540-297-6066, has 26 tent sites and 24 trailer sites.
Transportation
Roanoke Regional Airport provides service by most major and regional carriers with direct flights to many cities and connecting flights to all major domestic and international destinations. tel. 540-362-1999 to reach the airport business office. Greyhound Lines, Inc. serves Roanoke as well.
Information
For more information about the Roanoke Valley, including directions, points of interest, brochures, maps and lodging assistance, contact the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, 114 Market Street, Roanoke, VA 24011-1402, tel. 800-635-5535. Check their Web site at www.VisitRoanokeVA.com for more information.
The Salem Visitor's Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, contains brochures, trip planners and information on the sights in this quaint city southwest of Roanoke. tel. 540-375-4044 or 888-VA-SALEM, or visit www.salem-va.com.
Information on businesses, lodging and recreation around Smith Mountain Lake is available at the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, in the Bridgewater Plaza on Route 122 in Moneta; tel. 540-721-1203 or 800-676-8203, www. sml-chamber.com.