ATTRACTIONS OF

Roanoke

Virginia

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ATTRACTIONS OF

Roanoke Virginia

There are so many attractions in the Roanoke Valley that it will be hard to decide how you want to spend your day or night. From live sporting events to downtown museums, all kinds of indoor and outdoor adventures await in the Roanoke Valley.

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The Roanoke Star was constructed in 1949 and was meant to serve as a seasonal Christmas decoration for the holiday shopping season.
Through a sponsorship from the Roanoke Merchants Association, Roy C. Kinsey of Kinsey Sign Co., along with his three sons, Roy Jr., Bob and Warren, designed and built the star.
The structure is actually three stars that are formed by 2,000 feet of neon tubing.
The star was illuminated for the first time on November 23, 1949.
Through its history, the Roanoke Star has become synonymous with the region and is still one of the most talked about and recognizable icons of Virginia.
Placed atop Mill Mountain, the Roanoke Star is effortlessly accessible from the Blue Ridge parkway at Milepost 120. It is only a fifteen-minute drive to Downtown Roanoke by taking J.P. Fishburn Parkway down Mill Mountain and turning right on Jefferson Street, which leads to the heart of downtown.
Mill Mountain is also home to the Mill Mountain Zoo and Discovery center, excellent resources with a selection of fun, educational activities for children.
Mill Mountain also boasts many popular hiking and cycling paths and trails. In addition, the location features amazing picnic areas close to the overlook at the bottom of the Roanoke star.

First Time Illuminated: November 23, 1949
Height of Structure: 88.5 feet
Weight of Star: 10,000 lbs.
Visibility from Air: 60 miles
Length of Neon Tubing: 2,000 feet
Current Consumed: 17,500 watts
Height Above Sea Level: 1,045 feet
Colors: Primarily illuminated white, but can include red, white, and blue for various occasions

To see the Star Cam click here https://www.roanokeva.gov/1687/StarCam

For directions to the Roanoke Star click here https://bit.ly/millmountian

Roanoke

Mill Mountain Star

The Roanoke Star is an iconic symbol of Virginia's Blue Ridge and a must-see spot when visiting the region.
The star sits perched atop Mill Mountain and overlooks the surrounding valley and Blue Ridge Mountains, serving as a beacon and welcoming sign to visitors. It is on every night until midnight
As the largest, free-standing, man-made, illuminated star in the world, the Roanoke Star is one of the most photographed attractions in the area and the scenic overlook at the base of the structure is a popular stop for an incredible view of the region.

Roanoke

Blue Ridge Parkway

Millions of visitors experience the Blue Ridge parkway every year. You may think of it as just a road or a pleasant drive. however, the parkway is also a place of varied and substantial natural resources.
Spanning the southern and central Appalachians, the Blue Ridge parkway gives an extraordinary glimpse of the local plants and wildlife. It's globally known for its biodiversity.
The parkway covers an extensive variety of habitats along the Appalachian Mountains, and some of those habitats are incredibly uncommon. Visitors encounter unsurpassed variety of weather, plant life, wildlife, and geological features.

Interactive map

Roanoke

Museum

The museums inside the Roanoke Valley in Virginia's Blue Ridge make for an enjoyable and academic sightseeing experience for any traveler.
You can take a look at the state of Virginia's official Museum of Transportation, which highlights the area's rich and unique rail heritage along with other instrumental transportation facets of Virginia's history, and study more about the impact of the railroad on Virginia's Blue Ridge while seeing a few stunning rail pictures.
You can be mesmerized by the striking architecture and exhibits of the nearby art museums.

Plan a Blue Ridge Day around terrific experiences centered on pinball, history, technology, a children's museum, and African American heritage at Center in the Square - a brilliant arts & culture center in Downtown Roanoke.
From contemporary art to rail history, African American culture, music, folklife, and interactive technology exhibits, the museums in the Roanoke Valley have something for everybody.

Roanoke

Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian trail is a 2,175-mile trail following the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine, with a hundred and twenty miles of the trail winding through the Roanoke area. The A.T. gives dozens of quick and long hikes, easy to strenuous. Throughout the area you can find trail loops that top at waterfalls and cliffs, continually promising mind-blowing views.

One of the highlights of the trail within the Roanoke area is McAfee Knob, the most photographed point along the trail. It's also prominently featured in the 2015 film, “A walk in the Woods,” starring Robert Redford.

Plan An Overnight Hike

The A.T. offers an amazing possibility for overnight backpacking journeys. Shelters, which are generally three-sided structures that let you camp without a tent, are spread along the trail at numerous intervals which permit you to hike at your own pace. An interactive Appalachian trail map indicates shelters, parking lots, and vistas along the A.T.