Explore Roanoke

Your Address for Exploration

The Roanoke Valley (located 250 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. and 196 miles north of Charlotte, North Carolina) is home to over 325,00 people, with over 99,000 of its population living within the city limits. The city of Roanoke hosts a wide array of festivals, cultural events, and entertainment opportunities within a short distance from Wilson’s main campus. Roanoke’s rich arts and culture community and its location in Virginia’s storied Blue Ridge Mountains make it known as one of the most undiscovered and prized small cities in the US.

Nearby arts and performance venues include the architecturally stunning Taubman Museum of Art, the historic Jefferson Center (home of Roanoke Children’s Theater), and Mill Mountain Theatre, located in Center in the Square in Roanoke’s historic City Market—a newly renovated, multi-level building which also houses a planetarium and a number of museums.

The Great Outdoors

Roanoke is known as the “Star City of the South” for its Roanoke Star, also known as the Mill Mountain Star. Roanoke Valley Greenways connect to the adjacent Appalachian Trail (AT) with its nearby McAfees Knob, one the area’s most spectacular and iconic vistas. You’ll also enjoy direct access to the Greenways for running, cycling, and hiking—and when you want feel even closer to nature, enjoy the outdoors a block from your front door in Elmwood Park, with seasonal festivals, ice skating over the holidays, and the outdoor amphitheater.

 

Find out more about the new boarding program in Roanoke's Boxley building. Now accepting applications for the Fall 2018 school year.

Live Here. Learn Here.

Downtown Roanoke

Downtown Roanoke

213 Market Street, Roanoke, Virginia 24011

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Make It Yours

Make it yours… Innovative, smart and well-connected. Downtown Roanoke is creating its own style; merging young and old, traditional and edgy. We’re building a new culture. A renewed sense of life and excitement tailored to your sense of adventure—a regional hot-spot for industry, enlightenment, and creativity. We’re ready to make things happen.

Shop, eat, create, explore. There’s always something happening in Downtown Roanoke. See for yourself, one visit and you’ll understand we’re designing a new way for you to experience the city—by making it yours.

Roanoke, Virginia, USA downtown skyline.

Roanoke City Market

Roanoke City Market

Intersection of Campbell and Market Streets, Roanoke Virginia

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Eat local. Live better.
Make it happen Downtown.

Wondering what you’ll have for dinner tonight? Try something that tastes fresh, is healthier for you and supports the region’s economy. The Historic Roanoke City Market brings an enticing array of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants during growing season. The market even boasts a variety of fresh meat, cheeses, and baked goods.

Our vendors are trusted food sources and are always on site to answer any questions you have about the market products, a definite perk you won’t find at your grocery store. If you purchase food from the market you are purchasing fresh, quality products that aren’t weighted down by chemicals and preservatives to make a long journey from an unnamed farm to your kitchen table. Each day, the products sold at our market are arriving fresh from a farm that’s been inspected and approved as meeting all health and sanitation codes as well as statewide agricultural requirements.

Fresh food isn’t the only thing waiting for you at the market. Looking for unique gifts and collectibles? The market has a number of artisans who have joined the farmers and planters offering handcrafted items, unique jewelry, and other art pieces.

The Historic Roanoke City Market is open year-round, seven days a week, and closes only on Christmas and New Year’s Day. It has been recognized as a “Great American Public Place” by the Lyndhurst Foundation along with other winners like the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC and Central Park in New York City. Locally, the market receives many “Best of Roanoke” awards by readers of the Roanoker Magazine.

For More Information, contact Downtown Roanoke, Inc. at 540-342-2028.

Where to find the City Market
Location: In the heart of Downtown Roanoke at the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Market Street.

Hours: The Market hours are 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, although many vendors use Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for planting, picking, and preparing items for sale. In growing season, many vendors are on the Market around 7:00 a.m. and leave around 3:00 p.m.

Mother and son buying green peas at market

Taubman Museum of Art

Taubman Museum of Art

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About | Taubman Museum of Art | Roanoke, VA | Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA

 

Inspiring New Perspectives

The Taubman Museum of Art is part of the lively metro mountain mix of arts, culture and outdoor fun in the heart of downtown Roanoke, Virginia.

As you enjoy your visit, you will notice internationally renowned architect Randall Stout took special care to honor naturalistic elements of the Roanoke region. Purposeful use was taken with both materials and architectural decisions such as the 77-foot glass peak in the atrium, which recalls the point of the Roanoke Star, and the undulating roofline, which reflects the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Museum offers eleven galleries as part of the Fralin Center for American Art and originates 15-20 exhibitions per year. Featured artists have ranged from Kehinde Wiley to John James Audubon and from Sally Mann to Norman Rockwell.

The Museum also is home to a permanent collection featuring the work of artists such as Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Purvis Young, Petah Coyne and John Cage, to name just a few.

Children under the age of 17 can enjoy a hands-on, creative experience in Art Venture, the Museum’s interactive learning space.

roanoke virginia city skyline in the mountain valley

Elmwood Park

Elmwood Park

Williamson Road, Roanoke VA

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Arts and Culture Roanoke

Arts and Culture Roanoke

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What moves you? Explore like a local.

We all have our own take on things—that special flair that allows us to merge new and traditional ideas and create an exciting new twist on experiencing life. Downtown Roanoke is the perfect place to create your own adventure in arts and culture. It’s the place you can go to and see your style come alive.

From the live sounds of jazz, rock and blues, to house music on the dance floor, Downtown Roanoke has a diverse music scene filled with well-known acts and up-and-coming musicians. You’ll hear live music almost every night in several of our restaurants such as Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill, Blue 5 Restaurant, Old Southwest Grill, and The Blues BBQ Co. And downtown is also host to performing arts centers like the Kirk Avenue Music Hall that provides a smaller, more intimate feel for music lovers. Venues such as the Jefferson Center host the Roanoke Symphony and Roanoke Ballet Theatre along with other national touring acts and musicians.

If you love the arts, visit the many galleries and art museums featuring local, national and world-renowned art. Downtown is home to the prestigious Taubman Museum of Art as well as many other galleries and studios featuring talented regional artists. Art By Night, which takes place the first Friday of every month is a great way to see the number of galleries in Roanoke as well as meet the artists themselves. For more information visit the Art by Night website or Facebook page.

Downtown also hosts many cultural and historical venues including the Virginia Museum of Transportation, The Science Museum of Western Virginia, The O. Winston Link Museum, The History Museum of Western Virginia, and The Harrison Museum of African American Culture.

Close-up of grass

Riverfront Parks & Roanoke Valley Greenway

Riverfront Parks & Roanoke Valley Greenway

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Greenways | Quality of Life

The Roanoke Valley, Virginia greenway program arose in 1995 as a citizen initiative to improve quality of life in the region. The City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem and the Town of Vinton established the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission in 1997 with the signing of an Intergovernmental Agreement. At the same time greenway founders set up Pathfinders for Greenways, Inc. to be a non-profit that could involve volunteers in greenway development . . . read more about the history of Roanoke Valley Greenways.
THE GREENWAY COMMISSION
The Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission serves as an advisory and support organization and includes up to five appointed members from each of the participating localities as well as representatives of several partner organizations. The Commission meets on a regular basis, and several committees undertake specific duties on behalf of the Commission . . . read more about the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission

PATHFINDERS FOR GREENWAYS
Pathfinders for Greenways was incorporated in 1997 as a non-profit organization to involve citizens in greenways. Pathfinders provides a forum for involvement of volunteers, coordination of work days, greenway promotional events, and fundraising  . . . read more about Pathfinders for Greenways.
Greenway Triathlon
May 13, 2017, 3:00pm – May 13, 2017, 8:00pm
A new exciting event on the Roanoke River Greenway and Blueway. Run up the greenway, hop in any watercraft of your choosing at Memorial Park (the small park with river access under Memorial Bridge), paddle to The Bridges (location of our new boat launch!), and ride your bike up the Mill Mountain Greenway, then back to Rivers Edge. Individual and team divisions.
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Roanoke Valley Greenways
4 weeks ago
Gallop 4 the Greenways
May 13, 2017, 4:00pm – May 13, 2017, 8:00pm

Join us to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the greenway program.
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Roanoke Valley Greenways

Your support is always appreciated! So many good things coming your way on the Greenways! #givingtuesday
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Close-up of grass

Center In the Square | Museums, Aquariums and Butterfly Gardens

Center In the Square | Museums, Aquariums and Butterfly Gardens

One Market Square SE Roanoke, Virginia 24011

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(540) 342-5700

Get Schooled!Education Program

We serve K–12 classes through guided or self-guided tours, customized educational programming, professional training opportunities, and curriculum resources for teachers, giving educators the opportunity to enrich their students with prepared curriculum, vocabulary words, resources and classroom, home and post-trip activities. Our mission is to connect people with nature by providing opportunities for every visitor. Patrons of all ages can participate in tank talks, Green Rooftop & Aquarium tours, short courses & workshops, lectures, film screenings, or they can explore independently and ask a member of our Tank Team for assistance if questions arise.
View and download our Get Schooled! brochure

Aquariums

Center in the Square is home to a magnificent 8,000 gallon Living Reef Aquarium. This aquarium is home to over 400 beautiful marine fish and 150 soft and stony corals. It is the largest of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic. There are also two 300 gallon cylindrical jellyfish tanks and a 400 gallon Tidal Tank that are home to seahorses, urchins, and various other intertidal marine organisms. In addition to our saltwater aquariums, we have a Turtles of Virginia tank that features three different species of turtles found throughout Virginia. We also have a 400 gallon aquarium which features rotating aquarium exhibits. On view now: Predators of the Amazon. These six aquariums serve as an excellent medium for teaching our SOL-based curriculum.
Center’s multi-level green roof offers spectacular views of downtown Roanoke and the mountains of the Roanoke Valley as well as serving as a venue for entertainment functions. A significant portion of the fifth floor was opened and re-enclosed in a dynamic skylight as part of the new butterfly habitat. In addition, many of the latest sustainable, green, and energy-harnessing technologies have been incorporated into the rooftop experience for both their operational effectiveness and educational aspects. This awe-inspiring rooftop is one of the most innovative on the East Coast. Feel free to take advantage of the views of Roanoke while eating your lunch.

Pinball Museum

In 2015, Center in the Square established the Roanoke Pinball Museum. This museum is home to 45 to 50 machines ranging from 1932-2003. Not only can you play pinball, but pinball players, young and old, will be introduced to the history of pinball, the science behind the game, and have an opportunity to appreciate the color, composition and overall design of the backglasses and playfields. SOL-compliant curriculum and educational resources are available to students and teachers to reinforce their visit to the museum. We have the opportunity to playfully educate and introduce a new generation to a game that has consistently reflected the sign of the times in American pop culture.

As a museum, the Roanoke Pinball Museum provides SOL compliant material to accompany school visits and field trips. We encourage educators to download our educational material below. Or if you are just someone looking to learn a little bit more about pinball.

Center Pass + Roanoke Pinball Museum

[Includes Roanoke Pinball Museum, Harrison Museum of African American Culture, History Museum of Western Virginia, and the Science Museum of Western Virginia with butterfly garden.]

$25 for adult (18+), $20 for youth (9-17), $15 for child (4-8). Children under 4 are FREE! See below for individual admission prices for each of these organizations.

Enjoy our Atrium Aquariums and Green Rooftop (Floors 6 and 7) without charge.

Building Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday 1 – 5 pm.

Center in the Square administrative offices are located on the second floor at Center on Church, 20 Church Avenue SE, Roanoke VA 24011 • 540.342.5700

Hotel Roanoke and Convention Center

Hotel Roanoke and Convention Center

110 Shenandoah Ave NE, Roanoke, VA 24016

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(540) 985-5900

Welcoming Guests for More Than 130 Years

Getting rest and relaxation when you are away from home can be difficult, that’s why our newly renovated guest rooms with complimentary wired/wireless Internet offer the ultimate in comfort, in-room conveniences and amenities to help you feel like you’re home. Relax in contemporary accommodations at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in downtown Roanoke, VA. All the essentials and more are covered in our stylish newly renovated guest rooms.

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The Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway

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Beautiful Fall Foliage in Virginia

Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Foliage Scenic Drives, Sightseeing Tours.

bright fall leaves on a s-curve. georgia's fort mountain. Close-up of grass Sunset over the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains from Crescent Rock, in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

See Our Location in the Heart of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic

Another Innovative Development by Hist:Re Partners