Lee's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Mill Mountain Star
2000 J B Fishburn PkwyLots of great exhibits. The trains are awesome. Check to see if the 611 is in town!
47 locals recommend
Virginia Museum of Transportation
303 Norfolk Ave SWLots of great exhibits. The trains are awesome. Check to see if the 611 is in town!
Taubman Museum of Art
110 Salem Ave SESmith Mountain Lake
We are only minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great views but the best views are north towards Peaks of Otter. You can take it South to go see the Roanoke Star. Check for seasonal closures!
47 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
56 Roanoke River PkwyWe are only minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great views but the best views are north towards Peaks of Otter. You can take it South to go see the Roanoke Star. Check for seasonal closures!
National D-Day Memorial
3 Overlord CirIf you're already going to Natural Bridge, check out the caverns!
24 locals recommend
Caverns at Natural Bridge
6313 S Lee HwyIf you're already going to Natural Bridge, check out the caverns!
Awesome natural formation with ties to George Washington & Thomas Jefferson. Close and worth a trip. Stay for the Drama of Creation at night. Plenty of other things to do in the area.
88 locals recommend
Natural Bridge State Park
6477 S Lee HwyAwesome natural formation with ties to George Washington & Thomas Jefferson. Close and worth a trip. Stay for the Drama of Creation at night. Plenty of other things to do in the area.
Family Fun
Roanoke Pinball Museum
1 Market Square SEA unique experience!
Mill Mountain Zoo
Mill Mountain SpurFun little zoo right next to the star.
Nice affordable unique experience. Check to make sure they are doing tours.
16 locals recommend
Dixie Caverns & Pottery Inc
5753 W Main StNice affordable unique experience. Check to make sure they are doing tours.
Excellent place for hiking and family fun. Lots of activities for everyone. Right on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
43 locals recommend
Explore Park
56 Roanoke River Parkway RoadExcellent place for hiking and family fun. Lots of activities for everyone. Right on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
So much to do at the market area. Great shops (especially on weekends), restaurants (too many to list), and sight seeing. Definitely check out the observation deck at Center In The Square and the Hotel Roanoke.
12 locals recommend
Roanoke City Market
Market Square SoutheastSo much to do at the market area. Great shops (especially on weekends), restaurants (too many to list), and sight seeing. Definitely check out the observation deck at Center In The Square and the Hotel Roanoke.
Rent a boat, feed some fish, shop, have a meal, play some mini golf! Great place to hang out and enjoy the lake.
45 locals recommend
Bridgewater Plaza
16430 Booker T Washington HwyRent a boat, feed some fish, shop, have a meal, play some mini golf! Great place to hang out and enjoy the lake.
Fun family get away. You feed the animals from your car! They also have a walk thru zoo.
97 locals recommend
Virginia Safari Park
229 Safari LnFun family get away. You feed the animals from your car! They also have a walk thru zoo.
Roanoke STARCADE
1 Market Square SEThe place to be for Retro fun! Right next to the Pinball Museum.
Food Scene
Great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are open M-Th 7am - 9pm. Fri 7am - 3pm and Sat 7am - 12pm Saturday. Closed Sundays
Dogwood Restaurant
106 E Lee AveGreat place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are open M-Th 7am - 9pm. Fri 7am - 3pm and Sat 7am - 12pm Saturday. Closed Sundays
Its a local favorite. Bring your appetite! The architecture on the outside is unique. Closed Sundays.
6 locals recommend
New York Pizza
708 Hardy RdIts a local favorite. Bring your appetite! The architecture on the outside is unique. Closed Sundays.
Excellent for breakfast, brunch, lunch & dinner.
Open 6am-8pm. T-Sat
6am - 3pm Sunday.
Closed Mondays.
80 locals recommend
Our Daily Bread Bakery & Bistro
1329 S Main StExcellent for breakfast, brunch, lunch & dinner.
Open 6am-8pm. T-Sat
6am - 3pm Sunday.
Closed Mondays.
Farm to table burgers. The Vinton location is very small but has plans to expand this year. Great for take out - highly rated and delicious!
7 locals recommend
FarmBurguesa
303 S Pollard StFarm to table burgers. The Vinton location is very small but has plans to expand this year. Great for take out - highly rated and delicious!
Great place for authentic tacos & burritos. Don't be scared off by the exterior (attached to a gas station), their food is great. We usually do take out here. Closed Sundays.
La Casa Del Burrito Taco Shop
515 2nd StGreat place for authentic tacos & burritos. Don't be scared off by the exterior (attached to a gas station), their food is great. We usually do take out here. Closed Sundays.
Jake's Place
1041 Harbour Inn LnNice place to sit back, have a meal, and watch the lake traffic.
Great place for ice cream, hotdogs, or BBQ sandwiches. Located at 2445 East Washington Ave, Ste 106, Vinton, VA 24179 (Next to Domino's). Open Tue-Thu 11am - 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10pm.
2445 E Washington Ave
Great place for ice cream, hotdogs, or BBQ sandwiches. Located at 2445 East Washington Ave, Ste 106, Vinton, VA 24179 (Next to Domino's). Open Tue-Thu 11am - 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10pm.
Pok-E-Joe's BBQ
Local BBQ place with burgers and sandwiches.
RND Coffee
Great coffee spot. Local to Roanoke.
Great Place for sandwiches and open late. Open to 11 during the week and 12 Friday & Saturday
Macado's
Great Place for sandwiches and open late. Open to 11 during the week and 12 Friday & Saturday
Great breakfast spot and good lunch that's priced right. Breakfast served all day. Current hours are T-Sun 7am-3pm and Fri night 5pm-9pm. Closed Mon. This is our Saturday goto for breakfast
Renee's Family Restaurant
Great breakfast spot and good lunch that's priced right. Breakfast served all day. Current hours are T-Sun 7am-3pm and Fri night 5pm-9pm. Closed Mon. This is our Saturday goto for breakfast
Vito's Pizza - Great little carryout pizza place. Right across the street from our neighborhood entrance. They are only open M,W,&F at this location from 4-9pm. We have had almost everything they offer. Always good. Try the Vito Sticks!
Vito's Pizza
Vito's Pizza - Great little carryout pizza place. Right across the street from our neighborhood entrance. They are only open M,W,&F at this location from 4-9pm. We have had almost everything they offer. Always good. Try the Vito Sticks!
Hiking
Great moderate hike. Shuttle is available to get you most of the way up if needed. The summit offers an impressive 360-degree view of the Peaks of Otter area, the Piedmont to the east, and the Shenandoah Valley with the Allegheny mountains to the west. Allow two hours for hiking up and one hour for hiking down.
17 locals recommend
Sharp Top
Great moderate hike. Shuttle is available to get you most of the way up if needed. The summit offers an impressive 360-degree view of the Peaks of Otter area, the Piedmont to the east, and the Shenandoah Valley with the Allegheny mountains to the west. Allow two hours for hiking up and one hour for hiking down.
Moderately strenuous hike that is 8 miles round-trip. Takes about 4 hours and requires some snacks! Incredible views. Make sure you are parking in a designated area because they will tow.
116 locals recommend
McAfee Knob
Appalachian National Scenic TrailModerately strenuous hike that is 8 miles round-trip. Takes about 4 hours and requires some snacks! Incredible views. Make sure you are parking in a designated area because they will tow.
Great family trail with lots of water features. There is an old blast furnace onsite so get some souvenir slag to take home!
27 locals recommend
Roaring Run Loop Trail
Roaring Run RoadGreat family trail with lots of water features. There is an old blast furnace onsite so get some souvenir slag to take home!
Great hiking area. Sharp top has some incredible 360° views. Lots of easier trails also there. Easy hike to Johnson Farm and enjoy a stroll around Abbott Lake. In season they will bus you close to the top but you still have to hike the last bit up. Worth it!
123 locals recommend
Peaks of Otter
Great hiking area. Sharp top has some incredible 360° views. Lots of easier trails also there. Easy hike to Johnson Farm and enjoy a stroll around Abbott Lake. In season they will bus you close to the top but you still have to hike the last bit up. Worth it!
Great place for hiking, fishing, & kayaking. Small charge for a day pass of $3 each.
45 locals recommend
Carvins Cove Recreation Area
State Route 648Great place for hiking, fishing, & kayaking. Small charge for a day pass of $3 each.
Shopping
Fun place to visit. They star in the Salvage Dawgs TV show. Their pieces are unique and there is always something new. They also have vendor booths onsite. A must see for first time visitors and unusual antiques lovers.
55 locals recommend
Black Dog Salvage
902 13th St SWFun place to visit. They star in the Salvage Dawgs TV show. Their pieces are unique and there is always something new. They also have vendor booths onsite. A must see for first time visitors and unusual antiques lovers.
Valley View Mall
4802 Valley View Blvd NWNeed your mall fix? This is the place.
Mast General Store
401 S Jefferson StGo back in time at the Mast General Store.
Biking
It's a hugely popular spot for biking, walking, and running, and winds through various communities in Virginia's Blue Ridge, connecting you to many interesting parts of the area, including local parks, downtown districts, and the Roanoke River.
https://www.visitroanokeva.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/greenways/
Wolf Creek Greenway
Wolf Creek GreenwayIt's a hugely popular spot for biking, walking, and running, and winds through various communities in Virginia's Blue Ridge, connecting you to many interesting parts of the area, including local parks, downtown districts, and the Roanoke River.
https://www.visitroanokeva.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/greenways/