Most romantic husband? Valentine's Weekend Ideas

After this we played scrabble

Britain's most romantic husband?

An 87-year-old North Wales man has put a fresh rose at his wife's bedside every single day of the 60 years they have been married.    Tom Shovelton also kisses his 83-year-old wife Joan and first thing every morning and before they go to sleep each night, reports the Daily Mail.

The couple, from Pentre Halkyn in Flintshire, North Wales, have just celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

Mrs Shovelton said: "I still get a rose by my bedside every day and I always get a kiss in the morning and before I go to bed at night.

"We have lived and worked together all our lives, so we know how important give and take is. We've had a happy 60 years together. I wouldn't have changed a thing."

And Mr Shovelton believes that if more couples made a selfless gesture to their spouse or loved one, there would be fewer broken relationships.  "Everyone should do it," he said. "I love her to bits - I have done since the day we met."

They met by chance in a pub on New Year's Eve of 1946, discovered they shared a love of horticulture and went on to work together as market gardeners.  The couple, who have children, Susan, Tony, Mark and twins Jayne and Paul, also have ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.    Story taken from here.

Find Romance at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast. Pictured below is The Rocky Room - Victorian Eastlake Furniture, overlooks the gardens and ponds below.

See our special packages and add ons if you too would like to leave a rose on her pillow.


How about a romantic serenade from a barbershop quartet?   This singing quartet offers a gift package that your Valentine won’t soon forget. The Smith Mountain Lake Harmeneers will serenade your loved one by delivering not one, but two love songs on February 12 – 14. Even better still your sweetheart will also receive a silk rose and a picture as part of the gift package. Honestly it would be hard to beat this combination for effect and making memories. The best part is that you get the whole deal for only $50.00!! Call 540-297-9231 for a reservation!

MORE VALENTINE'S WEEKEND IDEAS - Kirk Avenue Music Hall has two fantastic shows that weekend and is about 30 minutes from The Claiborne House:  


Fri., Feb. 12 Blueground Undergrass With: Blue Mule,  Sun Feb 14  Frank Vignola click here for reservations and more info at Kirk Avenue Music Hall  (This is the romantic jazz guitarist extraordinaire tickets just $15 per person) The Frank Vignola Trio with monster bassist, Gary Mazzaroppi and young guitarist extraordinaire, Vinny Raniolo travel the globe making stops in Canada, Singapore, Italy, England with Tommy Emmanuel, USA and more.

Roanoke Symphony Orchestra - Romance her socks off! Click here


VIRGINIA IS FOR ROMANCE LOVERS

We recommend RED CLAY Restaurant on our corner for a lovely V-Day meal.  Very reasonable and an intimate setting.   Red Clay (540) 482 - 0020

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

(Top photo courtesy of White Cedar Inn, Freeport Maine by dkouznet. We highly recommend The White Cedar Inn while visiting Casco Bay area of Maine. Be sure to ask for Monica)

Equestrian, Pedestrian & Cyclestrians share the new trail at Fairystone State Park

Horse Camp Trail at Fairy Stone State Park

Fairy Stone State Park recently finished construction of a new trail.  The Horse Camp Trail extends from the Mountain View Trail to a newly purchased piece of property near the intersection of Highway 57 and Fairystone Lake Drive.  Named for a yet to be built equestrian camping facility, the Horse Camp Trail is slightly less than one and three quarters of a mile long and is blazed red.  The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is about 40 minutes from Fairy Stone State Park (fyi)

While unsigned at this time, it only intersects the trail system in one location, slightly past the wildlife plot on the Mountain View Trail.  The trail is considered moderate difficulty and has several hundred feet of elevation change.  It follows along a ridge, then drops down into a valley and crosses Hale Creek, passing through several fields before it reaches Highway 57.  It is a multi-use trail open to hikers, bikers and equestrian trail users.

Courtesy of the Virginia State Park Blog Website here

Virginia State Parks Website here

VIRGINIA STATE PARKS. You’ll find plenty of programs, events and activities at Virginia State Parks. Our 35 parks have thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins, more than 500 miles of trails and convenient access to Virginia’s major waterways. Beaches, picnic shelters, family lodges, meeting facilities, festivals, concerts, nature programs, cultural happenings… the list goes on and on. From Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, there’s something for everyone at Virginia State Parks. Whether you’re after a relaxing picnic or a two-week vacation, leave life’s daily pressures behind and reconnect with nature and your family at a nearby state park.

Geocaching and GPS activities in a Virginia State Park Click here

Womens Wellness Weekends Click here

Virginia State Parks Facts and Trivia Click here

Numbers, numbers, numbers!

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation manages a diversity of lands:

• 35 state parks
• 4 undeveloped parks
• 54 natural areas
• More than 112,300 total acres (66,788 acres in state parks)
• 500 miles of trails
• 241 cabins (located at Bear Creek Lake, Belle Isle, Chippokes Plantation, Claytor Lake, Douthat, Fairy Stone, First Landing, Hungry Mother, James River, Lake Anna, Occoneechee, Smith Mountain Lake, Southwest Virginia Museum, Staunton River, Twin Lakes, Westmoreland)
• 19 lodges (Bear Creek, Belle Isle, Claytor Lake, Douthat, Fairy Stone, Hungry Mother, James River, Kiptopeke, Occoneechee, Westmoreland)
• 1,834 campsites in 25 different parks
• 87 picnic shelters
• 23 visitor centers
• 11 swimming beaches
• 5 swimming pools
• 2 restaurants; 19 snack bars

Click here to watch a short video about Virginia State Parks. (This is a great video - Shellie)

VIRGINIA IS FOR STATE PARK LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net  

(PS Yes I made up the word Cyclestrians, but it did go well with Equestrians and Pedestrians)

Trace Your Roots

Virginia Genealogy Information

Do you suspect that your family roots extend into Virginia? If so, you'll be amazed that two of the nation's foremost genealogical resource centers are in Richmond — the Library of Virginiaand the Virginia Historical Society.You will probably find what you need at these two treasure troves of information.

Then, when you find out more specific information about your ancestors, you can visit theregional and county resources listed below and read about specific ethnic groups that settled in in Virginia.

The Library of Virginia

Visit the Library of Virginia online at http://www.lva.lib.va.us and click on What We Have, for a listing of collections, including: publications; various government records; architectural drawings and plans; Bible records; business and organization records. A few records are available online, but you will probably have to visit the Library at some point in your research.

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The Virginia Historical Society

Visit the Virginia Historical Society online at http://www.vahistorical.org and click on Research, then click on Search the Collections. Of particular interest for genealogical research can be found at http://www.vahistorical.org/research/genealogy.htm

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Other Genealogy Resources in Virginia

Article information courtesy of Virginia.org

Scots-Irish in Virginia

Farmers from Ulster Become Frontiersmen

The Scots-Irish who immigrated to Virginia came

from the northern region (teal blue area) of Ireland.

The Scots-Irish were Scots who had settled in Northern Ireland — Ulster — after 1600. Most of them were Presbyterian farmers who had lived under oppressive English rule. They started migrating to Virginia in 1715.
During the 1740 famine in Ulster, many of them sailed to the port of Philadelphia, traveled down theGreat Wagon Road and settled in the mid-to-southern counties of the Shenandoah Valley —basically leap-frogging established German settlers in the northern counties.
The Scots-Irish soon became the dominant culture of the Appalachians from Pennsylvania to Georgia, not only because of their numbers, but because of their independent spirits, adventurous personalities and restless natures. They became the frontiersmen and cowboys of the Big Valley and the Wild West! And later, many Scots-Irish worked in the coal mines and on the railroads, producing the energy and mode of transportation that made this nation great.

Years of settlement: Big Valley 1715-1740 | Westward Ho! 1745-1770

Frontier Culture in the Shenandoah Valley
In the 1730s, Virginia's Governor William Gooch granted William Beverly more than 118,000 acres in Augusta and Rockingham Counties known as the Beverley Manor or Irish Track. Beverly sold this land to Scots-Irish immigrating from Pennsylvania for half a shilling per acre, primarily because the land would have reverted back to the English Crown if not cultivated within a certain period of time.
Also, Gooch needed the Scots-Irish as a "valuable buffer between the Native American tribes and the English planters."
This open range land was home to large herds of bison as well as deer, elk, bear and wild turkeys, making it advantageous for many settlers to earn their living as pack men — hunting and then selling animal pelts to settlers — and becoming ranchers as well as farmers.
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Westward Migration to Blue Ridge Highlands
and the Heart of Appalachia Regions

CREDIT: Kentucky Historical Society.

Daniel Boone was the epitome of the pioneer trailblazer.

He blazed the "Wilderness Road" through the Appalachians into Kentucky.

In 1745, Colonel James Patten from Donegal, Ireland, obtained 100,000 acres on the New, Holston and Clinch Rivers, further southwest into today's Blue Ridge Highlands and Heart of Appalachiaregions. He sold parcels of land to other Scots-Irish settlers.
In 1769, Daniel Boone, a woodsman from Pennsylvania whose parents were actually English Quakers, traveled along wilderness trails and through the Cumberland Gap in the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky with five other explorers.
Boone's explorations drew even more Scots-Irish to settle in the southern Appalachian valleys.

See Scots-Irish Sites!

Scots-Irish Sites in Virginia

Enjoy visiting many Scots-Irish sites in the mountainous regions of Virginia:

Shenandoah Valley | Heart of Appalachia | Blue Ridge Highlands

Shenandoah Valley Sites

Staunton - The Frontier Culture Museumfeatures Scotch-Irish (Ulster) farm buildings such as those once in the townland of Claraghmore in County Tyrone in the early 19th century.

These buildings show a traditional architectural form, the thatched one-story stone farmhouse. See an 18th-century blacksmith's forge and rare and minor breed animals who lived on the Ulster farms, too!

Ferrum - The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival takes place every October on the campus of Ferrum College. Celebrate like your Scots-Irish ancestors did, with plenty of Appalachian music, crafts and foods.

Fincastle - The Town of Fincastle is home to about 200 people. The County Courthouse and Museum are filled with records of the families who migrated through the Shenandoah Valley as early as the 1770s. William Clark, of Lewis & Clark, and who was born in Northern Virginia, married a resident of Fincastle, Judith Hancock.

Raphine - Wade's Mill is a working water-powered grist mill built in 1750 by a Scots-Irish family. Open April-mid-December.

Lexington -Visit the Birthplace of Sam Houston, a son of Scots-Irish settlers, who served as commander of the Texas army and won the battle of San Jacinto, which secured Texan independence. He later became a U.S. Senator and Governor of Texas.

Lexington - The Campbell House is home of the Rockbridge Historical Society, where you can research the history of the Scots-Irish in Rockbridge County.

Staunton - Take a self-guided walking tour of Staunton's Historic Districts, such as the Beverley History District, named after William Beverley who sold land to Scots-Irish settlers in the early 1700s. The Gospel Hill area is where their camp meetings or field services took place. These meetings combined preaching with fighting and drinking!

Steeles Tavern - Visit Cyrus McCormick's Farm & Workshop. McCormick, of Scots-Irish ancestry, invited the first reaper that revolutionized the world of agriculture.

Strasburg - The Strasburg Museum features artifacts from Scots-Irish farms, homes and businesses during the Civil War and Railroad eras.

Winchester - The new Museum of the Shenandoah Valley tells the story of the art, history and culture of the Great Valley, which spotlights the Scots-Irish settlers.

Heart of Appalachia Sites

Appalachia - The Appalachia Cultural Arts Center in the Appalachia Town Hall on Main Street reflects the booming coal mining culture of the late 1800s. The town was the hub of eight coal camps, where many Scots-Irish settlers lived.

Big Stone Gap - The Harry W. Meador Coal Museumonce was a community center where the locals danced. Exhibits include photographs, mining equipment and tools used by the Scots-Irish miners.

Big Stone Gap - Visit the John Fox Jr. Museum, which was the home of the famous author known for his novels about the mountain people — Trail of the Lonesome Pine and The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, which became the nation's first million-copy seller! John Fox's Scots-Irish ancestors traveled down the Great Wagon Road in 1790.

Pocahontas - Step into the historic Pocahontas Exhibition Mine & Museum and learn the story of mining the famous Pocahontas Number Three coal and the miners who worked there.

Tazewell - Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park focuses on the history of Southwest Virginia with exhibits on Revolutionary and Civil Wars, agricultural and mining as well as homelife of the Scots-Irish settlers. See authentic log homes and barns on the property.

Tazewell - Thistle Cove Farm is an Appalachian homestead featuring rare breed horses and sheep. It is open for tours by appointment and during special events.

Blue Ridge Highlands Sites

Atkins - The Settler's Museum of Southwest Virginia tells the story of the people. See a 19th-century living history farm and one-room schoolhouse.

Blacksburg - Revolutionary War patriot William Preston was born in Ireland and came to Virginia as a young boy. He and his wife, Susanna Smith, lived at Smithfield Plantation, built in 1773.

Critz - Visit Reynolds Homestead, the restored 19th-century birthplace of R.J. Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Galax - See two restored Appalachian log cabins furnished with period items and mounted North American game animals, both reflecting the Scots-Irish settlers' way of life, at the Jeff Matthews Memorial Museum.

Marion - Smyth County Historical & Museum Society features a Tour Through Time, which reflects the economic and social development of the county.

Meadows of Dan - See Mabry Mill, a community gathering place for the settlers in the early 1900s. Watch traditional rural skills being demonstrated, such as basket weaving, chair caning, spinning and weaving. See the restored gristmill, sawmill, wood working shop and blacksmith shop, too.

Meadows of Dan - Mayberry Presbyterian Church is one of five historic rock churches founded by Rev. Robert W. Childress in the early 1920s who was immortalized in The Man Who Moved a Mountain.

Newbern - The Newbern Historic District was founded in 1810 and features 26 of the original log or wooden buildings, including a jail, hanging house, store, churches, private residences and an inn!

Newbern - The Wilderness Road Regional Museum complex is a large home and several restored outbuildings, including three log buildings. See furniture, paintings and photographs of the era 1810-1865. This is a wonderful resource for your own family research.

Saltville - The Museum of the Middle Appalachians showcases the 70-year history of Saltville as a "company town" where the coal miners and their families lived.

VIRGINIA IS FOR HERITAGE LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

We have a very helpful Franklin County Historical Society here in town. Website Here.  They can research and find anyone and anything!  You can walk to their library and museum from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast.  Interesting fact from your innkeeper - there are more Scots-Irish in Franklin County than African Americans.  My sister and family live in Ireland...so no moonshine (we've got that here) they have music (also here).  

A Romantic Look Back at Some of our Special Guests

Your innkeeper at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast was thinking back over some of the fantastic guests we have had these the past 6 years.  With Valentine's day approaching I could not help but remember a few of the more romantic ones.  I hope you will enjoy seeing who these guests are...

First I shall mention amazing Greek Tenor Mario Frangoulis - who has an incredible bio - see his website for more info on this incredible artist.  He is award winning and platinum in Greece. Here is a video of one of his performances in Thessaloniki.  He sings is 5 different languages and the ladies swoon over him.  He stayed with us briefly for some relaxation and rest while on tour.  Your innkeeper put a note in his shower "No singing in the shower unless you are trained tenor."   (I can tell you the rest of the story when you visit us. -Shellie)

We have also enjoyed having the gold and platinum Grammy award romantic piano sensation Jim Brickman.  Jim's songs are always top pick for weddings across the USA and world, 28 of them on the charts.  He is that romantic!  Visit his website to learn more about the Brickhouse. Don't miss Jim Brickman if he is ever on tour near you - usually Christmas and Valentine's tours that will really move you.   We got to meet his Dad too who is a really neat man!

Never Alone - Music Video

fresh film+design | MySpace Video 

The gorgeous and talented singer Anne Cochran was here as well.  The Claiborne girls were overwhelmed by her barbie-like beauty and stage presence. See the video below of Anne performing with lifelong friend Jim Brickman and renowned violinist Tracey Silverman.

VIRGINIA IS FOR ROMANTIC MUSIC LOVERS  

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

Here is Mario singing Music of the Night at Herod Atticus Theatre in Greece.  

AirBnB "The eBay of Space" currently with rooms in over 2200 cities and 106 countries

You have heard me say variety is the spice of the innkeeper's life.  What am I speaking of?  Guests of course.  At The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast we are blessed with all variety of guests.  Someone would be hard pressed to define and pinpoint our niche, as our guests are here for all sorts of reasons.  

After reading an article with study recently I am determined to not let the Gen-Xers think of all B&B's as Granny's House.  This is not granny's house - sure we have antiques and the house is, um, old...built in circa 1895.  But being old is not always bad - she has character!  Her 9 foot walnut ceilings, her exposed stairway lined with beadboard, her grand 130' wrap around porch.  All these things give this old girl a stout disposition - some might call her fiesty.  She is not an old gray mare. Not as long as we are the owners-innkeepers here.

Within her walls and on her grounds you will find her lifeforce - it is the guests who wander around the gardens and relax by the ponds, lovers in a warm embrace, long lost friends reuniting with bubbly stories from years past, outdoor enthusistasts eager to hit the trails or paddle our blue ways.  The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail begins here - one block from the Claiborne House.  Some guests are here to perfect the art of doing nothing.  They want nothing more than to get away from their busyness - day in and day out of fighting the dragons in the workplace, harried lives, commuter frustration...to just "be."

So what about AirBnB? Well 2010 is the year I market toward Gen-X as I feel they have been left out of the equation and a force to be reckoned with.   I already installed good quality iPod docking stations in the rooms - we have high speed WIFI throughout - even on the porch, and other modern amenities like cable tv, private baths, excellent coffee (something I find lacking when I myself travel) and a variety of quality teas.  The guest fridge is also stocked with sodas from coke zero, cheerwine (a regional favorite) to gingerale.  Distilled and chilled Shenandoah Springs also available 24/7.  BYO - we will provide the glasses and wine opener.   


You can sit out on the porch and take in the day with a book, laptop or cuddle up to a loved one.   Walk to our hip corner european pastry shop Edible Vibe where the organic coffee and local music are fantastic, or visit a few local music events in these hills from Floydfest to Blue Mountain Festival - just don't forget to bring a chair.

AirBnB is a new lodging directory geared to incite travel!  On this website you will find lodging in over 2200 cities and 106 countries - from boats down under to castles in France.  They have last minute specials and you can always get a great rate.  I signed up with The Shenandoah Room - often overlooked due to the private bath being detached and not in the room.  This lovely room is filled each morning with the eastern sunrise.  The country oak furniture and soft colors invite you to a good nights rest and peaceful start to your day.   I have also nicknamed it the book-nook as there is a bookshelf packed with books of all sorts.

So what are you waiting for?  Make it a driving getaway or scan Airfare Watchdog for some incredible deals overseas.  Don't let the moss grow under your feet. 

VIRGINIA IS FOR ADVENTURE LOVERS  

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

Checkered Pig Wins First Place in Ribs!

BBQ guru gets second TV spot

The owner of restaurants in Martinsville and Danville was filmed during a competition.

By Lindsey Nair
  540-981-3343

Courtesy of Tommy Houston

Barbecue guru Tommy Houston and his wife, Lisa, in front of their championship pit.

Tommy Houston surpassed his 15 minutes of fame hours ago.

Now the 49-year-old Virginia restaurateur is about to be on national television yet again, this time during Food Network's "Great American BBQ Showdown," which airs at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Houston, who owns the barbecue restaurants Pigs R Us in Martinsville and Checkered Pig in Danville, was filmed for the show in July while competing in the state barbecue championship at the South Carolina Festival of Discovery in Greenwood, S.C.

Houston's competition team, which also goes by the name Checkered Pig, has been entering barbecue competitions all over the country since 2004 and has won dozens of awards. Most of the contests are sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

In 2005, the Checkered Pig team appeared on another Food Network show called the "Reno Rib Cook-Off." The team won first place in the Nevada competition, taking home $7,500 plus bragging rights.

"I tell people all over the country: Food Network changed our life," Houston said in an interview earlier this week. "I can be in line at Hardee's and somebody will turn around and say, 'Didn't I see you on TV?' "

Houston said the awards and the television exposure have been good for his restaurants and catering business. Pigs R Us on Liberty Street in Martinsville has been around for 13 years, but Checkered Pig opened on Crown Drive in Danville within the past year, at a time when other restaurants were crumpling under the weight of a sour economy.

"The beauty of barbecue is barbecue is comfort food," he said. "In times of economic uncertainty ... people gravitate toward comfort food. It's just a national reaction."

It probably doesn't hurt that Houston never stops thinking about ways to perfect his product. Although his ribs, pork butt and brisket have scored well in many competitions, his chicken has lagged behind.

That's why, just the other night, he fed his family four different kinds of "practice chicken" for dinner.

"We try hard," he said. "We are fierce competitors and we take it very seriously."

Location and Contact Info:  Pigs - R - Us  Website - http://www.checkeredpig.com  1014 Liberty Street, Martinsville, VA 24112 - - PH: 276.632.1161    
Hours:  Monday-Thursday  11:00am - 8:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11:00am - 9:00pm, Closed Sundays 
Checkered Pig aka Pigs - R - Us is 27 miles from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast - especially handy if you are heading SOUTH from The Claiborne House.  It is located in Martinsville Virginia made famous for its NASCAR Track - the paperclip shaped track is a favorite for race fans! 

Don't forget what your innkeeper says "Pork is the food of the South!"  Tommy's St Louis Style Ribs are the best.  

I will always remember what a guest our first year said who was originally from New Jersey and now living in SW Virginnie "You are not a true southuhner until you tow a bbq behind your truck"  AMEN!!!

View Larger Map

VIRGINIA IS FOR GREAT AMERICAN BBQ LOVERS  

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

article from Roanoke Times
Update from Shellie 01-18-10:  After watching 80 contestants vie for the win, and seeing our BBQ place win FIRST PLACE in RIBS and take Second overall - Tony said "Tomorrow we're going to Checkered Pig!"  So we did.  I am fighting a cold - but the sound of AWARD WINNING RIBS brought a bit of energy into this lifeless body.  We are featured in the article and below in the video - Tony was saying something as they zoomed in his empty plate of bones --"No, they're not bad, notice I didn't leave anything on my plate!"
Article here - video embedded below:

Get Outside! RoanokeOutside.com

A new website promoting the Roanoke and surrounding outdoors was launched today - RoanokeOutside.com - http://www.roanokeoutside.com/  What a treasure trove of ideas for the outdoor enthusiast or those who have "Nature Deficit Disorder."   From The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast website Sites of Interest page you will find the definition of Nature Deficit Disorder to be - 

Definition: the desire to sit inside and be entertained by electronic devices instead of getting into the great outdoors.  Your innkeeper's new catch phrase - “Geo-travelers – hike bike swim or paddle”  whichever you choose get out here to Virginia, she's a real beauty.

With this cold weather we have had all over the country the past month - I think the walls are closing in on plenty of us and the great outdoors is a callin'!

Here is a list of activities you will find detailed on the RoanokeOutside.com website and see why this is one of the best outdoor regions around:

LAND

Biking, Birding, Caving, Disk Golf, Geocaching,   Greenways, Hiking (Trails), Horseback, Rocky Climbing, Shooting Ranges, Skateboarding, Winter Sports, ATV

WATER

Rivers and Creeks, Canoeing and Kayaking, Tubing, Fishing, Lakes, Lake Sports, Water Park

GUIDES

Biking, Hiking, Canoe & Kayak, Caving, Equestrian, Fishing & Hunting, Parks & Rec, Rocky Climbing, Ropes Courses, Survival Schools, Wake Boarding

ATTRACTIONS

Parks/Greenways, Caves, Scenic Drives, Zoos, Waterpark, Wineries, Farmer's Markets, Museums

OUTDOOR TRIP IDEAS click here

Some Random Stuff to get you going (Biking & Hiking) click here

Visit the RoanokeOutside.com Blog here

Maps and other resources click here

2010 BEST OF THE OUTDOORS- ROANOKE, VIRGINIA REGION TAKES FOUR TOP SPOTS

January 15, 2010

The "2010 Best of the Outdoors" was named by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine January 2010 issue. Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine is the largest outdoor sports magazine in the Southeast, stretching from Maryland to Georgia. The Roanoke, Virginia Region stood prominent among the Blue Ridge Outdoors's "2010 Best of the Outdoors" taking home four "best of" awards.

Best Hiking Trails

List of best hiking trails in Roanoke Region of Virginia

Chestnust Ridge Loop Trail

McAfee Knob

Blue Suck Falls

Roaring Run

Cascade Falls

Best Biking Trails

List of best mountain biking trails in Roanoke Region of Virginia

Explore Park

Carvins Cove

Mill Mountain

Douthat State Park

Poverty Creek

VIRGINIA IS FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS  

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

Images courtesy of : Cascade Water Fall (near Roanoke, VA). http://www.roanokeoutside.com/cascade-falls-trail