Thursday, August 6, 2015

5 Reasons to Love Roanoke

I think I can safely say that I've driven past Roanoke for more than half my life: all the years I traveled from East Tennessee up to Pennsylvania/Maryland to visit family, all the years I've traveled from Virginia down to Tennessee to visit family. I guess I tend to be in a hurry to get to my people, though, because I'd never explored Roanoke until this summer.

A few weeks ago, at the end of Boone Week, we had to meet my parents in Christiansburg (very near Roanoke), and I talked Jim into a hotel room; the Science Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke is on our ASTC Passport list, and we'd never been. Then I did my thing and researched the area to figure out what other things we should see while in the area.

Dude. I fell in love with Roanoke so hard that I'm still kind of grieving that I'd never spent time there, before.

Reasons I've found (so far) to love Roanoke:

1) The Roanoke Star (or Mill Mountain Star). According to its sign, it's the world's largest, man-made star at a height of 88.5 feet and weight of 10,000 lbs. And I'm not a landscape photographer by any means, but the overlook is gorgeous.



2) Black Dog Salvage. Jim had watched the tv show; I hadn't. This place is amazing: just so much of...everything. What do you need? A door, a sink, a sign, a knob? A mannequin? A chair to suspend from the ceiling? (I've always wanted one of those, actually.) Check out Black Dog Salvage. Everything's for sale, they say, except the dog.




3) Texas Tavern. Because I'm not gonna lie: I love a cheap hotdog. Especially in an 85-year-old restaurant that's open around the clock and seats only ten people at a time. The man who served us interacted beautifully with the kids--reminded me of Boone's Papaw Rob, actually--and won my heart right way. Having studied up on Texas Tavern's lingo ahead of time, I ordered my hotdog "with." It was outstanding. Jim ordered a burger and was clearly jealous of my hotdog. After eight years of wishing he'd ordered what I ordered, you'd think he'd get a clue. But, no. Bless his heart. Love him so much.




4) Random Kitsch and Tack.



Miniature Graceland. It's seen better days but has an interesting story.

5) The Science Museum of Western Virginia. There's so much to see and do there! The traveling exhibit while we were there was on dinosaurs and fossils. My photos from the Healthy Bodies Gallery aren't so cute, but I was particularly fascinated by the real, human organs on display.







The museum is located in Market Square, which is a building in the center of the most happening part of town. I loved Roanoke; can you tell? We'll be back!

11 comments:

  1. GIRL? You have had yourself and your peeps a SUMMER! Looks like fun, but also in the category of true homeschooling. Way to go, love your adventurous side, probably because that is me as well. I love new things, new experiences. Does your summer end? Or are we homeschooling so we just keep going with what is fun and learn inbetween? I think I want to homeschool again.!

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    1. I'm not going to officially start with lessons, again, until after Labor Day, but we have field-tripped all summer. We can visit most science museums for free as ASTC passport members, so we hit those museums often. We have also kept up our Bible and chapter-book reading. I love homeschooling and hope God continues to provide in such a way that we can do it.

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  2. awesome! love the family adventures!!!! would love to see you in some of the photos.....any perspective peeps could you hand the camera to? otherwise.... think this would make ANYONE want to be on your adventure

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    1. I need to teach Jim how to use my camera.

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    2. Put it in P and tell him to push the button! HAHAHA

      Peace <3
      Jay

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  3. Was this on the way to take Boone home? Roanoke really is a nice place, I should spend a weekend there and hit all these places!

    Peace <3
    Jay

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    1. Right. The halfway mark is Christiansburg, which is just south of Roanoke.

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    2. Yes, I know Christiansburg well. Mom was born and raised there. I have visited many times in the past 56 years!
      Jay

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  4. Ha! This post is right on time!

    Earlier this year I bought a house in Clifton Forge, about 45 miles due north of Roanoke on US220, where I plan to retire...SOON!!! haha!

    I was just down there a couple of weeks ago to order a shed from Leonard Storage Buildings, which is just down the road from the muffler man at Williamson Road Service Center.

    On the way I passed Hollins University, where my Mom attended years ago when it was Hollins College. We also made a brief visit to the beautiful Carvins Cove Reservoir, which claims to be the second largest municipal park in the nation.

    I haven't wandered around Roanoke proper much, but might have to after this post of yours!

    Am planning to do extensive exploring of the area between Waynesboro and Roanoke, the area bordered by I-81 and the Blue Ridge Pkwy...what a gorgeous part of Virginia! (also need to explore Lexington.)

    :-)

    -Andy

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    1. Make sure to visit Wytheville, too. I so love its tiny church...and Skeeter dogs! <3

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