Roanoke, VA, lures travelers with a rich mix of autumn events and attractions

Roanoke, VA, lures travelers with a rich mix of autumn events and attractions

Make plans to visit the Roanoke Valley, capital of the Blue ridge situated perfectly in magnificent Virginia Mountains. Many stimulating activities await you and your traveling companions presented by our many7 area attractions including museum of art, science, history and transportation as well as the zoo, theater and Explore Park.

Then to compliment any vacation, check out the many seasonal festivals and events such as the Harvest Festival, Dickens of a Christmas or the Old Southwest Parlor Tours. Plan to stay into he area for several days. Fortunately, the Roanoke Valley region is easily reached by way of Interstate 81 (exit 143) and the Blue Ridge Parkway (near milepost 120).

Among the Valley's many attractions is Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke, adjacent to the Historic Farmer's Market shopping district. Center in the Square houses three museums and Mill Mountain Theatre. Gearing up for their thirty-fifth season, Mill Mountain Theatre will present The Sound of Music and Oh-Oh Here Comes Christmas for the holidays. The Art Museum of Western Virginia will be exhibiting "By Hand and Heart: Collecting Southern Decorative Arts," a display of Southern furniture, textiles, ceramics, studio glass and jewelry from museum and private collections.

The History Museum of Western Virginia houses permanent exhibits of the history of southwest Virginia. It will also exhibit a collection of recently-restored panoramic photographs taken between 1910 and 1935. The Science Museum of Western Virginia and Hopkins Planetarium will open "Envenomators: The Realm of Deadly Snakes in North America" October 3 through January 1999. This exhibits features live venomous snakes. A reptile Expo is planned for Saturday, November 14.

Not far from the Center in the Square is the Virginia Museum of Transportation, home to the largest collection of diesel and steam locomotives in the U.S. The museum yard houses more than 40 pieces of rolling stock. A new permanent exhibit opens in November, called "Moving the Rock that propelled a Nation: Coal & America's Industrialization."

When travelling to the Roanoke Valley via the Blue Ridge Parkway, stop at milepost 115. Here is a Visitor Center, Explore Park and the Brugh Tavern. Explore Park is a historical and recreation attraction allowing visitors the chance to enjoy the area's rich heritage and natural beauty while strolling through three historic exhibits depicting life in Virginia from 1000 AD to 1850, brought to life by costumed interpreters.

Combine your trip with a special pre-Civil War weekend, "Muster on the Green," September 26-27. See staged political debates between prop and anti-secession citizens of southwestern Virginia. Bring your walking shoes and stroll through the sites, then finish your day with a meal to remember at the historic Brugh Tavern.

Your walking shoes will also come in handy at the Mill Mountain Zoo where you'll find new exhibits like the endangered Collar Lemurs, a very rarely exhibited species. About the size of a large housecat, collard lemurs' bodies are 20 inches long, with an amazing 20-inch tail. These little creatures will be part of the Halloween celebration, Saturday, October 31, at the annual ZooBoo. Come join the costume parade, scavenger hunt, games, free pizza and more. Explore Par is off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 120, just minutes from downtown Roanoke.

For more detailed information about events, and to receive a Visitor's Guide, contact the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800/635-5535. In the Valley, stop at any of three Visitor Information Centers: 114 Market Street in downtown Roanoke; at the Civic Center in Salem, VA; or at Explore Park off the Blue Ridge Parkway, milepost 115.

Check out Roanoke's website: www.VisitRoanokeVA.com