There's Nothing To Do In Roanoke

Does anybody remember the book There's Nothing to Do In Roanoke? The title, of course, is intends to be ironic, representing a familiar complaint from young Roanokers. The book continues to list several things to do and see in the Roanoke Valley as an attempt to disprove this negative claim.

I have been compiling information on things to do in Roanoke--art galleries, museums, bars, live music, etc etc--for the past three weeks and I cannot believe how much stuff there is in this region that no one knows about. Of course there is the Star, the Hotel Roanoke and the Farmer's Market, Dixie Caverns and Smith Moutain Lake, but there are also hundreds of restaurants, 44 art galleries, 5 wineries and vineyards, 29 professional music ensembles and singing groups, 50 bars and venues for live entertainment, and over 10 live theatre groups and venues! There are hiking and biking trails all over the place, great fly-fishing and about five lakes near by.
The art scene is growing at a rapid rate with the new Taubman Museum of Art. And, there is an impressive music scene beginning to take shape in the area.
Talk about one of the most underrated cities in the nation. And, worst of all, most people who live here are the ones who underrate it!

There's a lot to do in Roanoke.

Create Roanoke

Four guys just graduated from college and are moving to Roanoke. Three of them are not even from the area and they don't have jobs. So, what brings someone from York (PA) Lynchburg (VA) and D.C. to Roanoke?

Roanoke is a beautiful city. Within the mountains and around the river, there is the hidden gem of Downtown Roanoke. Downtown Roanoke is only recently being rediscovered by urban dwellers, regional artists, and young people looking for a good time on a Friday night. Quite frankly, Roanoke is a city that is slowly exposing its potential and finally making use of its talents.

When you move to D.C., Atlanta, or another super metropolis, you become the a member of an enormous crowd. You might find a job easily, but you can barely afford a decent place to live. What is attractive about Roanoke is that it is an emerging cultural and economic entity. While many of the big city amenities are here, there are also the outdoor amenities you couldn't find in larger cities. Moreover, Roanoke is a small enough city to easily get involved and influence the town.

The reason why we are moving to Roanoke is to become involved in the growing movement to push the city into the future.