Posts by Cristy Carr

Monroe County, West Virginia is a hidden treasure. Nestled deep in the heart of Appalachia, it is full of quaint towns, picturesque valleys, scenic mountain ridges, rolling pastureland, and history. It escaped the ravages of the coal and railroad companies, and its peaceful agricultural landscape has been largely unchanged over 200 years. There’s a spot…

Adventure #45: Lignite Of all the adventures to be found near Roanoke, the obscure place called Lignite is in a category by itself. Tucked in a remote hollow of the Jefferson National Forest northeast of New Castle, Lignite is one of the few true ghost towns in Virginia. In the 1800s, Lignite was one of…

In the countryside near the beautiful town of Lewisburg, WV, lies an underground treasure worth exploring: Lost World Caverns, a limestone cave buried 235 feet below the rolling Greenbrier County pasture.  There are several interesting aspects to the Lost World Caverns. The cave itself is a gorgeous place with a soaring 120-foot high rock ceiling…

As a busy parent, it’s always a bonus when an item on my to-do list can double as a fun family adventure. That’s why I’m especially fond of Exotics and Aquatics pet store. Located off Williamson Road north of Hershberger not far from Valley View Mall, Exotics and Aquatics is a haven for exotic animal…

Start out from Roanoke in any direction, and you’ll find some new adventure. Heading southwest on Route 11 and into the country at Shawsville, you’ll find a lovely waterfall and wildlife hike on the property of Alta Mons Retreat Center. Alta Mons is a Methodist camp and retreat center that encompasses 850 acres of woods…

In Virginia, natural beauty takes many forms, and none is more striking than a majestic rock formation in the Blue Ridge Mountains which has historically been considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Natural Bridge, a 215 foot tall limestone arch with a 90 foot span, is nature’s finest architecture on display.…

At a tiny town in central Virginia, one of the greatest moments in the history of our country took place: the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. This event – effectively the end of the Civil War – also ended one era of our country’s history and opened…

If there are any animal lovers in your household, there’s a special adventure awaiting you in Lynchburg. Conveniently located in River Ridge Mall, SeaQuest is an aquarium with a big dose of land animals that offers kids a remarkably up-close, interactive experience.  The huge aquarium is the centerpiece. This big tank holds an array of…

It has taken our family years to explore the well kept secrets of the Roanoke area, and in fact we keep discovering more treasures around the valley. One of our more recent discoveries is the Heritage Family Market, tucked away in the community of Fincastle. This little Mennonite-run hometown store has a lot to offer,…

“Freedom isn’t free.” People my age have heard these words many times from our parents and grandparents, but for a generation far removed from a world war, it can be hard to truly understand what these words mean. Fortunately for us, there are places like the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford that bring these words…