Posts by Cristy Carr

Adventure #6: Hanging Rock Overlook There are quite a few limitations on adventuring for young families. You need an activity that’s not too challenging but not too boring… something that requires a bit of effort but plenty of reward. You need to build young characters without losing adult sanity. Just such an adventure awaits at…

Adventure #5: Cyrus McCormick Farm (Raphine) Heading north along the beautiful Blue Ridge for an hour or so brings you to a scenic and historic landmark: the McCormick Farm, located just off I-81 near Raphine, Virginia. Still farmland today, this is the land which nearly 200 years ago belonged to Cyrus McCormick, entrepreneur, inventor, and…

Adventure #4: Walrond Park (North Roanoke) If you’re looking for a convenient place to relax and enjoy nature in the Hollins area of Roanoke, then Walrond Park is a great place to explore! Located just off Peters Creek Road near I-81, Walrond Park offers a diverse range of recreational opportunities plus the chance to experience…

Looking for a cool getaway in these sweltering days of summer? Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve provides a respite from the torrid Roanoke valley, offering woodland hiking, mountain streams, tasty foraging, fascinating history, and views of a spectacular, albeit distant, waterfall. Only a 30 to 40 minute drive from downtown Roanoke, Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve occupies…

In the Roanoke area, you don’t have to venture far off the beaten path to find natural treasures the whole family can enjoy. Just east of Blacksburg, along the North Fork of the Roanoke River, Falls Ridge Preserve boasts unique beauty and diversity accessible to explorers of all ages. A short quarter mile hike brings…