Our Favorites: things that make us happy down to the tips of our toes
Restaurants We Love
Good barbecue and great service. Their value packs are an easy way to bring home a barbecue sandwich meal for a group at a great price.
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Three Li'l Pigs Barbeque
120 Kingston DrGood barbecue and great service. Their value packs are an easy way to bring home a barbecue sandwich meal for a group at a great price.
Delicious burgers, salads, soups, and appetizers to share.
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Town Center Tap House
90 Town Center StreetDelicious burgers, salads, soups, and appetizers to share.
Nawab Indian Cuisine
118 Campbell Ave SEOur favorite Indian restaurant.
Scrambled
32 Market Square SEBest breakfast on the market.
Don’t let the fact that it’s attached to a gas station fool you. They serve amazing food. There are few tables, but we prefer to get our food to go.
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Thai Oudone Valley Grill LLC
5983 Cloverdale RdDon’t let the fact that it’s attached to a gas station fool you. They serve amazing food. There are few tables, but we prefer to get our food to go.
My favorite coffee shop in the Troutville area. Now renamed Little Green Hive.
Land of a Thousand Hills
90 Town Center StreetMy favorite coffee shop in the Troutville area. Now renamed Little Green Hive.
Delicious coffee and good food. A nice place to relax before or after you visit Mill Mountain.
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Sweet Donkey Coffee
2108 Broadway Ave SWDelicious coffee and good food. A nice place to relax before or after you visit Mill Mountain.
The biscuits are amazing but don’t forget to try the grits.
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Scratch Biscuit Company
1820 Memorial Ave SWThe biscuits are amazing but don’t forget to try the grits.
Tuco’s Taqueria Garaje
416 Salem Ave SWLucky Restaurant
18 Kirk Ave SWOne of our favorites for dates and special occasions.
Take a walk on the Greenway before or while you enjoy a cone.
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Blue Cow Ice Cream Co.
1115 Piedmont St SETake a walk on the Greenway before or while you enjoy a cone.
Cafe Asia
3940 Valley Gateway BlvdA family favorite. Try the wasabi shumai.
Superb! When you want Italian inspired food that chain restaurants can’t hold a candle to, this is where to go.
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Fortunato
104 Kirk Ave SWSuperb! When you want Italian inspired food that chain restaurants can’t hold a candle to, this is where to go.
Our favorite local pizza place. If you like supreme or everything try Bellacino’s Pride.
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Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders
1176 Roanoke RdOur favorite local pizza place. If you like supreme or everything try Bellacino’s Pride.
The place to go when you want a quiet atmosphere with impeccable food, presentation, and service. One of our favorite places to celebrate special occasions.
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Alexander's
105 S Jefferson StThe place to go when you want a quiet atmosphere with impeccable food, presentation, and service. One of our favorite places to celebrate special occasions.
The perfect place when you’re in the mood for something a little out of the ordinary. The food and service is superb. Their passionfruit mousse is the perfect ending to whichever entree you choose.
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Inka Grill Peruvian Cuisine Roanoke VA
3033 S Jefferson StThe perfect place when you’re in the mood for something a little out of the ordinary. The food and service is superb. Their passionfruit mousse is the perfect ending to whichever entree you choose.
Tizzone Wood-Fired Kitchen & Wine Bar
90 Town Center StreetBring home a frozen chicken pie for a delicious no-fuss dinner that you can pop in the oven and enjoy a little over an hour later.
The Pie Shoppe/The Pie Lady
1 E Main StBring home a frozen chicken pie for a delicious no-fuss dinner that you can pop in the oven and enjoy a little over an hour later.
This is where you eat when you enjoy being right here in the middle of the mountains but are really hankering for a taste of the sea. You can find Salty’s at their ghost kitchen or food truck. Order online to avoid a wait or (heaven forbid!) your favorite item running out before you make it there on busy evenings.
Salty Lobster & Co
16 Church Avenue SouthwestThis is where you eat when you enjoy being right here in the middle of the mountains but are really hankering for a taste of the sea. You can find Salty’s at their ghost kitchen or food truck. Order online to avoid a wait or (heaven forbid!) your favorite item running out before you make it there on busy evenings.
Pastries, coffee, breads, and a well-curated menu of breakfast items and salads and sandwiches for lunch.
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Bread Craft
24 Church Ave SWPastries, coffee, breads, and a well-curated menu of breakfast items and salads and sandwiches for lunch.
Things to Do
Appeals to a wide variety of ages. Fun way to spend a rainy afternoon.
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Roanoke Pinball Museum
1 Market Square SEAppeals to a wide variety of ages. Fun way to spend a rainy afternoon.
Wander through the collection for free or pay admission for kids to create in the kid zone (it’s worth every penny and a terrific option for a rainy day).
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Taubman Museum of Art
110 Salem Ave SEWander through the collection for free or pay admission for kids to create in the kid zone (it’s worth every penny and a terrific option for a rainy day).
Mill Mountain Star overlooks the Roanoke Valley. It’s a great place for a photo op or to bring a picnic. You can park at the top and just enjoy the view or hike up the mountain. There’s a wonderful playground for kids, picnic tables, a nature discovery center, and wildflower trail. Our small local zoo is next door.
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Mill Mountain Star
2000 J B Fishburn PkwyMill Mountain Star overlooks the Roanoke Valley. It’s a great place for a photo op or to bring a picnic. You can park at the top and just enjoy the view or hike up the mountain. There’s a wonderful playground for kids, picnic tables, a nature discovery center, and wildflower trail. Our small local zoo is next door.
We love that this park is kept super clean and neat. It is fenced in and has only two entrances which makes it easier to keep track of little people. It’s also within walking distance of the house.
Troutville Park
5340 Lee HwyWe love that this park is kept super clean and neat. It is fenced in and has only two entrances which makes it easier to keep track of little people. It’s also within walking distance of the house.
There aren’t shade trees so save this park for mornings, evenings, or days that aren’t scorchers.
Addy Grace Foundation All-Inclusive Playground
There aren’t shade trees so save this park for mornings, evenings, or days that aren’t scorchers.
Shopping
Where you’ll find our favorites from North Mountain Candle Co. as well as fresh baked local bread.
Bryant Orchards Farm Market
Plateau WayWhere you’ll find our favorites from North Mountain Candle Co. as well as fresh baked local bread.
One of my favorite used clothing stores. If I realized I needed a pair of jeans, an extra blouse, or a date dress and didn’t want to go to the mall or pay full price, this is where I’d look first.
Uptown Cheapskate
1411 Towne Square Blvd NWOne of my favorite used clothing stores. If I realized I needed a pair of jeans, an extra blouse, or a date dress and didn’t want to go to the mall or pay full price, this is where I’d look first.
Local produce, eggs, bread and other baked goods, as well as tons of local products, snacks, and old fashioned candy.
Ikenberry Orchards
2557 Roanoke RdLocal produce, eggs, bread and other baked goods, as well as tons of local products, snacks, and old fashioned candy.
Day Trips
Less than two hours away and worth the drive.
Monticello
1050 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy100% worth driving to Staunton. The intimate nature of the theater space connects the audience and actors in a magical way. We’ve enjoyed both Emma and Much Ado About Nothing and are looking forward to Othello and Twelfth Night during the summer 2020 season. Reasonably well behaved children ages 7 and up are welcome. Also, there’s a lovely little coffee shop that serves lunch literally just around the corner which makes a nice place to grab a bite before driving back.
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American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse
10 S Market St100% worth driving to Staunton. The intimate nature of the theater space connects the audience and actors in a magical way. We’ve enjoyed both Emma and Much Ado About Nothing and are looking forward to Othello and Twelfth Night during the summer 2020 season. Reasonably well behaved children ages 7 and up are welcome. Also, there’s a lovely little coffee shop that serves lunch literally just around the corner which makes a nice place to grab a bite before driving back.
A family favorite that works well for a variety of ages and interests. Golf carts are available for rent for those who would find walking between houses to be too much. For the little people though, running between the exhibits is a great way to expend energy. There are hands-on options at almost every home from sawing wood, to playing Native American games, to attempting to walk on stilts, or helping sweep a dirt floor clean. For those who prefer a slower pace and more in-depth experience, the guides and interpreters are happy to answer your questions in detail. There are picnic tables, if you’d like to bring your own lunch.
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Frontier Culture Museum
1290 Richmond AveA family favorite that works well for a variety of ages and interests. Golf carts are available for rent for those who would find walking between houses to be too much. For the little people though, running between the exhibits is a great way to expend energy. There are hands-on options at almost every home from sawing wood, to playing Native American games, to attempting to walk on stilts, or helping sweep a dirt floor clean. For those who prefer a slower pace and more in-depth experience, the guides and interpreters are happy to answer your questions in detail. There are picnic tables, if you’d like to bring your own lunch.
Hiking
One of Virginia’s most iconic views. It’s a tough climb for the average person who only hikes once in a while so make sure you have proper footwear and enough water. We’ve hiked it with kids, so it’s totally doable and worth the effort.
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McAfee Knob
Appalachian National Scenic TrailOne of Virginia’s most iconic views. It’s a tough climb for the average person who only hikes once in a while so make sure you have proper footwear and enough water. We’ve hiked it with kids, so it’s totally doable and worth the effort.
Read Mountain Preserve
6101 Crumpacker DrLovely view of the Roanoke valley.
This trail requires you to climb at the end not just hike. See pictures. The view is worth it.
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Dragons Tooth
This trail requires you to climb at the end not just hike. See pictures. The view is worth it.
Sharp Top Mountain Trailhead
Sheep Creek RoadBottom Creek Gorge Preserve
7 10th Ave SA portion of the trail crosses and recrossed the stream below the falls with multiple spots that are perfect for sliding or wading. You could plan on just hiking, but on hot summer days, it’s the perfect place to cool off, meandering slowly, getting wet, and generally just enjoying the the day as much as looking at the falls themselves. It’s a good idea to wear water shoes if you plan on going in the stream or sliding on the rocks. Also, make sure you can identify poison ivy (you don’t want to traipse through it on your way down to the water) and are prepared to use common sense in avoiding snakes.
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Roaring Run Loop Trail
Roaring Run RoadA portion of the trail crosses and recrossed the stream below the falls with multiple spots that are perfect for sliding or wading. You could plan on just hiking, but on hot summer days, it’s the perfect place to cool off, meandering slowly, getting wet, and generally just enjoying the the day as much as looking at the falls themselves. It’s a good idea to wear water shoes if you plan on going in the stream or sliding on the rocks. Also, make sure you can identify poison ivy (you don’t want to traipse through it on your way down to the water) and are prepared to use common sense in avoiding snakes.
Hay Rock Trailhead
39 Tinker Mountain RdBeautiful view of Carvin’s Cove
Gorgeous azalea lined accessible path. A lovely place to meander through during the spring bloom season.
Happy Hollow Gardens Park
6697 Mt Chestnut RdGorgeous azalea lined accessible path. A lovely place to meander through during the spring bloom season.