Roanoke Travel Guide

Sprawling across the floor of the Roanoke Valley, Virginia's largest metropolitan area west of Richmond likes to call itself the "Capital of the Blue Ridge." It's also known as "Star City," for the huge lighted star overlooking the city from Mill Mountain, which stands between it and the Blue Ridge Parkway.There was no star on the mountain when Colonial explorers followed the Roanoke River gorge through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the 17th century. They established several settlements in the Roanoke Valley, including one named Big Lick. When the Norfolk and Western Railroad arrived in the 1880s and laid out a town for future development, it decided that Roanoke -- a Native American word for "shell money" -- was a more prosperous-sounding name for the new city.Although Roanoke is still a major railroad junction (as the many tracks running through downtown will attest), its economy suffered when the interstate highway system shifted most freight from boxcars to trucks in the mid-20th century. Milestones in its Renaissance have been the construction of the Civic Center and a convention and cultural complex, and the restoration of the Market Square area around the Historic City Market. With its museums, theater, and trendy restaurants, Market Square serves as the focal point for both daytime activities and lively after-dark entertainment.With its zoo, its hands-on museums, and a fine living-history facility at Virginia's Explore Park, Roanoke also has special appeal for children. Families can easily spend a day and more exploring its sights.