I'm amazed sometimes by the amount of knowledge one person can accumulate in a lifetime about one…read moreparticular subject. That's what I was thinking during my guided tour of Historic Smithfield, a plantation house turned museum and farm. Our tour guide knew so much about the American Revolution, George Washington, the Civil War and Virginia in general. Plus so much more! He knew everything about the families and enslaved individuals who lived in that house. It was a very informative visit. I'm not even sure you can visit the inside of Smithfield without a guided tour. I should say, though, that although the guided tour was informative, I would suggest it only for adults who might have an interest in history, or people who don't have a short attention span. They cover a lot of information here, and even I was feeling like I was melting down at the end of the tour, because it was just so many facts and we went at a slow pace. So, would I recommend a guided tour for kids? Absolutely not. At least, not my kids or any kids I know. But I would suggest you let kids explore the grounds outside, and say hello to the livestock roaming the fields, and run around the garden. There's a small gift shop with a few snacks and water. The gift shop is also where you purchase admission. There's lots of parking in the gravel parking lot.

What a gem tucked away right next to the VA Tech campus! This is a must visit for history buffs…read morewhen in the area! No longer owned by the APVA, it's a private foundation now I believe, the house has been painstakingly restored and features many pieces owned by the original family. Take the tour! The on-site historian who gives them is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about the history of not only the plantation and Home, but the area as well. I could have listened to her for hours! This is reasonably priced ($8 for adults, but we found a groupon!) and the gift shop has some nice and locally made choices.

My family has lived on the lake for over half my life. I was curious what information was available…read moreat the center. There are lots of brochures on area cities that seem standard for tourists. There is real estate and rental information available. If you want to hunt or fish, you can grab a brochure. There were limited items to purchase. They looked like leftover swag glasses from events. The employees were nice. Bonus points on the swag keychains that float.

Perfectly positioned Visitor Center for information on the Peaks of Otter area. The very helpful…read morepark ranger gave us hiking maps for the area which includes views of Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill. The Visitor Center also has a small shop, exhibit area, and clean rest rooms. There is also a cancellation station for your National Park Service stamps. We also recommend a stop at the Peaks of Otter Lodge just down the street. There's a nice, flat 1.0 mile walk around Abbott Lake in the back. gorgeous in mid-October!

If you're in the western part of Virginia anywhere near Peaks of Otter, I absolutely suggest a…read morevisit. The three mountains -- Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill -- are stunning. There's a few ways you can take them in, including a walk or picnic around the lake, a meal or stay in the lodge, camping, and/or hiking up the mountains. Sharp Top has a shuttle that takes you within 1,500 feet of the summit. Ahead of visiting, I didn't do sufficient research, but I will say they should add to the Peaks' website to be a little more clear about the hike level. The website currently states this: "Not everyone can hike a nearly 4,000-foot mountain, but it would be shame to deny anyone the view, so we provide transportation to within 1,500 of the scenic summit!" With that in mind, I thought the last portion (quarter-mile each way) would be fairly easy. It was not. My mom immediately took the shuttle back down to ground level upon seeing the trail, but I proceeded. On the way up, I was able to follow some other hikers, so it wasn't as daunting. On the way back down, I was solo. Lots and lots of steps, narrow path at times, very uneven with many rocks to contend with. Not for the faint of heart! I don't regret the hike at all. The view from the top of Sharp Top was nothing short of incredible. I hadn't climbed a mountain in any capacity since college, so while it was challenging, it also felt like such a feat to complete it without hurting myself. I was really proud of myself. I only wish I was better prepared -- so for those interested in the hike: bring water, possibly a walking stick, and really good shoes. Oh, and bug spray. The summit was fillllled with flies. No one on the shuttle down had spotted any bears, but I hear they're pretty prevalent along with snakes, deer, and other wildlife. After the hike, I stopped by the visitor center and purchased both a shirt and a stuffed otter (so cute). My cat thinks the otter is his new toy, but for me, it's a nice reminder of the day I randomly and safely climbed to a summit, unprepared and solo.

The Hotel Roanoke is an iconic location in the Roanoke/Blacksburg region. Once a railroad hotel, it…read moreis now owned by Virginia Tech and operated by Hilton. The build is amazing. The structure has a Tudor facade and inside you find lots of wood finished panels, all having the luring you into reenactment of HG Wells Time Machine or a Stephen King The Shining. The hotel is connected to a very nice conference center, which I will discuss in a separate review, it also gets five stars. During the Pandemic, the hotel took the opportunity make renovations. I'm not particularly happy about what they did to The Pine Room, but the rest of the renovations seem positive. I find the beds at the HR a bit stiff for my old back, so if you're a soft mattress person you won't want to make long stays here. But a few nights I can deal, because the positives out weigh the need for a little extra sleep. Positives: downtown location makes easy and safe walking to the local bars, restaurants and museums. Really unique architecture makes the stay an experience. Fantastic staff are always there and pleasant! Negatives: train wheels through at 5 in the morning (they really should grease this axles) and the beds are hard.

Located in the parking lot of the hotel, this marker is easily accessible and there is some limited…read morestreet parking. It reads, "The Hotel Roanoke was built in 1892 by the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Over the next century, despite fire and depression, it became the city's social center. The Tudor Revival building became a beloved landmark for thousands of visitors. Its original 34 rooms had grown to 384 rooms when, in 1989, the N&W donated it to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. After a major renovation and the addition of a conference center, it reopened in 1995. The Hotel Roanoke was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1995 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1996." The hotel is currently owned by Virginia Tech and operated under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand. It is a stunning property and a significant piece of Roanoke history. This business (I'm talking to you, Yelp!) SHOULD REMAIN separate from the hotel itself. [Review 13778 overall, 1099 of 2020, number 1213 in Virginia.]

All in all this is a great place to go, that is if you don't mind Hank he's racists. If you need to…read morefill your water tanks up make sure you don't use it long cause they will knock on your door. It's very peaceful other than that.

It was so fun and I love zip lining thank you so much for your service I had so much funread more

A delightful gem away from it all. My wife and I stayed at the Cedar Post Inn for a weekend…read moregetaway in the country. The property is situated about 20 min north of downtown Bedford close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can take a stroll on the property and enjoy the numerous plants and flowers native to the area. There's also a small creek to check out. We enjoyed sitting on the porch covered with different plants and greenery to watch the local hummingbirds buzz around and visit flowers. Our bedroom was cozy with a super comfy bed, sitting area to watch TV, and private bathroom with excellent shower pressure. There was also a small fridge in the common area to store perishable items from our cooler. Sally was a wonderful B&B host and made unique and tasty breakfasts each morning keeping in mind our dietary restrictions. Overall the experience was pleasant and relaxing. I look forward to making a future visit. P.S. - Sally also creates magnificent stained glass art which she sells if you're interested. Bring some spending cash in case you find a piece that catches your eye. You won't regret it.

This charming B&B is a hidden gem when visiting the Blue Ridge, Bedford or anywhere nearby. The…read morebedrooms are spacious and cozy. Large shady porch adorned with plants provides a restful spot to just chill out and enjoy the mountain views or the sunny deck gives other beautiful sights for sun lovers. Sally is a knowledgeable hiker and a wonderful cook, providing a bountiful breakfast! We totally enjoyed our visit!

Snowman was here. Had to use the bathrooms…read more They are nice. Vending machines. Truck stop. Dog walking area.

Nice and cozy very clean rest area. Benches to sit and wheelchair accessible . Not crowed so all.read more

When my husband made the suggestion that we stop overnight in Roanoke on the way to Asheville and…read moresaid that the place to stay (according to the local Reddit threads) was a B&B I was admittedly unsure. We had never stayed at a traditional bed and breakfast and while the idea was charming (I've seen my share of Hallmark movies), thought that the experience was reserved for a different demographic...I thought the rooms were going to be dated and filled with frilly lace, that the dynamic with the owners was going to be awkward, that we would have to engage in forced conversation with other guests. It's not that we're antisocial, on the contrary, I just had a lot of misconceptions swirling around my head. I trust my husband though, he went ahead and booked it. I can't speak highly enough of our experience with Chris, Jayne, and their little pup Jax. When we mentioned that we would be getting to Roanoke a bit earlier than their check-in time, they were available to welcome us with smiling faces. Chris showed us the before/after of the home's renovations and how it was salvaged, the only one of four houses on the block where the other three were condemned. The home itself is gorgeous, they have put a lot of thought and care into how the rooms are decorated - the photos on this Yelp page are outdated, their website (blacklanterninn.com) does a better job of showcasing their beautiful accommodations. Chris and Jayne live on the first floor with 2 rooms and a shared kitchen on the second floor and a suite on the third floor. We were one of only two rooms booked for the evening, we never saw the other couple as they arrived later and left earlier than us - it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. Chris recommended a number of local breweries, bars, and restaurants for us to explore - he pointed out their 2nd floor deck, complete with cozy blankets and a fireplace heater (perfect for us to share a late night glass of wine). We stayed in the Black Lantern Room which was bright and cheerful, it looked like a page straight out of a restoration hardware catalog. The bed was incredibly comfortable and a welcome sight after a 5 hour drive and an afternoon/evening of eating/drinking our way through downtown Roanoke. In the morning we enjoyed a delicious all-organic breakfast crafted by Jayne. We were treated to yogurt sourced from New Hampshire, an incredible gluten-free coffee cake made with sweet potato flour (that Chris has gone on quite the goose chase to track down), and a veggie filled egg frittata on an english muffin with swiss cheese and bacon. I typically have to hide vegetables into my husbands food, but even knowing what was baked into his breakfast he hummed his way through (a sign he is enjoying his meal) the sandwich; we were also treated to Roanoke's own H&C coffee. We enjoyed our breakfast along with the company of Jax and the kind and genuine conversation of Jayne and Chris - they truly put a lot of love into the experience they provide their guests. As we were leaving, Jayne handed us 2 little baggies with locally baked croissants for our 4 1/2 drive down to North Carolina - they really do think of everything. I can't speak highly enough of our short stay here and would absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend the Black Lantern Inn and our gracious hosts to anyone looking for a place to stay in the area.

We had such an amazing stay at the Black Lantern Inn. I would give it 10 stars, if I could! We were…read morein town for the Virginia bar exam and Jayne and Chris both went above and beyond to make our stay stress-free and enjoyable. Jayne is an fantastic chef and makes a delicious breakfast. They are also both incredibly thoughtful and surprised us with cookies after the exam and a bag of snacks for our drive home. The inn itself is beautiful and conveniently located. Highly, highly recommend this place if you are ever in Roanoke.