When I told my friends I was heading to Roanoke, Virginia they asked, “What’s there?” I responded, “I don’t know but I’m going to find out” and so my quest began. Four days later I was back home and wishing I had had more time to explore.
Once I arrived I was steered to the Texas Tavern for lunch. The tavern founded in 1930 is known for its chili but what I really wanted was a hot dog so I asked for one…with ketchup. There was a silence I couldn’t decipher and a sneer crept up on the cooks face. “You mean Sissy Sauce?” I started mumbling something and was backing up to escape when laughter erupted from the patrons at the counter. Apparently, ketchup is frowned upon because it masks the flavor of the meat but they keep some on hand for unsuspecting tourists like me.
Hot dog in hand I toured the historic Market District with all its vendors and shops and landed at the O. Winston Link Museum. Let me preface this by saying I am not a train person so I was taken by surprise when I sat spellbound watching his video. His photographic works were mesmerizing and I was so intrigued by his works, I bought his book. However, if you are a train aficionado, you mustn’t miss the Railwalk and the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
Next stop was Black Dog Salvage which I could have spent hours at. One could get lost exploring the 40,000 square feet of salvaged vintage architectural items.
After my first day exploring, I had several options for dinner. There was Lucky or the Wildwood Smokehouse but I eventually settled in at Wasena City Tap Room and Grill for some great pub food and with 31 craft beers on tap, I just had to try one.
Next morning I laced up my sneakers and made my way to the historic Grandin Village. It’s a charming 1920’s neighborhood with Pops Ice Cream and Soda Bar, a fabulously restored 1930’s theatre, Viva la Cupcake and my favorite, Too Many Books, a bookstore that offers 75,000 books, which include out of print and antiquarian books. Can I add, I found my childhood favorites, The Hardy Boys.
Realizing I hadn’t eaten breakfast, I decided to head to Salem, a small town just a hop, skip and a jump from Roanoke and have lunch at the Blue Apron. The menu changes seasonally but if you luck out and catch the shrimp and creamy Gruyere grits, you’re in the money.
I was disappointed I missed the Farmer’s Market but in talking to a few people milling around, I quickly knew that here was a community that truly cares and takes care of their own as exhibited by Feed the Need program which distributes excess and blemished produce to organizations that fed the hungry.
Next on my trail was Parkway Brewing Co. with its beer, picnic tables, smokers and corn hole. I quickly surmised I would be here for a while. There is so much to do in Roanoke it’s hard to fit it all in. I had hoped to go biking and hike to McAfee Knob but time was running out and there was one place I didn’t want to miss, the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, which suffered the highest per capita D-Day losses. My mood was somber as I walked through the gardens, past the portrait busts, the flag garden, and ever so slowly walked past the 4,413 names of those who gave their life but nothing prepared me for the Invasion Tableau, a recreation of the beach at Normandy. I stood in silence at the bronze sculptures in the water with pain, fear and pride etched in their faces.
Unfortunately, my next stop was the airport but as my plane took off I could feel the Blue Ridge Mountains calling me back ‘home’.