Living and Studying in Roanoke
Welcome to Roanoke! Where you can Work Hard, Play Hard, and Live Easy.
When you’re here, you have all the conveniences of a larger city combined with the freedom to explore miles of hiking and biking trails, multiple waterways, and the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. Pair that with an amazing selection of restaurants, breweries, and wineries, and over 300 businesses involved in the creation or distribution of the arts, and the Roanoke Region really can be everything to everyone.
Different Ways to be Well in Roanoke
The Great Outdoors
The majestic Blue Ridge Mountains that surround the Roanoke Valley provide a scenic backdrop for everyday life here, but to fully enjoy your Blue Ridge Mountains experience, you've got to put on some sturdy shoes and hike, bike, climb, paddle, or drive among them. Explore some of the many ways to adventure outside in our region with the links below:
Arts and Culture
The Roanoke Valley is home to the widest variety of music and cultural activities you'll find anywhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spend your day combing through viewing fine art at the Taubman Museum of Art, discovering historic railroad photography at the O. Winston Link Museum, or scouring the many galleries and studios that populate our area.
Is it a violin? Or a fiddle? In Virginia’s Blue Ridge, it's both!
Our regional music and theater scene is a mix of sounds and styles that continues to grow. With a great collection of local artists, unique venues full of character, and exciting festivals and events, Roanoke and the surrounding area are earning their spot on the map for live entertainment of all kinds.
Discover the region's rich music history along The Crooked Road, discover something new at one of the area’s many live music venues, or revisit the classics with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.
And don’t forget about the fantastic local talent performing at the Southwest Virginia Ballet, Mill Mountain Theatre, Showtimers of Roanoke Valley, Roanoke Children's Theatre, and Opera Roanoke.
In Southwest Virginia, there is something for everyone!
Lively Traditions
Feeling festive? We've got just the thing for that. Seasons, holidays, arts and crafts, cultures and diversity, specialty food and beverage, kites, and more. Our region hosts so many festivals, you'll swear we celebrate just about everything!
Find out more about the annual events in Virginia's Blue Ridge.
Still curious? Explore some of these websites to learn more about our city and all the different things to do and see throughout the region: