The Roanoker January/February 2024 - 39

5 Points Music
Sanctuary
hidden gems
H
ow do you find a city's secret
treasures? By asking its people.
Roanoke's biggest treasure?
It isn't the star or the H&C coffee
sign, though they are perhaps
the brightest. Nor is it the
number of museums or colleges or accolades.
It's the people. There is a vibrant " undercurrent
of diversity " that flows through the city, as
assistant Roanoke City manager Sam Roman
puts it.
THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS
The Wasena neighborhood, located right along
Main Street in Roanoke City, is a great place
to spend time with friends or family. Grab an
affogato at Roasters Next Door, walk the greenway
or burn off some energy at River Rock
Climbing gym. Hang 10, open only during
the warmest months of the year, serves Dole
Whip. That's something that mouse-eared
tourists line up around the block for in Florida.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Roanoke Mountain Adventures (RMA),
located on the edge of Wasena Park, enables
folks from all backgrounds to access the outdoor
amenities we have here in the Roanoke
region. Reserve a tube or kayak and RMA
will shuttle your party to your put-in on
the Roanoke River. End your trip at their
shop, close to where you parked your car.
Additionally, RMA rents electric bikes and
mountain bikes and provides guided tours for
each.
For Nicole Cooper, Murray Run Greenway
is a hidden gem. The trail runs from Grandin
Road to James Madison. " It's literally a beautiful
forest hidden in a city, " she says.
" It's crazy the options we have in the valley
for trails for biking, hiking, walking [and]
running, " says Jennifer Pfister, referencing the
" plethora of urban trails. " She adds, " You can
hike or run from the Appalachian Trail to
Salem without leaving a trail. "
Morningside Park holds a secret garden of
sorts - it's a place for growing food and having
fun. Carilion and Local Environmental
Agricultural Project (LEAP) have worked
together on a fresh food initiative to create
an urban farm at the park. The park additionally
boasts a mountain bike park, consisting of
multiple dirt trails. " The collective work there
is one of the best examples of collaborative
public-private work here in the Valley, " says
Roanoke city parks and recreation director
Michael Clark.
FAMILY FUN
For Luke Priddy, nothing can beat
Elmwood on Ice, a seasonal ice skating
rink that operates in Elmwood
Park from Thanksgiving through
the end of January. " In 2018, I took
my now-husband there on one of
our first dates and every year we
go back, " Priddy says. The two
were married at the ice rink in
December 2022.
Families of all ages
will enjoy an afternoon
spent at the
Roanoke Pinball
Museum or Roanoke
Starcade, featuring
video games from
across the decades.
Remember the fun
you had playing
Space Invaders or Dance Dance Revolution
at the mall arcade? Relive it at Center in the
Square. " I had no idea this place was here, and
I'm 25, " one recent Starcade visitor exclaimed,
as he played a round of Guitar Hero.
FOR THE DOGS
For the last few years, Vinton's Lancerlot has
held its Dog Days of Summer at the end of
August. The gym opens up their ice rink and
swimming pool to dogs and their owners. Beat
the heat with your doggos at this special event.
ARTS AND CULTURE
If you're looking for arts and
culture, plan to head to
downtown Roanoke for
Art by Night on the
first Friday of every
month. The galleries are
open late with live music,
demonstrations and
art openings.
TheRoanoker.com
January/february 2024 39
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The Roanoker January/February 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker January/February 2024
