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Spring is here! The weather has been variable so far this March, but there have been some really nice days! Spring is a great time to get outside and be active in the Roanoke Region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.
Longdale Furnace North Mountain Loop
I love hiking and mountain biking in the spring. With the trees just starting to bud, you can see so many views! I recently hiked the Longdale Furnace North Mountain Loop. It is a little over an hour drive from Roanoke. It is an 11-mile loop with a large portion of the trail on a ridge treating you with viewpoints from both directions! You even hike right through Pete's Cave. I plan on mountain biking the same trail soon!
Sheep Creek Gravel Climb
For gravel riding, I would recommend checking out Sheep Creek Gravel Climb. I rode it the other week, and it is in excellent condition. It is a twisty and turny almost 3-mile gravel climb that pops out on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Peaks of Otter. Depending on what your route is you can then ride back into town on what is my favorite part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love how this section of the parkway is up on the ridge and you can see views from both sides!
Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar
I recently discovered Pop’s Ice Cream and Soda Bar in Roanoke's Historic Grandin Village. If you haven't been there yet, you must try it! They have an amazing selection of unique and classic ice cream flavors, sandwiches, soup, and other great food! They even gave me a Pup Cup for my beagle, Daisy. We will be heading back!
Machine Creek Studio
The weather isn’t always nice in March. For those rainy weekends, I highly recommend checking out Machine Creek Studio in Downtown Roanoke. There is a local store where you can purchase beautiful stained glass pieces, but you can also sign up for a Stained Glass Class online and make your own piece! I did this the other weekend, and it was so much fun!
Machine Creek Studio Website >
Go For a Walk!
Finally, spring is a great time to walk through your neighborhood or on the bike path. So many flowers and trees are blooming, and it is nice to go at a slower pace and take it all in. Daisy and I have been taking extra dog walks in this beautiful weather.
Spring is a great time to get outside. The weather is starting to be wonderful without being too hot. And the time has changed, so we all have that extra hour of daylight! I hope you can enjoy spring outside in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.
