When someone from another part of the country thinks of Virginia, the first things that come to mind are probably Washington, D.C. (in northern Virginia around Alexandria) along with Virginia Beach and Norfolk. But Virginia is a very diverse state—areas like the Roanoke Valley are quite different from the first places that come to mind. For anyone who’s new to the area, here are a few things you should know.
We are in the Blue Ridge Mountains where there’s a tremendous amount of outdoor activities to do, including hiking, kayaking, and canoeing. Smith Mountain Lake, which is about 30 minutes away, has boating, water sports, dining, and lots more.
The Roanoke Valley is also very rich with culture and history. Much of our initial history is centered around the railroad in our area. In fact, Roanoke started off as a railroad town, and Norfolk & Southern had been around here since back in the 1920s. Although they no longer have a main hub in this area, we’re still very much a company town. Carillion, which is a medical company, is now a very prevalent source of employment and education in the Roanoke Valley. They brought several hospitals, colleges, and schools to our area.
While there are some small progressive pockets in Roanoke, by and large this is a conservative rural place. People who visit the area are also usually pleasantly surprised by how great the airport is, especially due to the city’s size. It makes travel in and out of the city very pleasant. If you want to venture to the areas surrounding Roanoke Valley, you’ll find some interesting places like Virginia Tech, with is about 30 minutes south of us. James Madison University is about an hour up in Charlottesville. Aside from Roanoke’s rich culture centered around food and music, you’ll be sure to find lots of interesting things to do in our region.
If you have any plumbing related questions, reach out to the team at Wisler Plumbing and Air today. Contact us online or give us a call at 540-483-9382.
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