|
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
WEEKEND UPDATE
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
PETE'S PICKS
Happy new year everyone!
If you're like most Americans you've made a few new year resolutions. And hopefully you aren't like most people and haven't broken them yet. I have three resolutions - take my nine-year old son mountain biking more often, get my five-year old daughter to finally let me take the training wheels off her bike, and to discover some more backcountry skiing spots.
I'm praying for snow this weekend and hope to be out skiing. So here are my recommendations.
- If it snows a lot this weekend, rent some cross country skis and go explore the Blue Ridge Parkway or Mountain Lake Conservancy. Both are at a higher elevation so they get more snow, and the parkway is typically closed to cars when we get at least a couple inches of snow.
- If it doesn't snow that much and you are looking for some white action, then head to one of the local resorts. We have more than 10 ski resorts within a few hours drive.
- If you like winter sports but don't like the cold, then head to the Roanoke Civic Center for some ice skating.
Get Outside!
Pete Eshelman
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership
  
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Two Upcoming Ski Adventures!
The Roanoke Ski Club is sponsoring trips this winter to two of the largest ski resorts in the mid-Atlantic, and you're invited to join them:
- Snowshoe Mountain, W.V., Jan. 21-23. The trip includes two nights lodging at Mountain Lodge in
 Snowshoe's main village, two-day lift ticket good at Snowshoe, Silver Creek and Western Territories and night skiing at Silver Creek. The price per person is $325 based on double occupancy. For more information or to sign up, contact Cathy Campbell at catcampbell@cox.net or 540-818-6160. More information about Snowshoe Mountain is available at www.snowshoemtn.com.
- Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Pa., Feb. 13-16 (approximately one hour's drive southeast of Pittsburgh). The trip includes roundtrip transportation from Roanoke, overnight lodging at the Seven Springs Lodge with buffet breakfast each morning, three-day lift ticket includes night skiing. Also available: private hot tubs, snow tubing, snowmobiling, snowcat rides, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and more. The price per person is $425 per person based on double occupancy. For more information, or to sign up, contact Peggy Leister at leistersc@yahoo.com or 540-239-5398. Also, check out www.7springs.com.
The trips provide an affordable alternative to the club's western and international trips and are perfect for beginners.
For more information about the Roanoke Ski Club, visit roanokeskiclub.org.
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Superheroes Rival Santa
On December 15 a group of local "superheroes" led by Rob Issem, Ron McCorkle, John Johnson, Mark Garland, Hunter Dickenson, and Sharebike.org came up with the brilliant idea to collect, fix, and donate bicycles to area  kids for Christmas. Their goal was 50 bikes.
Word quickly spread throughout the community and boy did Roanoke respond. As of last count more than 200 bikes had been donated. Most of the bikes were given a tune up and sent on their merry way to a deserving little boy or girl by Christmas eve. But these superheroes are still at it, tuning up the remaining bikes. Every Tuesday people gather at the downtown Sharebike for Tuneup Tuesdays - stop in and say hello one evening. Got an old bike laying around? Drop it off and these superheroes will make sure it finds a new home.
Read the latest Roanoke Times covereage by Jorge Valencia>>>
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Featured Hike - Falls Ridge Natural Preserve
We are continuing our featured hikes this week with, Falls Ridge Natural Preserve. This hike gets a lot of attention from area hikers because of it's beautiful waterfall, intriguing caves, rare plants, and convenient location.
Part of a steep, rugged ridge that rises from the valley of the north fork of the Roanoke River, Falls Ridge Preserve boasts a spring-fed travertine waterfall approximately 80 feet in height.
Over thousands of years, the build-up of calcium carbonate has steepened the stream's gradient and slowly created both the waterfall and one of the largest-known exposed travertine deposits. Large sinkholes on part of the land also indicate the existence of underlying caverns which have never been explored.
Hike Details:
- A 5 mile loop trail or just an area to hang out and explore
- View a complete map of Falls Ridge Preserve
- No pets allowed
- For directions and trail head, Click Here
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Get Smart! Get Green!
Citizens for Clean and Green are pleased to present the City of Roanoke's Green Academy. Open to all city residents interested in reducing their energy costs and learning about green building. Regional experts will share their knowledge on everything from Roanoke Citizens for Clean and Green energy conservation and weatherization to renewable energy and water conservation.
- Sessions will be held at Fishburn Park Elementary School Jan. 20 & 27, Feb. 3 & 9.
- Classes start at 5:30 p.m. (with a light dinner.) and run until 8 p.m.
- A graduation event will be held Feb. 11. (Location TBD.)
An online application is available here, or download the informational brochure and application form and return it by mail.
For more information, please contact Director of General Services and Sustainability Ken Cronin at (540) 853-1805.
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Upcoming events to keep your eye oN
- Weekly bike rides throughout Roanoke & NRV Valley
- Tuesday Bike Repair Classes
- Wine & Dine - 1/15
- Roanoke Outdoor & Social Club 1000th event - 1/15
- Roanoke Outdoor & Social Club Club Social - 1/15
- Roanoke's Snuggie Bar Crawl - 1/15
- Winter Survival (earn your merit badge) - 1/15
- Go Geocaching w/ Roanoke Parks & Recreation - 1/15
- Kayak Roll Practice - 1/16 & 1/23
- Crabtree Falls Hike - 1/22
- Intro. to Caving Trip - 1/22
- Sweet Ride Wonka Ride - 1/23;
- Astronomy Extravaganza - 1/29
- First Saturdays Nature Program (Plants: Winter Adaptations) - 2/5
- Winter Survival - 2/8
- Hike Mill Mountain Trails - 2/10
- Intro. to Caving - 2/12
- Learn to Kayak Roll - 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
- Wine & Dine - 2/14
- Hoodie Hoo Ride! - 2/20
- Intro. to Slacklining - 2/21 & 2/27
|
|
|
|
Roanoke Regional Partnership · 111 Franklin Plaza, Suite 333 · Roanoke, VA 24011540.343.1550 X 104 · www.roanoke.org
|
|
|
|
|
