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WEEKEND UPDATE
Team Roanoke Outside will be attending Outdoor Retailer Winter Market next week, and as a result are including events for this weekend as well as the rest of January. See you in February!  |
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PETE'S PICKS
Load up the car and get lost! - We have some incredibly beautiful back roads around here. Click here for a list of some recommend routes to explore. I usually try to find a unique dining experience when we go exploring. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Drive the Alleghany Highlands scenic drive and grab a bite to eat at Jack Mason's Tavern in Clifton Forge.
- Rts. 311, 42, & 658 (Craig County) to the small town of Paint Bank. Have lunch at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant.
- Rts. 43, 615, 621, & 606 through Botetourt County. Finish with a nice dinner at Pomegranate in Troutville.
- Rts. 602, 640, 748, & 623 (Franklin County). For some Cajun food try Bayou Cafe in Rocky Mount.
- Rts. 42, 635, 61, 40 & 730 (Giles County) to small community of Eggelston. Have the pizza at Palisades Cafe.
And if you're into skiing then join the Roanoke Ski Club for their monthly happy hour. Non-members interested in joining are invited to come learn more about the club...which is much more than just a ski club.
Get Outside!
Pete Eshelman
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership
  
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CARVINS COVE ACCESS FEE CHANGE
For those who frequent Carvins Cove (Bennett Spring's access point) you know that paying and obtaining the required access fee hasn't been all that simple. The primary reason being that you couldn't purchase the parking pass at the actual parking lot/trail head. You had to purchase it at either a local bike shop or from the marina which is located on the opposite side of Carvins Cove, and not all that easy and quick to get to. Plus, if you showed up on a Sunday (when the bike shops are closed) you're out of luck.
Roanoke Parks and Recreation and the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA) have been working to develop an onsite payment system which should be installed within the next few weeks.
They're also working on some other things to make your time here more enjoyable including a newly installed a port-a-toilet.
Signs were posted this fall reminding people to people to purchase and display their permits, and the WVWA has recently begun issuing tickets for those in violation - so don't think you can get by without a permit. Daily passes are $2 but you can alleviate a lot of headaches by purchasing a yearly pass ($20) at one of the local bike shops.
Many people have asked where this money goes, so we asked the WVWA. Click here to read their response...
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SAY GOODBYE TO DISPOSABLES
 It may seem hard to get through a day without generating trash or even recyclable waste. The easiest ways to buy products, clean surfaces and perform other tasks often involve disposable items. However, you can often reduce your environmental impact and save money by replacing standard disposable items with reusable alternatives. Even if you buy disposable items made with recycled and recyclable materials, they require energy and materials to create. Moreover, they require more energy to recycle. If disposable items end up in landfills, they might take months or years to decompose. Here are 12 categories of disposable products that can easily be replaced with reusable products. 1. Beverage bottles: Disposable plastic water bottles are one of the great demons of the environmental movement, sending unnecessary plastic into the landfill. A variety of reusable metal and plastic alternatives are widely available. They are typically more expensive than a bottle of Evian, but they are infinitely refillable, saving plenty of money in the long run. Also consider reusable bottles and cups for soda and other beverages. Continue reading to see the other 11...
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| YOUR ARTWORK FEATURED ON MARATHON SHIRTS
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2012: THE COMING GEARPOCALYPSE
Our blog/newsletter will be taking the next two weeks off...why you ask. Because we'll be attending the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market tradeshow - the season's biggest gathering of the outdoor industry, or as our friends at The Gear Junkie like to say, "a literal tsunami of gear".
We'll be sending out live updates via Twitter (@roanoke_outside) and will share a "drool report" when we get back.
In the mean enjoy some sneak-peak pictures shared by The Gear Junkie...
Diva in wool: Icebreaker debuts women's Carve Zip top
Backpacking gets handsome: Granite Gear Vapor Current pack
See the rest of the gear here...
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UPCOMING EVENTS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON
Visit The RoanokeOutside.com Calendar of Events for details on these upcoming events!
- East Coaster's Womens Ride - 2/4
- Kayak Roll Class - 2/5
- Mountain Lake Trails Hike - 2/5
- MountainXCross Race Series - 2/5
- Mill Mountain Night Ride - 2/7
- Murray Run Greenway Hike - 2/11
- Wine & Dine with Wilderness Adventure and AmRhein Winery - 2/11
- Family Winter Hike - 2/11
- Hoodie Hoo! Ride - 2/18
- Maple Tapping - 2/18
- MountainXCross Race Series - 2/18
- Kayak Roll Class - 2/19
- Chestnut Ridge Loop Trail Hike - 2/19
- Casual Hiker Wilderness First Aid Course - 2/25-26
- MountainXCross Race Series - 2/26
- 8th Annual Explore Your Limits 5 & 10K - 3/3
- Sunrise Hike to McAfee Knob - 3/11
- Instant Classic Trail Marathon & Half - 3/17
- Montvale 5 & 10 Miler Trail Race - 3/24
- 33rd Annual Clean Valley Day - 3/31
- Beginner Cave Trip - 3/31
- Mill Mountain 10K Trail Race - 4/14
- Komen Race for the Cure - 4/14
- Roanoke Twilight Roller Races - 4/20
- Blue Ridge Marathon, Half Marathon, and Team Relay - 4/21
- Roanoke Twilight Criterium - 4/21
- YMCA Kids Marathon - 4/21
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Roanoke Regional Partnership · 111 Franklin Plaza, Suite 333 · Roanoke, VA 24011540.343.1550 X 104 · www.roanoke.org
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Could your artwork be the face of America's Toughest Road Marathon?