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PETE'S PICKS
 Last weekend I decided to go for a mountain bike ride on the Mill Mountain trails. I typically connect to the trails by riding through Fern Park and I was extremely happy to see a new plant identification trail. After a little digging I discovered that this plant ID trail was created by Lucas Kennedy as part of his Eagle Scout project. My hat goes off to Lucas, he did an outstanding job. The trail is not very long (maybe half a mile) but packed with great information. There are 20 different informational stations at the base of 20 different trees -- lift the lid and you'll learn about the different trees common to Virginia. Go check this trail out. If you park at Fern Park, you can hike the plant ID trail and at the top you can turn right and continue on the Chestnut Ridge Loop Trail or turn right, cross Yellow Mountain Road and access Ridgeline Trail (part of Mill Mountain trail system). As for me, I'll be climbing at the newly opened The River Rock climbing gym. You'll probably find me on the bouldering wall every day for the foreseeable future. Come join me. They have an "Intro to Climbing" package ($10 adults, $5 kids) for first-time visitors, which includes instruction and rental equipment (climbing shoes and harness). Get outside!
Pete Eshelman
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership
  
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COOL GEAR: YAFFBARS
 Guest review by Carrie Cousins
There always comes that point in a hike when I reach for a snack as my dog stares longingly.
New YaffBars make it a little easier. The energy bars are designed for you and your pup to share.
And they are pretty good for you, too. The bars, which come in three flavors, are made with organic ingredients, and no refined sugar, wheat, diary, or caffeine.
My dog absolutely loved the YaffBar. She gobbled up every bite and scoured the ground for extra pieces after we finished a recent hike along the Murray Run Greenway Trail. I found them to be a little on the bland side. The bars, made from a crispy rice base, had a nice texture and tasted pretty good; they were just not overly flavorful. The Blueberry Carob bar had a light berry taste as did the Honey Almond flavor. The Banana Peanut Butter bar did feature a more distinct flavor because of the peanut butter. Find out more about YaffBars and find out how you can review gear for Roanoke Outside >>>
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WIN TICKETS TO FLOYDFEST
 FloydFest is about more than just music.
The festival includes four days of camping (if you want to), beer and wine gardens, performance art, a global village, kids' universe, craft workshops, trapeze school, disc golf, mountain biking, and yes, plenty of great live music.
This year's lineup is incredible with a great mix of national recording artists and local talent. A few of the headliners you will not want to miss include The Lumineers, Old Crow Medicine Show, John Butler Trio, Megan Jean & The KFB, and more.
And we want to help you attend FloydFest 12 on July 25-28 by giving away a pair of tickets.
Head over to the blog to learn more about FloydFest and enter to win >>>
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OUTDOOR TOURISM EXPANDS IN ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS
 The outdoors is getting a boost in the Alleghany Highlands. With two new outdoor initiatives, the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is hoping more visitors will experience the area's outdoor assets. The Alleghany Highlands Trails include great places for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Some of the featured trails include the Jackson River Scenic Trail and the trail network at Douthat State Park. These trails offer a peaceful wilderness experience with excellent views of the mountains. The Alleghany Highlands Blueway is made up of two lakes and two rivers which are great for water-based recreation. The Jackson and Cowpasture rivers include 40 miles of navigable water ranging from mild-flat to class II and III rapids. Lake Moomaw has undeveloped shoreline for paddlers and room for motorboats and waterskiing. Douthat Lake is a small, family-friendly place to paddle, fish or swim. Camping is available at Lake Moomaw, Douthat State Park and along portions of the Cowpasture River in the George Washington National Forest. A Blueway Coordinator has recently been hired to further develop and promote the Alleghany Highlands Blueway. Read more about the initiative >>>
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UPCOMING EVENTS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON
Visit The RoanokeOutside.com Calendar of Events for details on these upcoming events!
- Montvale 5 and 10 Mile Trail Runs - 3/23
- Dragon's Tooth Hike - 3/24
- Pub Run - 3/26
- Tail-Chaser 5K Run/Walk - 3/30
- Wilderness First Aid Course - 4/6-7
- TriAdventure Spring Sprint Triathlon - 4/7
- Komen Race for the Cure - 4/13
- Mill Mountain Mayhem 10K - 4/13
- Yoga/Wine/Vineyard - 4/14
- Down by Downtown Music Festival - 4/17-20
- Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon - 4/20
- YMCA Kids Marathon - 4/20
- FloydFest - 7/25-28
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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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