Things to Do in Roanoke VA – A Blue Ridge Gem

on Jun 12, 2026

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I’m always on the lookout for fun road trips out of my hometown, and I can’t believe it’s taken this long to visit Roanoke, Virginia. In just three hours from Raleigh, NC, you can be right in the middle of a vibrant Blue Ridge downtown community with plenty of things to see, do, and eat. I loved it.

Aerial view of a city with clustered buildings, highways, and surrounding greenery—discover Things to Do in Roanoke VA, set against distant blue mountains under a cloudy sky.

By the end of the weekend, I texted my husband that we were coming back as a family. While this trip was a hosted stay on behalf of Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, my family already has a return visit scheduled for later this summer, and I can’t wait to show my guys around.

If you’re planning a trip of your own, here are things to do in Roanoke, VA, on your first visit. If you’re like me, it won’t be your last.

Why Roanoke surprised me

I didn’t know Roanoke had such a walkable downtown, and it was such a pleasant surprise. You can park once and spend the entire day moving between restaurants, museums, shops, and cocktail bars on foot, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as your backdrop the whole time.

And the hotels are so fun! Right in downtown, you’ll find two bank-turned hotels and one that used to be a fire station. And for a dose of southern charm, take the walkway over the train tracks to the historic Hotel Roanoke. For this trip, we were hosted at The Promissory Hotel, and it was delightful.

A hand holds a vintage photo of the Promissory Hotel entrance, aligning it with the current building façade on a sunny day—one of many unique things to do in Roanoke VA for history enthusiasts.

Roanoke’s food scene is excellent, with fun breweries, restaurants, and coffee shops to enjoy. Once you’re fed and ready to explore, museums, arcades, and shops await. When you need a rest, the hotel is just around the corner.

Things to do in Roanoke VA

Whether I’m traveling solo, with my husband, or the whole family, my favorite things to do are wander in and out of shops, eat good food, and enjoy some local art. Roanoke has all of this and more.

The Taubman Museum of Art

Street view of a city with a glass building on the right, a red brick coffee shop in the center—perfect for those exploring Things to Do in Roanoke VA—cars on the road, and a green hill under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Taubman Museum is legitimately impressive for a city this size. The building itself is a landmark, and the collection and programming inside match.

We had a quick guided tour of the current exhibits, and I would definitely like to spend another slow afternoon exploring every floor.

A woman sits on a white couch with a blue bunny pattern, in front of a wall displaying many colorful bunny prints—capturing the quirky charm you’ll find among the unique things to do in Roanoke VA.

A glass sphere on a stand reflects a wall display of colorful spools of thread arranged in a pattern—an inspiring scene for creative souls seeking unique things to do in Roanoke VA.

The Pinball Museum and Starcade

Both the Roanoke Pinball Museum and Starcade are a joy for all ages. They are both located on the second floor of Center in the Square and so much fun.

A dimly lit arcade filled with various retro arcade game machines and patterned carpet with star designs—one of the nostalgic things to do in Roanoke VA for gamers and families alike.

This will be one of the first places I take my family. You can visit each separately or purchase a combo pass for both. Once you pay to enter, all the games are free to play for as long as you like!

I love how the Pinball Museum is arranged chronologically. It’s so cool to see how the game evolved over the years. And yes, you can play even the old machines.

A row of vintage pinball machines in an arcade, set against brightly colored retro-patterned wallpaper—one of the nostalgic things to do in Roanoke VA for arcade and pinball enthusiasts.

I met my nemesis, Burgertime in the Starcade, and remembered how fun those old games can be! The Starcade also has air hockey, ski ball, and modern video game consoles. This would be the perfect rainy day activity.

Shopping in Downtown Roanoke

There are so many great options for shopping downtown. I loved poring over the shelves of locally made goods at Woodshed and you’ll want to make time for chocolate and gifts from chocolatepaper.

Street view of a brick building with signs reading "WOOD SHED" and "APPALACHIAN CRAFTS"—a must-see spot for those exploring Things to Do in Roanoke VA; cars line the street outside this charming storefront.

If you are lucky enough to be there on a market day, be sure to wander the stalls for even more goodies.

Where to eat in Roanoke

The food is what really got me about Roanoke, and there wasn’t a single miss on this trip. The more I travel, the more I realize that no matter the location, there’s one thing that unites us all, and that’s a great meal.

Dorothy and Frank’s

This was our first dinner, and it set the tone for the whole trip. The menu was full of favorites with a twist. Dorothy and Frank’s is part southern, part Mediterranean, and all delicious.

And make sure to try a cocktail or two. They are made to order and highly refreshing.

A plate of crispy fried potato cubes topped with dollops of creamy sauce and garnished with chopped chives—a must-try treat when exploring the top Things to Do in Roanoke VA.

Two plates of food on a wooden table: one with grilled meat and vegetables in sauce, the other with a nut-crusted fish fillet on greens, plus a glass of water—a delicious highlight among Things to Do in Roanoke VA.

Bread Craft Bakery

I love the atmosphere at Bread Craft, and the food was excellent! I had a warm everything bagel croissant filled with cream cheese, and yes, it was as amazing as it sounds.

There was lots of seating available. It would make a great spot to read, finish your Wordle, or even open the laptop and get some work done.

A seeded croissant on a white plate sits beside a white ceramic mug atop a gray marble table—a cozy cafe moment and one of the delightful things to do in Roanoke VA.

Brunch at The Regency Room Hotel Roanoke

If your visit includes a Sunday, then The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke is the place to be for brunch. Take a walk around the beautiful historic grounds and then settle in for a fresh buffet with just about anything you could ask for.

A historic multi-story Tudor-style hotel with flags at the entrance, a vintage car, and a sign reading "Hotel Roanoke" in the foreground—an iconic landmark among the top things to do in Roanoke VA.

Two blue chairs and a small table sit before an open doorway, inviting you into an elegant lounge with a chandelier—one of the relaxing Things to Do in Roanoke VA for those seeking comfort and style.

Six & Sky

We closed out the trip with dinner and a view at Six & Sky, a rooftop restaurant at Center in the Square. The views alone are worth the reservation, but the food is right up there too.

We shared some amazing appetizers, and I, being a sucker for seafood, had to try the scallops. I’m so glad I did. Highly recommend!

Aerial view of downtown Roanoke, VA with red brick buildings, tree-lined streets, and green hills—offering a scenic backdrop for discovering the many things to do in Roanoke VA under a partly cloudy sky.

Two glasses of iced drinks, one yellow with a lemon slice and one pink with a lime wedge, sit on a table—refreshing treats to enjoy while exploring Things to Do in Roanoke VA.

Roasted carrots on a bed of creamy cheese, topped with pine nuts, grated cheese, and microgreens—an unforgettable dish to enjoy while exploring Things to Do in Roanoke VA, served elegantly on a white oval plate.

Activities worth the drive

So far, everything I’ve shared is within walking distance of the downtown hotels. But if you want to grab the keys and go for a drive, there are even more cool places to enjoy just a few minutes down the road.

Black Dog Salvage

Those who love treasure hunting and interesting stuff will be completely in their element at Black Dog Salvage. This place is a destination in its own right. If you’ve ever watched the hit show Salvage Dawgs, seeing it in person delivers.

Discover one of the top Things to Do in Roanoke VA at Black Dog Savage, featuring vintage furniture, artwork, decorative items, houseplants, and vendor signs beneath a soaring industrial ceiling.

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Even if you haven’t, it’s one of the coolest spaces we went to on this trip. Plan more time than you think you need, and yes, you will probably buy something.

This year, they added an amphitheater for outdoor music, so check the schedule. You never know what you’ll find.

Large sculptural letters spelling "LOVE," with the "O" replaced by a wheel featuring "50," create a perfect photo op among trees and string lights—one of the unique Things to Do in Roanoke VA.

The Harrison Museum of African American Culture

Black history is a large part of Roanoke’s story, and the Harrison Museum is a meaningful and accessible stop that connects to the region’s broader history in ways that feel important to all ages.

A framed portrait of a woman stands above an antique desk with various items, including framed photos, books, and a yellow upholstered chair at the Harrison Museum —inviting you to discover unique things to do in Roanoke VA.

Take a guided tour if you can for the most information about the black community in the area, their incredible contributions to medicine, and how they are still collecting these stories today.

Historic Grandin Village

The historic Grandin Village neighborhood has great energy with fun festivals, great restaurants like Scratch Biscuit Co. and Show Pony, shopping, and greenway access.

You can walk or bike the greenway or rent a kayak to get out on the nearby Roanoke River if your crew is outdoorsy.

Scratch Biscuit Co.

When I tell you this was the best breakfast of the trip, I mean it. You must add Scratch Biscuit Co. to your trip plans and come hungry.

We tried a little bit of everything, and each bite was better than the one before. I don’t know how they mastered so many different types of breakfast foods, but they did.

A variety of breakfast foods, including biscuits, pancakes, bacon, fried chicken, jam, and home fries, arranged on trays—perfect fuel before exploring the best Things to Do in Roanoke VA.

Mama Jean’s BBQ

Mama Jean’s is another destination worth a stop, especially for barbecue lovers. This place is busy, so bring your (stretchy) patience pants and plan your eating strategy.

Of everything I tried, hands down the best and most unexpected item was the cheeseburger. Second place goes to the Brussels sprouts, and the potato salad was excellent as well. But really, nothing was bad, so maybe just try it all.

Savor a tray of assorted barbecue meats, sausages, brisket, pulled pork, buns, pickles, and classic sides—one of the tastiest things to do in Roanoke VA for food lovers.

Golden Cactus + Food Hut

Golden Cactus Brewing is just outside the main area of downtown and you could even walk there. We were already out and about so we drove.

That said, I could see spending hours on a Saturday in this spot enjoying craft beer, a really fun open-air atmosphere, and tasty bites. Golden Cactus is my kind of place.

Large gold cactus sculpture mounted on a turquoise brick wall, surrounded by decorative wall art, a mirror, and a small leafy plant—perfect inspiration for those seeking creative things to do in Roanoke VA.

A serving of French fries and a basket of tater tots topped with grated cheese and chopped green onions on checkered paper—perfect fuel while exploring the top Things to Do in Roanoke VA, complete with napkins and black plastic forks.

Twin Creeks Distillery and the Moonshine Explosion Museum

If you have extra time, travel to nearby Rocky Mount for a deep dive into moonshine history. Stop into the Twin Creeks tasting room to learn their distillery story and taste real, Blue Ridge moonshine. This place made moonshine history feel alive and genuinely fun.

A woman wearing a cap stands beside an old, rustic still in a dimly lit room with wooden barrels and a weathered door—capturing the charm of local distilleries among the unique things to do in Roanoke VA.

Then head to the Moonshine Explosion Museum for even more prohibition history. See the site of an old car dealership that exploded because there was moonshine hidden inside a stolen car.

A dimly lit basement with exposed beams, brick walls, debris, and scattered metal parts on the ground feels worlds away from the lively attractions and things to do in Roanoke VA.

Once you’re done with the exhibit, head to one of two incredible bar options in the space for some dressed-up or dressed-down food and drink.

The Roanoke Star

If you’ve never been to Roanoke, then a trip up the mountain to see the Roanoke Star should be mandatory. This landmark, originally intended for the Christmas season, has stood for more than 76 years and counting!

You can hike around if you want to, or just drive right up and park to see the star and the beautiful view of Roanoke below. The photo at the top of this post is from this very spot, facing away from the star.

A large metal star structure stands outdoors against a backdrop of blue sky and trees, making it one of the must-see things to do in Roanoke VA.

This was a really fun stop. If you have time to go at sunset, you can even catch the star as it lights up for nighttime viewing. Then, on your way back to town, stop for a treat at Blue Cow Ice Cream.

Just when I think I have seen all the towns and attractions near me, a place like Roanoke stands up to say, hold my beer, and then blows me away with fantastic hospitality. I’m so looking forward to my next visit. What else should we try?