Roanoke is nestled in the Roanoke Valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can easily be accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway. For nearly two centuries, Roanoke has played an important role as a transportation hub for passengers and for the coal mining industry in Virginia and West Virginia. Visitors can explore the city’s railway heritage with a visit to the Virginia Museum of Transportation, which has a splendid collection of steam locomotives. Most visitors take a trip to the summit of Mill Mountain to take a close look at the eighty-eight foot manmade star, the world’s largest, which sits atop it, and to admire the view of the city and the surrounding mountains. You'll be surrounded by great restaurants while you explore Roanoke. Mill Mountain has a beautifully landscaped park, a zoo, and hiking trails, and it is a perfect family destination.

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