Rented kayaks there today. Had a great time! Excellent customer service. Friendly. Helpful. Will go…read moreback again!

Needed a stop on the way back home so we found this BW. It's a nice hotel and very clean . The area…read moreis good and alot of stores and restaurants in the area. Price was a bit on the high side but it was last minute . The clerk at the desk at check in was very nice . Free breakfast 6-9 . Will keep this one in mind on my next trek to the north .

Truly a wonderful manged establishment. Clean rooms. Great staff and very convenient to Route 81…read more I would return here again when traveling where I need to break a day of travel up. The breakfast was not grest but it was adequate. Many nearby restaurants augmented our stay. Truly worth the stay!

Clean and accommodating! Rooms were large and nicely appointed. Breakfast was a lovely addition.read more

With a big winter storm hitting Roanoke right now--snow, ice, flights canceled, travel chaos--this…read moreSpringHill Suites by Marriott Roanoke North is the #1 choice hands down. Wonderful well-rounded breakfast ready every morning to fuel you through the cold. Tommy in the kitchen is incredible: extremely knowledgeable about the area, insightful tips, and pure kindness--she genuinely scales your Roanoke experience for the better. Family-oriented, watchful staff always ready to keep guests safe, secure, and fully in the loop during bad weather. Guests are treated like kings and queens--no dishonest availability games like some competitors pulled on me. Repay the kindness: book here over anyone else. Clean, comfortable, reliable--perfect refuge in the storm. This place deserves to dominate bookings. Highly recommend!

We had a great stay at this hotel. We arrived a little before midnight and the staff members were…read morevery accommodating and helpful. After getting to the room, they checked to see if we needed anything else before bedding down. The room was nice and clean. The beds were comfortable. A very nice experience all the way around. As nice as the hotel is, the staff is even better. I will definitely be staying here again!

Dog friendly!! Rooms are small but efficient! Bathrooms are nice enough. The staff is SUPER…read morefriendly and accommodating! Location is convenient to highway but the area is quiet. God dog walk spots. Breakfast was also pretty good!

This marina has a perfect spot on the lake - the views are awesome. That's why we decided to have…read moreour wedding here. There is a squarish point that looks at the mountain and wide open lake. There is also a permanent pavilion setup and a carousel if that interests you. We've attended a few events here over the past few years. Most notably a Bass Master's series event. They did a nice job with setup, and the locals came flocking out obviously. They're not coming back this year, I'm sure they'll startup the tournament here again in a few years, if you're around, definitely hit it up, it's neat. There are always events going on here during the summer, car shows, fishing tournaments (lots of fish around here), and weddings. It's worth checking out any of these just for the views! There are a few houses nearby that are used for vacation rentals including the Jolly Roger. The management at Parkway Marina is friendly. The events are arranged through Ronnee who is nice and fairly diligent with keeping records and keeping in touch with you. That's all for now, stay posted for post-wedding reviews!

Pros: Pricing was reasonable, gas prices - also reasonable. Boat was safe. We had a great day on…read morethe lake. Cons: customer service was cursory at best - rude at worst. The employee who checked us in and out did not make eye contact, dismissed our questions and was generally rude. The employees who did the checks for the boat were friendly enough.

For a small business that literally took an abandoned property and rebooted it, this place is cool…read more Looks like it would be a heck of a place to heat in the winter though. Very fun aesthetic. The lady at the bar was friendly. The owner was okay...for there only being two customer vehicles here and just the other two customers besides us it was kind of a cold welcome. Worth a stop though for some snacks and good mead! My wife and I spent the day hiking at the nearby Otter River, so this was a welcome stop. I bought a 16oz etched glass bottle of Mazer mead, and another of the "Master" flavor. As somebody who has made hundreds of gallons of my own mead, the flavors were really unique. Varying alcohol content too if you're looking for something heavier (or lighter). I wouldn't suggest buying more than one "growler", as they were just etched glass bottles. Having grown up raising honey bees, it's really cool to see a place like this where the mission is to endorse honey and happy times with the mead bees help make. If you want a Quentin Tarantino feel and you're in the area, check it out! I'd like to give 4/5 stars but for a small business like this I'll send a little love

Honestly, can't say enough good things about this quirky, curated spot on the shoulders of Sharp…read moreTop Mountain. John Graham is a thoughtful host who has carved out a unique place among roadside inns. The Ordinary calls to a time of self-catered stays, where the point was not to dazzle you with breakfast, but to provide you with a beautiful spot where personal touches abound in the rebuilt 1790s cabin to stop and enjoy the world around you. Your private deck view sweeps down into the valley below the Peaks of Otter, taking in John's butterfly garden and personal beehives. Oh, he also runs a meadery out of the inn--lucky weekend guests get to sample and take home his fantastic products (careful, though, at 17% ABV, they pack a sneaky punch). If you plan on spending time in the Blue Ridge, skip the chain hotels and find Graham's Ordinary. Your spirit will be glad you did.

We noticed signs for this on our way way to something else and figured since we were in the area we…read morewould check it out. What you need to know: -It's FREE -There is a parking lot -There is a ramp up to the overlook so if someone is in a wheelchair they can also take advantage of the views -No pets allowed inside the information/interactive display area or on the ramp/overlook area -It's pretty interesting

If you are interested in learning more about Smith Mountain Lake and how it generates power for…read moreVirginia and surrounding states, the visitor center at the dam is definitely a cool spot to stop. They have a small exhibit inside that highlights the dam's functionality, and there are also outdoor paths to walk that offer great views of the dam and lake. All together, you may spend 45 minutes to an hour or so exploring. I like to do this kind of thing first thing in the morning so I can get out on the water if it's looking like it's going to be a nice day!

We had seen this reservoir on a list of "natural" things to do in the Roanoke area so went to check…read moreit out. Fairly soon after crossing under I-81, the road becomes quite curvy and narrow. As you approach the park area, there's a $7/car fee, that goes to the Water Authority. (The reservoir supplies water for the city of Roanoke). We were there in mid-October, and the area was beautiful with the lake reflecting the colors of the changing leaves on the nearby hillside trees. There are many recreational opportunities from fishing on the piers, to renting single- or double-kayaks (through late October), and hiking the nearby trails. Clean restrooms are available.

My 20-year old son and I were staying in Roanoke in May 2026 and decided to visit Carvins Cove…read moreNatural Reserve. When you drive into the main parking lot, a staff person will step out to collect a $7 per vehicle entry fee. Lots of pluses. First, the area has clean restrooms and a well-marked trail. Second, it's a peaceful and quiet setting as you walk along the Happy Valley trail. Third, we saw many kayakers on the lake and a few people fishing by the dock and along the left bank of the lake. However, I was surprised by the low level of lake water (you can see exposed rock). This is a family-friendly location to rent a kayak or take a peaceful walk along the reservoir.