Bike Tour of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains

Meet us at historic Hotel Roanoke downtown.  Arrive early to explore this evolving railroad hub.  (See below for things to do in the area)  We'll take a warm-up ride this afternoon to explore the nearby hills, including Mill Mountain, home to Roanoke's iconic star.  From the top, take in a sweeping view of downtown Roanoke, the vast railroad yards, and the surrounding mountains.  Dinner will be included at an excellent restaurant downtown.

After a delicious full buffet breakfast, we'll take  a brief shuttle to get away from city traffic and into the hills north of town.  Our ride will take advantage of magnificent roads that wind between mountain ridges on their way to Blacksburg.  We'll arrive there for a late lunch and time to explore the campus of Virginia Tech.  The town and campus are both bicycle and pedestrian friendly, so you will want to explore.  

Blacksburg's downtown shops and the nearby Smithfield Plantation are highlights.  Smithfield is the meticulously restored 1774 home and gardens of Colonel William Preston and his descendents.  Nearby is the Drillfield, the enormous central green space of the VT campus.  On the Drillfield you will find the War Memorial Chapel and the April 16 memorial, honoring the memory of those lost in the tragic shooting of 2007.  Surrounding the Drillfield on all sides are buildings of neo-gothic architecture clad in local limestone, known here as "Hokie Stone."  

Today we say goodbye to Blacksburg and head south to Floyd County. We'll end up in the funky, artsy community of Floyd.  Famous for live Bluegrass and roots music concerts, Floyd has attracted a cluster of artists and others looking for a small town with culture.  Floyd residents are happy that there is only one stoplight in the entire county!   Our hotel, in the heart of the community sponsors a concert series every Thursday evening at the nearby Floyd Country Store.   Read more about Floyd here: Click

Today is a big day on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so get ready for some spectacular scenery and biking! 

We have scheduled a stop today at Mabry Mill, one of the most photographed spots on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This site is popular for good reason – the tour of the mill is fascinating and they still grind cornmeal and buckwheat flour on site.  We encourage you to stop and browse the mill and surrounding buildings providing a glimpse into life in rural Virginia in the early 1900’s.

You may also want to budget some time to explore Chateau Morrisette in the early afternoon.  The vineyard and winery sits just off the Parkway and tastings are available for those who are interested.

Lastly, you may want to have some free time today to continue to explore the quiet and quaint downtown of Floyd.  Many shops and restaurants are located within a few blocks of our inn.  The late afternoon is also an opportunity to schedule a massage with a local therapist located within walking distance of our inn

Its time to make our way back to Roanoke.  The Blue Ridge Parkway will provide the longest segment of the journey, including a spectacular sustained descent from Bent Mountain.  Begun as a works project in 1935, the BRP is a 470 mile scenic drive stretching from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The section that we will enjoy on this day has the characteristic small farms and meadows, split rail fences and occasional overlooks.  Just outside of Roanoke, we'll descend from the Parkway into Roanoke Valley.  We'll wrap things up with a final lunch back at the hotel.  As with all of our tours, showers are available prior to departure.