August 11, 2013: Cunninghams and Grubbs visit Las Vegas In May, Benny and Wanda Cunningham and Donnie and Linda Grubb and their daughter, Hannah Grubb — all of Christiansburg — drove to Las Vegas to visit the Grubbs’ son, Richie Grubb, and his children, Alyssa and Justin Grubb. “It was our first road trip this far away from home,” wrote Wanda Cunningham.
DAY TRIPS Sept. 17 Summit Players, Bluefield, W.Va. Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a bus trip to see a private showing of the community theater production of “The Pearls of Wisdom,” a sequel to “The Passing of Pearl.” The play is set in a diner in Memphis, Tenn., in the 1980s and follows the antics of the three friends. The $73 cost per person includes a catered
Where can you see artistic images of Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt, a summer day in Perugia, Italy; Benjamin Franklin and Frank Zappa, Julius Erving and a depiction of industry that would make Diego Rivera proud? The Metropolitan Museum of Art? The Chicago Art institute? The Boston Museum of Fine Arts? None of the above. Not even the Philadelphia Museum of Art, although you’re getting close. These are all subjects
DAY TRIPS Sept. 17 Summit Players, Bluefield, W.Va. Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a bus trip to see a private showing of the community theater production of “The Pearls of Wisdom,” a sequel to “The Passing of Pearl.” The play is set in a diner in Memphis, Tenn., in the 1980s and follows the antics of the three friends. The cost per person of $73 includes a
July 28, 2013: Couple travels to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam In December 2012, Ronald Gordon of Roanoke and his wife, Yolanda Eaddy, traveled to Bangkok, Thailand; Cambodia and Vietnam. "Because we practice Buddhism we wanted to see countries where Buddhism is the predominant religion," Ronald wrote. "In addition, I served in the Army in Vietnam in 1969, and I wanted to see how the country had changed over the past
DAY TRIPS Friday Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theater, Wytheville Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a trip to see the musical revue “Fabulous 50’s.” The cost of $73 per person includes matinee ticket, lunch, bus transportation and escort. Registration is available through www.roanokecountyparks.com or by calling 772-7529. NEW! Sept. 17 Summit Players, Bluefield, W.Va. Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a bus trip to see a private showing
On a beautiful, clear March morning, I took a new bold step in motherhood: traveling alone with my little boy — for the next 15 hours. It would also be a bold new step for me as a traveler. I had neither taken the Smart Way Connector bus from Roanoke nor the Amtrak train from Lynchburg. The fact that I could commute from downtown Roanoke to Boston’s South Station (my
DAY TRIPS Aug. 2 Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theater, Wytheville Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a trip to see the musical revue “Fabulous 50’s.” The cost of $73 per person includes matinee ticket, lunch, bus transportation and escort. Registration is available through www.roanokecountyparks.com or by calling 772-7529. Aug. 9 King’s Dominion Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a trip to the theme park. The $90 cost per
DAY TRIPS Saturday Summer Mystery Cruise Botetourt County Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a riverboat cruise in a location the group has never visited before. The $79 price per person includes round-trip bus transportation, all-inclusive lunch, cruise, admission to all attractions and tour host. For further information, call 473-8326 or 366-2888. Aug. 2 Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theater, Wytheville Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a trip to see the
HUNTINGTON, W.VA., is the core of the Mountain State’s largest metropolitan area, and some of its attractions — the state’s largest fine arts museum, a resident symphony, Marshall University’s jazz center, an exotic plant conservatory, and a city park with a free kiddie zipline — are decidedly urban. But this city half the size of Roanoke is also complemented by nearby wild areas and distinctive small towns. One of the
DAY TRIPS Wednesday Abingdon Friends of the Roanoke County Library is sponsoring a bus trip to the Barter Theatre for two plays and dinner. Cost includes transportation, a stop at Heartwood Artisan Center, the comedy “Southern Fried Funeral” at 2 p.m., dinner at the Peppermill restaurant and the musical “Les Miserables” at 7:30 p.m. Bus departs at 8 a.m. and returns after midnight. Cost for members is $115 and for
DAY TRIPS July 10 Abingdon Friends of the Roanoke County Library is sponsoring a bus trip to the Barter Theatre for two plays and dinner. Cost includes transportation, a stop at Heartwood Artisan Center, the comedy “Southern Fried Funeral” at 2 p.m., dinner at the Peppermill restaurant and the musical “Les Miserables” at 7:30 p.m. Bus departs at 8 a.m. and returns after midnight. Cost for members is $115 and
June 30, 2013: Mother, daughter trip to Australia Vicki Gudger of Moneta and her daughter Jaime Moorman went to Australia in April to visit Gudger’s other daughter (and Moorman’s sister), Lindsey Davis, and her family. “While in their hometown of Austinmer, we also saw my son-in-law, Jason Davis, and my grandchildren, Evan and Avery Davis,” Gudger wrote. “We were treated to a four-day vacation on Hamilton Island — on the
DAY TRIPS July 10 Abingdon Friends of the Roanoke County Library is sponsoring a bus trip to the Barter Theatre for two plays and dinner. Cost includes transportation, a stop at Heartwood Artisan Center, the comedy “Southern Fried Funeral” at 2 p.m., dinner at the Peppermill restaurant and the musical “Les Miserables” at 7:30 p.m. Bus departs at 8 a.m. and returns after midnight. Cost for members is $115 and
After what felt like the longest winter we could recall since moving to Roanoke, my husband and I needed a little sunshine. With limited time to get away and a desire to keep our travel budget in a reasonable range, we decided to head to St. Petersburg, Fla., for a long weekend getaway. Allegiant Air flies direct to St. Petersburg on Thursdays and Sundays, and that was a good fit
DAY TRIPS Wednesday Lake Norman cruise and Shelton Vineyards Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a cruise aboard the Catawba Queen, a replica of a Mississippi River paddle wheeler, for lunch and sightseeing on Lake Norman in North Carolina. A tour and wine tasting at the vineyards follows. The $72 cost per person includes breakfast biscuit, lunch, cruise, wine tour and tasting, bus transportation and escort. Registration is
SAINT-ROMAIN D’AY, France — A wrong turn took me down a mountain road so steep and narrow I had to back up with my head out the car window to help me stay on track. I finally got my rental car safely parked, then walked under a stone archway and into a complex of buildings with roots in the Roman Empire. Back home, in America, it was Thanksgiving Day —
DAY TRIPS Thursday A taste of Germany and Shakespeare Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a trip to have dinner at Edelweiss German Restaurant in Greenville followed by a performance of Shakespeare’s comedy “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton. The $79 cost per person includes dinner, play tickets, van transportation and escorts. Registration is available through www.roanokecountyparks.com or by calling 772-7529. June 19 Lake Norman cruise
DAY TRIPS June 13 A taste of Germany and Shakespeare Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a trip to have dinner at Edelweiss German Restaurant in Greenville followed by a performance of Shakespeare’s comedy “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton. The $79 cost per person includes dinner, play tickets, van transportation and escorts. Registration is available through www.roanokecountyparks.com or by calling 772-7529. June 19 Lake Norman
DAY TRIPS June 6 N.C. Transportation Museum Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a trip to the North Carolina Transportation Museum, located on the former site of Southern Railway’s largest steam locomotive repair facility in Spencer. The guided tour includes the 1924 Roundhouse, the “Bumper to Bumper” exhibit — a collection of antique automobiles — a narrated, 25-minute train ride, pulled by an antique diesel engine touring the
The purists howled more than a decade ago when New York City was accused of Disney-izing Times Square, as the funk and grit were replaced by family fare. And with these changes came a friendlier New York. For those of you who have never been to Gotham, or who haven’t visited for years, following is my list of 10 venues that make New York New York. 1. The must-see Every