The Roanoker - February 2014 - 40

A COMMUNITY'S PERSONALITY and amenities
attract its residents. Some places appeal to families
because of nearness to schools, while others offer
great convenience to greenways and biking routes.
Downtown Roanoke, with its upscale condos and
urban lofts, its metropolitan atmosphere and cluster
of multicultural restaurants, appeals to both young
and older residents.
Roanoke city and county, Salem, Vinton, and parts
of the counties of Botetourt and Franklin counties
comprise the Roanoke Valley proper. The area encompasses a variety of small towns, settled neighborhoods with tree-lined sidewalks and spiffy suburban
subdivisions. Best of all, the region boasts year-round
natural beauty and gorgeous mountain views no matter where you choose to live.

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The valley's central location on the East Coast gives
easy access to travel through interstates and air and
train. Its strong outdoor culture includes 26 miles of
greenway in the city and 40 miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding in Carvins
Cove Natural Reserve, the second largest municipal
park in the United States. The George Washington
and Jefferson National Forests have more than 70,000
acres in Botetourt County, and the Roanoke River,
which is increasingly popular for kayaking, runs
through the valley to Smith Mountain Lake, which
is less than an hour's drive away, has 500 miles of
shoreline and is popular for year-round residents as
well as summer visitors.
No matter your lifestyle, you can find the ideal
neighborhood as did Peter and Nell Boyle, who live
in the Back Creek area of Roanoke County. They
are near the Blue Ridge Parkway and can ride their
horses on Lost Mountain. "It's a beautiful place," says
Nell, sustainability-outreach coordinator for the City
of Roanoke.
The Roanoke Metropolitan area has a tremendous variety of choices for where to live, from settled
neighborhoods to renovated warehouses and small
towns. Following is a selection based on lifestyle.

Lincoln Avenue is emblematic of Raleigh Court's tree-lined streets.

40 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

DAVID HUNGATE

GOT A YEN FOR A SMALL TOWN?
Anyone desiring the intimacy of small-town living
with the symbolic mature trees and church steeples
has several choices in the Roanoke Valley, with the
Town of Vinton the most prominent: Houses of various vintages, from under $150,000 to $500,000.
Vinton, population 8,092, occupies just over three
square miles and dates to 1884. It shares borders with
the City of Roanoke on the west and north, Roanoke
County and the Blue Ridge Parkway on the east, while
the Roanoke River flows along its southern side. The
town has a municipal pool and soon will get a new
branch library with all the bells and whistles of modern facilities. The community has been home to the
annual Dogwood Festival for 58 years. Vinton's selection of housing includes new development along Va.
24, an artery to Smith Mountain Lake.
Two other town options: Troutville and Fincastle,
both in Botetourt County: Older farmhouses and new
structures available from under $100,000 to $600,000plus.
Troutville, a hammer-shaped area that sits near
Interstate 81, U.S. 11 and 220, is a designated Appalachian Trail Community and an eager host to thruTHE

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The Roanoker - February 2014

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