The Roanoker - February 2014 - 82

GET ON THE BIKE!
Check out the 40-mile trail system at Carvins Cove,
which can be accessed from the reservoir's boat dock
area, the Bennett Springs parking lot in Catawba and
from the end of Timberland Road off of Va. 311.
(Note: you can also picnic, fish and kayak at the Cove
- but you will need a daily or annual pass as well).
And don't miss the trails and events at Explore Park,
the greenways and the Blue Ridge Parkway for more
pedalling.

SPLASH SPLASH
If you need to paddle a kayak or canoe head for the
New and James rivers. Or venture out to Smith Mountain Lake and Carvins Cove, where of course boating,
swimming and fishing are also the norm. Note: there
typically isn't enough water in the Roanoke River once
it gets past mid-spring for any paddle sports. First-time
kayakers can rent before they buy at Carvins Cove,
Gander Mountain or other venues.

Roanoke Area
The Greater

King of the Appalachian Trail

With nearly one-fourth of the miles in the state that has
more than one-fourth of the total miles of the AT, the
Roanoke-Lynchburg area is the best metro in all 14 states
for great trail mileage.

Total Appalachian Trail miles:
All 14 states: 2,170
Virginia: 550
Roanoke/Lynchburg MSAs:
0 MILES

130

100

At the Gym

For those who need a more structured environment
check out the Green Ridge Recreation Center (roanokecountyva.gov), a public facility just off I-581 in
Roanoke County. The county also offers classes at
the Brambleton Recreation Center in the Cave Spring
area. The Roanoke Valley YMCAs in the area (Salem,
Roanoke City, Bedford County) allow members to use
any of their facilities for workouts, organized exercise
classes and swimming. The Roanoke and Botetourt
Athletic Clubs (carilionfitness.com) offer many of the
same programs.
Browse Roanoke City's playroanoke.com website,
which details all of the indoor and outdoor recreation
activities that are available in the Star City. That includes
classes at the Mountain View Recreation Center, located
inside an old mansion.
Brickhouse CrossFit's move to 521 Salem Avenue from
a storefront just down the street means there is now
12,000 square feet of room available for extreme workouts. Some sessions focus on teens and women. Planet
Fitness at Towers Shopping Center allows for low-cost,
24-hour access, as does Anytime Fitness in the Bonsack
area of Roanoke County and Elite Health & Fitness Center on Williamson Road.
With studies typically showing that regular exercise
can improve longevity and mental health - and get you
ready for that run or bike ride on the greenway - more
people are using health clubs than perhaps ever before.
In fact the downtown Roanoke Kirk Family Y and the sister Salem facility have completed or announced expansion plans to keep up with membership demand.-GM

82 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

THE

R OANOKER.COM

http://www.roanokecountyva.gov http://www.roanokecountyva.gov http://www.carilionfitness.com http://www.playroanoke.com http://www.THEROANOKER.COM

The Roanoker - February 2014

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