For those of you unfamiliar with Roanoke, Virginia it is a small city in southwestern Virginia. It is most well-known for being home to the largest free-standing illuminated man-made star in the world. I didn't fully appreciate how special of a place Roanoke is until after I moved out of state for college. Roanoke is a great place to grow up and I know that many of its residents will agree with this, but for those of you who have never been to or heard of it, I'll explain why.
1. The sense of community in Roanoke is like no other
Although Roanoke is large enough where many people do not know each other, we all feel like a family. While I was in high school, there were three students in my school battling cancer. Our community rallied around each of them and helped them emotionally and financially through their fights. The Roanoke community will always have a special place in my heart for that reason.
2. It's beautiful
Roanoke is an absolutely beautiful place to live! From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the architecture downtown, beauty cane found everywhere in Roanoke.
3. The school systems are some of the best in the nation
The Roanoke City and Roanoke County public school systems have both been recognized on a national scale several times for their excellence in academics. The former Superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools was in the final four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year in 2012. Roanoke City Schools was a first place winner in the 2013 Magna Awards program. Students in Roanoke rarely attend private schools because the education at public schools is so outstanding. I can speak from personal experience that the teachers I had in the Roanoke County school system prepared me very well for a challenging college education.
3. The sports programs
The high schools in the Roanoke are are well-known for having competitive sports teams, but the recreation level is also lively. Roanoke high schools have state championships in volleyball, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, swimming, softball, cheerleading, tennis, and many other sports. Roanoke is the home to many famous professional athletes including J.J. Redick, Ronde and Tiki Barber, just to name a few. Growing up in Roanoke allows you to participate in many different sports and grow to become fierce competitors through them.
4. Outdoor activities are abundant
Roanoke's like to be active and they especially like the outdoors. My childhood was filled with hiking and riding my bike on the Greenway downtown. Living in Roanoke instills a love of staying active and appreciating the beauty in the nature around you.
5. You get city life and country life
When in Roanoke you can drive 30 minutes in one direction and end up on top of a mountain or drive 30 minutes in the other direction and end up downtown in the city. Roanoke gives you the option of not choosing between the city or country life because you can get a small taste of both!
6. Historical landmarks
The most notable landmark of Roanoke is the historical Hotel Roanoke, which ties back to Roanoke's roots in the railroad business. This, however, is not the only beautiful historical landmark to see, as Roanoke offers many other monuments. Downtown alone has the Dr.Pepper sign, the star, and the transportation museum!
7. The food is delicious
Roanoke offers a variety of food from fabulous Brazilian cuisine at Carlo's to chili and burgers at Texas Tavern. Growing up in Roanoke, you are able to try many different types of food that are still of authentic quality.
8. The seasons are beautiful
Because of Roanoke's geographic location, those who live here have the privilege of experiencing all four seasons. Every season lasts for about an equal amount of time and most of them are fairly mild.
9. The accents
Although Roanoke isn't very far South, many of the people who live here do have southern accents. I'm almost positive that it's illegal to not say y'all and you will find that many people will say "yes ma'am" and "yessir" down here too.
10. The healthcare options
Between Roanoke Memorial Hospital and Lewis-Gale, the healthcare in Roanoke is unrivaled. Both hospitals have been recognized on the national level and serve patients from many areas outside of Roanoke.
11. It is centrally located
Roanoke is in a great location that makes it fairly easy to travel to other cities on the East Coast. You can get in the car and drive a few hours to ski, go to the beach, and see historical landmarks. It gives you the flexibility of visiting other large cities while living in a smaller one.
