I am planning a road trip that is combining vacation with some work related business.

In mapping out routes, Lexington KY and Roanoke VA are two cities that I have never spent time in and know that both have rich histories.

I am seeking any advice on must see locations, restaurants to consider, as well as any places to avoid (either tourist traps or sketchy/unsafe areas to avoid).

Tentatively will be spending about 24-36 hours in/around each city.

Food tastes/preferences are varied and gravitate to no particular style.

I have been suggested that the Virginia Museum of Transportation is a spot that should be on the list if in the area.


Thanks to all for suggestions and advice. I have yet to be steered wrong in our travels when soliciting advice.

I’m actually typing this on a work trip to Lexington right now.

I like Carsons on Main Street very good steak and bourbon. Merrick Inn is great traditionally famous Kentucky food and was very good.

If I were suggesting a visit to Roanoke, I'd offer the Mill Mountain Star, the Virginia Musem of Transportation, and the O. Winston Link Museum. There's also a pinball museum downtown, if you're into that, the Taubman Museum of Art, and the Mill Mountain Zoo.

Texas Tavern will offer you a great meal. The Cheesy Western is a winner.
Billy's is outstanding, too, I hear.

Adding to vthoky’s suggestions, if you don’t mind a little drive, head over to Bedford to the National D-Day Memorial. My now son-in-law suggested during one of our trips to Roanoke to see our daughter and him and we found it well worth the trip. We also drove on over to Appomattox Courthouse that afternoon and got a better sense of what Lee’s surrender to Grant might have been like.

Spent many a weekend in Roanoke years ago when they allowed gunshots at the civic center, I recall a German restaurant just up the road that was delicious

Be careful on 81, traffic generally sucks in that area

I spent some time in Roanoke but it was a couple of decades ago, so no restaurant advice.
What I do recall is the area is beautiful, especially if your there in a time of the year with good weather.

When will you be in Lexington?
Makes a fair amount of difference on some suggestions.

quote:

Originally posted by StarTraveler:
head over to Bedford to the National D-Day Memorial.

Good call! I should have thought of that.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
I recall a German restaurant just up the road that was delicious

Are you thinking Edelweiss, over in Staunton? It's a tremendous meal -- go hungry!

quote:

Be careful on 81, traffic generally sucks in that area

Very true.

Grew up in Lexington, Franks suggestion of Merrick Inn is spot on, one of the best dining experiences in the area, the original place was built before the civil war.

If you want one of Lexington's best traditional old school dining stop in at The Columbia Steak House Link and go to the original location on N Limestone downtown. Grab a Diego salad, steak fries and Columbia Special Steak... and fried banana peppers, don't forget them.

If you are in town and the Cats are playing at Rupp go hang around the Hyatt and arena and get a ticket to a game, it's one of the quintessential basketball venues in the USA, just remember to wear UK Blue....

There are plenty of bourbon distilleries in KY, and horse farms to see, just driving down some of the roads around the Bluegrass is a sight with the old limestone hand laid walls, horse farms.

If you are there in April, Keeneland Races are running, in the summer the annual Yearling Thoroughbred Auctions are a treat,

On the restaurant side in Roanoke, if you're looking for steak, it's probably hard to beat Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse downtown. They have great steaks, very good seafood choices, and an excellent selection of drinks, but the prices reflect this. However, we've found the Texas Roadhouse next to the Hilton Garden Inn on the south side to be quite good and significantly less expensive and to have a great view.

I used to go Galls Lexington retail store. They had pretty good bargains.

42 + year resident of the greater Roanoke VA area here (the farthest I ever got away was 100 miles, and that was only for 6 months!).

vthoky and StarTraveler both have it exactly correct, but I will add some details to their suggestions:

For tourist attractions, the Star is a must (not the most interesting attraction ever, but free with close parking and a great view).

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is awesome if you like anything with wheels/motors (there is even a soapbox derby car there with the name/logo of the company I work for on it from the 50s). O. Winston Link museum is great if you like trains or photography.

I have never been to the D-Day memorial (I really need to go and take the kids), but I will second this, as I hear it is a very powerful experience.

As for food, the suggestions vthoky provided are both awesome, but you need to have correctly aligned expectations for each.

Texas Tavern is absolutely an institution (with great food), but is basically a dive hot-dog/burger stand that has seating for about 8 people, where they call ketchup "sissy sauce", and you can eat a good meal for 10-20 bucks. Billy's on the other hand, is a very nice, higher-end restaurant (think polo and slacks, not suit and tie, not t-shirt), that has an awesome variety of very well done American staples (think steak, crab cakes, etc.). Probably my favorite higher-end restaurant in Roanoke, expect to spend in the $30-50 a person range.

StarTraveler mentioned Frankie Rowlands, and I completely concur with his assessment.......it is very good, but in my opinion, the additional price is not justified relative to some place like Texas Roadhouse. I would say the steaks are 10-20% better, but the price is 100-200% more, so I don't frequent there often (for just my wife and I, we were over $200.00 for a meal and drinks, and only she drinks, so that was with only one person purchasing drinks).

A few original suggestions for food options:

Cuban Island - if you like Cuban food, this place is good. It was started by Estella, who escaped Cuba on a raft many years ago, but she just retired, and sold the business to another family, who is keeping the recipes exactly the same.

Jack Browns - basically a bar/burger joint, but with some interesting takes on burgers. Located downtown.

Sky and 6th - This is a new restaurant, that I have not personally eaten at, but I have been told it is good.....pricey, but you are paying for the ambiance of a rooftop bar, so depending on the weather, this may not be a good idea. This is in the same building as the aforementioned pinball museum and other attractions.

Blue Ridge Parkway/Hiking - jump on the parkway and go either direction, if you want some beautiful scenery, and there is plenty of hiking along it. If you really like hiking, then McAfees knob is a must-do, but it is probably a 4-6 hour engagement (2-3 hours uphill, and 1.5-2.5 downhill). Well worth the view however, if you are up for it.

That is all for now, I will add if I think of other things. I drove through Lexington KY on the interstate only once in my life, so I will let the area experts fill you in on that one!

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I used to go Galls Lexington retail store. They had pretty good bargains.

Not anymore. They are pretty much all warehouse based now.
They moved locations and their showroom is small and worthless compared to the days of old.
Very few good deals anymore either.

Forgot to mention Buds Gun Store is in Lexington, that's only if you are into guns n such....

https://www.budsgunshopky.com/

Henry Clay Monument is in Lex Cemetery, and his homestead Ashland Estate as well, downtown you Have Gratz Park, lots of historical homes, it's close to Transylvania U, some civil war fame with both the Union and Confederacy having established offices in homes there.

Link Gratz Park

It’s been a few years since I went to Roanoke but if you like beer and tacos, Big Lick Brewing makes great beer and there was a Mexican restaurant across the road that brings the food to you.

Tony’s has the best steak in Lexington. Red State BBQ is great. Ramsey’s has great locally sourced food. Can’t go wrong with Eppings, either.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by StarTraveler:
head over to Bedford to the National D-Day Memorial.

Good call! I should have thought of that.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
I recall a German restaurant just up the road that was delicious

Are you thinking Edelweiss, over in Staunton? It's a tremendous meal -- go hungry!

quote:

Be careful on 81, traffic generally sucks in that area

Very true.

Edelwiess is up 81 at the Greenville or Stuarts Draft exit, maybe 6-8 miles south of Staunton, and yes, a fantastic place to eat,

I was, however, referring to a place that was just up the road from the civic center, maybe a mile or 3, and on the left, (going roughly north)
you entered on the side, they had a deli and beer selection, that you walked past to sit and have dinner,

it was good too

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
When will you be in Lexington?
Makes a fair amount of difference on some suggestions.

Thanks to all for the suggestions so far. Please keep them coming.

Will be traveling in the coming weeks Black92LX

Lexington is a real problem for me. The first time I visited I returned with an new AR and 5 bottles of bourbon...

I hightly recommend the Town Branch Distillery/Kentucky Ale tour. It is beer and bourbon. Perfect pair in my opinion.

Bad Ass coffee of Hawaii on the west side of town is worth the trip. Splurge for the 100% Kona. Best cup of coffe I have ever had.

There are a couple Skyline Chili locations. As a former Ohioian, I alway like a good coney and 4 way onion.

Nic and Norman's in downtown will provide a nice casual dinner as well.

Avoid Bud's Gun shop. Their prices are too low and you will buy stuff...

Don't forget the Horse Park in Georgetown, about a 20 minute drive from Lex. You could spend a whole day there. I also recommend Malone's, a really good restaurant, and Ramseys, both have multiple locations in Lex. Mary Todd Lincoln's birthplace is interesting, as well as the Henry Clay estate. As far as distilleries go, there are probably 5 within a short drive. One day probably won't cut it, you could spend a week easily.