October 16-18, 2009
By RoanokeOutside.com

From Bridge Day (see article) to trail rides and pumpkin festivals or just taking a stroll through the fall foliage there’s plenty to keep you busy outdoors this fall weekend. RoanokeOutside.com highlights our region‘s phenomenal outdoor amenities and opportunities each week through the Weekend Update. Get Outside Roanoke!

Weekend Update Outside

• Run For The Arts 10/17
• Haunted Zip Line 10/17
• Light the Fire 5K 10/17
• Bridge Day at New River Gorge Bridge 10/17
• Virgina Creeper Trail Ride 10/17
• Odyssey Land Navigation Clinic 10/17
• Free Fly Fishing Casting Lessons 10/17
• Layman Family Farm Maze & Pumpkin Festival Autumn Weekends
• Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival Autumn Weekend

Pete’s Picks

Go Explore!

Over the next few weeks we will introduce the Top 10 Mountain Biking trails in the Roanoke Region.  Each week we will reveal  a mountain bike trail where one can view an image of the trail, get directions to the trail, see a map of the trail, get a short description of it and places to visit near the trail when you are done with your ride.

This week’s trail is Carvins Cove.  It is the second largest municipal park in the nation and a biking paradise!

What’s my recommendation?

Saturday – View the fall colors with a classic bike ride on the Virginia Creeper bike trail. Take your own bikes or rent there. Kids will love it! read on>>>

Other Saturday Options - Take a ride down Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing’s 900′ Haunted Zip Line (Zip line Video). Food also available read on>>>

Sunday - If you have kids and live around the New River Valley, check out Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival (1-5 p.m.) hayrides to pumpkin patch, mountain music and more. If you live in Roanoke, visit the Layman Family Farm corn maze, hay rides, and pumpkin picking.  Finish the day off with a nice bike ride or walk along the Roanoke River Greenway or Huckleberry Trail. Don’t have a bike? Rent one!

Fall is in the air and that means its time to go camping. If you’ve never been to the Roanoke Mountain Campground, now is the time to check it out. From the campground you can easily access some of the best hiking trails in Roanoke. My family and I stayed there a few weekends ago and it was incredible.  There were only about 4 other campsites occupied – what a hidden gem.

Go Hiking! – For the past few weeks we’ve been compiling the Top 10 Hikes in the Roanoke Region.  Now, they (and a few others) are Here for your convenience! You will be able to download directions, map, and tips, Click Here>>>

Got an idea? Send it to pete@roanoke.org

Get OUTSIDE!

Pete (friend me on Facebook)

Upcoming Events To Keep Your Eye On

• Weekly bike rides throughout Roanoke & NRV Valleys
• Backpacking 202 Clinic 10/20
• Rock Castle Gorge Hike 10/22 (must register by 10/19)
• Into The Darkness 4 Mile Trail Run (at night) 10/24
• Blacksburg Brew Do 10/24
• Greenway Memory Miler 10/24
• Carvins Cove Sea Kayaking 10/24 (must register by 10/16)
• Haunted Zip Line 10/24
• Brush Mountain Breakdown 10/24
• Rowdy Dog Mtn. Bike Race 10/25
• Backpack 202 Clinic 10/27
• Franklin County Parks & Recreation Community Plan Workshops 10/28-29
• Mill Mountain History Hike 10/28 (must register by 10/20)
• Alley Cat Race 10/30
• StarBomb 10/30
• Outdoor Rock Rappelling 10/31 (must register by 10/23)
• Outdoor Gear Yard Sale & Free Zip Lines Rides 11/1
• Annual Ski Show 11/4
• Odyssey Adventure Racing AR Rogaine race 11/7
• Drumstick Dash 11/26
• Blue Ridge Marathon (full & half) April 24, 2010