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Bedford Virginia

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Roanoke Valley

Just off Interstate 81 and one-half hour from Bedford down Route 460 West, Roanoke’s cultural delights, living history, ethnic diversity and nationally recognized attractions include exciting festivals and events, professional sports, NCAA championships, fine dining, concerts, ballets and shows.

For more information about the Roanoke area visit: www.visitroanokeva.com or call 1-800-635-5535.

Mill Mountain Zoo
This is "where the children play". The regional zoo offers picnic facilities and restrooms located in the zoo and on park grounds. A miniature train (additional charge) takes visitors on a ride around the premises. Call 540-343-3241 for more information.

Explore Park
At milepost 115 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this outstanding outdoor living history museum includes interpretations, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking as well as picnic facilities. Open May through October, with equipment rentals. For more information call 540-427-1800 or 1-800-842-9163.

Dixie Caverns
Located in Salem, VA. Dixie Caverns not only takes you down into the wonders of the Earth but up, as well, into the mountain itself, opening to the magnificent cathedral room. Call 540-580-2085 for more information.

Art Museum of Western Virginia
Regional art exhibits, cultural resource library and educational programs. Located in the Center in the Square, downtown Roanoke. 430-342-5760.

Center in the Square
Home to arts and entertainment, the Center in the Square houses the Mill Mountain Theatre, Opera Roanoke, Roanoke Ballet Theatre, the Science Museum of Western Virginia, the Hopkins Planetarium and the Arts Museum of Western Virginia. 542-342-5700.

Harrison Museum of African American Culture
Featuring local and regional history and art exhibitions 540-345-4818.

Virginia Museum of Transportation
Vintage trains, cars, carriages, exhibits and events, 540-342-6898.

Mill Mountain Theatre
Year round live professional theatre on two stages. 540-224-1215.

Upcoming Events

• May 17 - Restoration Talk and Tour - 3:00pm to 4:00pm - In honor of National Historic Preservation month, Director of Restoration Travis McDonald will present a slide talk and tour explaining why Jefferson's design of his retreat, Poplar Forest, was a radically modern work of architecture in America for its time. Jefferson's work was a "melting pot" of architectural prototypes but also very personal. The current restoration work on the wing of service rooms is one of the most Jeffersonian parts of the architecture and one that was innovative and unusual in American architecture. Standard admission charge, which also includes a separate tour of the house either before or after the restoration tour. - Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, 1548 Bateman Bridge Road, Route 661, Forest - 434-525-1806 - www.poplarforest.org

• May 24 - Moonlight Serenade - 7:00pm - See the Memorial at dusk on this special Memorial Day weekend. The Jefferson Choral Society will perform an evening concert of 1940s music from 8:00pm to 9:00pm. Performer Keith Campbell will kick off the concert at 7pm. The Memorial will remain open until 10:00pm. - National D-Day Memorial, Bedford - 540-586-3329 - www.dday.org

• May 31 - 3rd Annual BBQ at Sedalia - Barbeque connoisseurs will gather at the 3rd annual BBQ festival to celebrate the art and secrets of slow-cooked pork barbeque. Tastin' starts at High noon! BBQ Teams will likely begin cooking Friday night and continue into the early hours of Saturday morning. The 4-person teams typically have playful names, but are serious about tasty and tender pork barbeque. - The Sedalia Center, 1108 Sedalia School Road, Big Island - $ - 434-299-5080 - www.sedaliacenter.org

These events and more can be found in our event calendar.

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