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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 21 Roanoke, the largest metro area in western Virginia, a city with a Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop, is a popular destination for hikers, bikers and lovers of outdoor adventures. Located approximately three-and-a-half hours from Freder- icksburg, Roanoke makes for a fun and accessible weekend road trip for the outdoorsy family. WRITTEN BY RHIANNON ELLIS Adventures in Roanoke Road Trip Hiking Roanoke is the largest city located along the Appalachian Trail and has several access points to the trail within Virginia's Blue Ridge. The A.T., which stretches from Georgia up to Maine, is wildly popular amongst hikers with an estimated two-to-three million visitors every year. But what makes this particular por- tion of the trail unique is how it coincides with parts of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Visit Alltrails.com for a list of kid-friendly trails. The website provides details on length and difficulty level, as well as trail photos, highlights and reviews. It's an excellent resource for families not wanting to encounter surprises while hiking or to get themselves in over-their-head with little ones in tow. Biking Roanoke is called America's East Coast Mountain Biking Capital for good reason! The area boasts over 400 miles of bike trails, ranging from easy- peasy to highly intense cross- country adventures. Experienced biking enthusi- asts should check out Carvin's Cove, also referred to as "Disneyland for bikes." Another popular option is Explore Park. Its 14 trails offer something for every age/level biker in the family. If you'd like to hone your skills a bit before hitting the big trails, check out Falling Creek Park's skill area. According to VisitRoanokeVa.com, the skill area "was designed and built specifically for mountain bikers to hone their bike handling, increase confidence, and progress to new skill levels for just about anything the trail can throw at you." Paddling Paddle sports such as kayaking and paddle boating are a fun way to get active and explore nature. Carvin's Cove is an ideal choice for inexperi- enced paddlers or for those with young children who are just getting their paddles wet. The res- ervoir is calm, making it less intimidating than many rivers or lakes. The park has rentals avail- able from spring to fall. Soak in the majestic mountain scenery while kayaking the Upper James River Water Trail. Class l, ll, and lll rapids can be experienced along parts of the water trail. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the section of river you plan to explore before setting off. Tubing is another fun family activity. Check out UpperJamesRiverWaterTrail's website for sug- gested floats. Cool Sights After all the outdoor adventures have worn you out, head on over to Black Dog Salvage, home of DIY Net- work's Salvage Dogs. Or enjoy some more of the area's gorgeous scenery by taking a leisurely drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. CARVIN'S COVE