Surrounded by the ancient peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains and buffering the hustle of Interstate 81, Roanoke, Virginia (pop: 100,011) is a cultural and outdoor gem in Southern Appalachia. Once a large-scale railroad hub, the city itself remains an economic beacon for much of the bucolic, rural landscape in Southwestern Virginia. Nowadays, the metro-area has transformed into … [Read more...] about Star City of the South: Roanoke, Virginia