{"id":273,"date":"2012-06-30T16:55:18","date_gmt":"2012-06-30T16:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.websitefix.net\/clients\/Generic\/?page_id=273"},"modified":"2018-11-16T17:51:49","modified_gmt":"2018-11-16T17:51:49","slug":"exploration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/?page_id=273","title":{"rendered":"Exploration"},"content":{"rendered":"

FAMILY ATTRACTIONS \/ EXPLORATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amazement Square<\/strong>
\nThe Rightmire Children’s Museum
\nAmazement Square
\n27 Ninth Street
\nLynchburg 434-845-1888
\nwww.amazementsquare.com<\/a>
\nHands-on interactive exhibits combine with special programs that cover everything from the arts to science.<\/p>\n

The Caverns at Natural Bridge<\/strong>
\n15 Appledore Lane
\nNatural Bridge 800-533-1410
\nwww.naturalbridgeva.com<\/a>
\nKids will love the entertaining 45-minute tour through the wonderland of the East Coast’s deepest commercial cavern, a full 34 stories below the surface.<\/p>\n

Coal Mining Heritage Park Science Center<\/strong>
\nHightop at Merrimac Road
\nMerrimac 540-382-6975
\nwww.montva.com\/departments\/parks<\/a>
\nTake your time exploring the many facets of this outdoor science laboratory and nature center that also serves as an outdoor historic and archaeological museum.<\/p>\n

Dixie Caverns<\/strong>
\n5753 West Main Street
\nSalem 540-380-2085
\nwww.dixiecaverns.com<\/a>
\nWest Main Street marks the entrance to the only caverns in southwestern Virginia. Underground tours showcase the famous wedding bell and other unique formations. Attractions include a campground and pottery shop.<\/p>\n

Luray Caverns<\/strong>
\n970 US Highway 211 West
\nLuray 540-743-6551
\nwww.luraycaverns.com<\/a>
\nThe East’s largest and most popular caverns offer paved walkways through cathedral-sized rooms filled with natural wonders.<\/p>\n

Mill Mountain Zoo<\/strong>
\nBlue Ridge Parkway
\nRoanoke 540-343-3241
\nwww.mmzoo.org<\/a>
\nMammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are featured at this mountain top haven with its kaleidoscope of educational programs, special events, and scenic views.<\/p>\n

The Nature Zone<\/strong>
\nHistoric Kemper Street Station
\nLynchburg 434-455-5828
\nwww.lynchburgva.gov\/parksandrec<\/a>
\nFeed a toad, touch a snake, or peek at an opossum at this exciting hands-on nature center.<\/p>\n

Natural Bridge of Virginia & Monacan Village<\/strong>
\n15 Appledore Lane
\nNatural Bridge 800-533-1410
\nwww.naturalbridgeva.com<\/a>
\nOne of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the ancient “tree-trunk” bridge towers 215 feet in height. The Monacan Indian Nation operates a living history museum on site.<\/p>\n

The Huckleberry Trail Heritage Park & Trail System<\/strong>
\nClay & Draper Roads
\nBlacksburg 540-382-6975
\nwww.montva.com\/departments\/parks<\/a>
\nThis six-mile trail extends from Blacksburg through Montgomery County to the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.<\/p>\n

RiverWalk and Blackwater Creek Bikeway<\/strong>
\nJames River Heritage Trail
\nLynchburg Area 434-455-5858
\nwww.ci.lynchburg.va.us<\/a>
\nComplementing the bike trail, the paved RiverWalk leads from the bustling streets of Lynchburg into Amherst County across Percival’s Island.<\/p>\n

Roanoke Valley Greenways<\/strong>
\nLocations Vary
\nRoanoke 540-387-6060
\nwww.greenways.org<\/a>
\nThroughout the Roanoke Valley, lush greenways provide recreational space and trails for walkers and cyclists.<\/p>\n

Ruskin Freer Nature Preserve<\/strong>
\nBlackwater Creek Natural Area
\n515 Monticello Avenue
\nLynchburg 434-455-5878
\nwww.ci.lynchburg.va.us<\/a>
\nThis 115-acre preserve is showcased along the Ruskin Freer Loop Trail, named for an outstanding biology teacher.<\/p>\n

Science Museum of Western Virginia<\/strong>
\nOne Market Square
\nRoanoke 540-342-5710
\nwww.smwv.org<\/a>
\nHands-on interactive exhibits, planetarium shows and films, and special educational programs are all part of this regional treasure.<\/p>\n

Smith Mountain Lake Dam Visitor’s Center<\/strong>
\nAmerican Electric Power
\nSmith Mountain Lake 540-985-2587
\nwww.smithmtn.com<\/a>
\nHands-on exhibits, computer models, theater presentations, a three-dimensional terrain map, and spectacular views are key attractions.<\/p>\n

Twin River Outfitters<\/strong>
\n917 Rockbridge Road
\nGlasgow 540-258-1999
\nwww.canoevirginia.net<\/a>
\nRent canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes for exciting river trips along 62 miles of the rolling James River and 37 miles of Maury River.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FAMILY ATTRACTIONS \/ EXPLORATION Amazement Square The Rightmire Children’s Museum Amazement Square 27 Ninth Street Lynchburg 434-845-1888 www.amazementsquare.com Hands-on interactive exhibits combine with special programs that cover everything from the arts to science. The Caverns at Natural Bridge 15 Appledore Lane Natural Bridge 800-533-1410 www.naturalbridgeva.com Kids will love the entertaining 45-minute tour through the wonderland […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/273"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=273"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":598,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/273\/revisions\/598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/Roanoke3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}