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Alfresco Fun in the Roanoke Valley
Vast lands, heaps of wildlife, a river and three lakes make the Roanoke Valley a great destination for outdoors enthusiasts.
Fishing, hunting, kayaking, paddling and canoeing are only a few of the many activities that make this place a hub for alfresco fun and recreation.
“It’s a great place to live and visit,” says Lori Medlin, president and CEO of the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).
Rockfish Capital of the World
The Roanoke Valley boasts an... Read More »
World Champion Utilizes Lake Gaston for Wakeboard Training
Adam Fields grew up on Lake Gaston and spent a lot of time waterskiing with his family. Then he discovered the sport of wakeboarding and began training hard on the lake.
Today, Fields is a well-known champion wakeboarder. He has won numerous competitions throughout the United States and abroad, and even established a wakeboarding school at Lake Gaston called AF Wake.
“I have trained hundreds, maybe thousands of people from around the world to learn wakeboarding, and Lake Gaston deserves a... Read More »
Volunteers Create Paths for Trail Riding at Medoc Mountain State Park
For years, park ranger Ed Wilkerson pondered a frustrating contradiction: How can a park founded as a bridle trail park have no place for horses?
No deep mystery was involved in Medoc Mountain State Park’s missing bridle paths. As the demand for hiking trails grew with the park’s popularity, building bridle paths took a back seat, eventually becoming nearly impossible to develop around existing trails.
Fortunately for the area’s equine community, a happy turn of events in 2007 solved his... Read More »
Fun Things To Do in Roanoke Valley, NC
Getting active is easy in Roanoke Valley, NC, as the area offers a variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing and boating. In addition, cultural options including museums and historic landmarks are plentiful.
1. Go boating or fishing on the Roanoke River, or set up camp in the area.
2. Explore the 18 acres the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park has to offer, and learn about the importance of waterfowl, wildlife and wetland conservation.
3. Enjoy a comedy, musical, drama or concert... Read More »
Kayakers Find Peaceful and Thrilling Rapids Here
By canoe or kayak, the Roanoke River is a beautiful and, in places, an exciting trip.
Chris Wicker, director of Roanoke Rapids parks and recreation, often paddles the six-mile stretch Roanoke Rapids to Weldon.
“It’s a beautiful place,” he says. “When people paddle the Roanoke in this area, they’re likely to see bald eagles. The last three or four times I’ve been on the river, I’ve seen eagles, blue herons and osprey.”
Deer can be seen along the... Read More »
Medoc Mountain Hosts Outdoor Fun and Adventure
In Hollister, 21 miles southwest of Roanoke Rapids and 325 feet straight up, is a hunk of granite the locals call Medoc Mountain.
“Everyone comes out and says, ‘Where’s the mountain?’” says Nicole Crider, park ranger.
Visitors won’t find a mountain here. The 3,700-acre state park gets part of its name from the elevated remains of ancient peaks worn away by millions of years of erosion. The ‘Medoc’ aspect comes from a wine region in France. One-... Read More »
Great Golf Is Here in Roanoke Valley
Golfers in the Roanoke Valley have plenty of choices to hone their skills.
Scotfield Country Club in Enfield is a public course in a beautiful setting in a rural area of the county.
“It’s quiet here,” says Doug Sellers, course manager. “We have no houses around the course, so it’s very scenic.”
Ponds on three holes complement the landscape, including willows on each side of one fairway.
The course features 6,260 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par... Read More »
The Roanoke Valley Is a Paradise for Anglers and Outdoorsmen
The fishing is world-class in the Roanoke Valley.
Just ask any of the numerous fishing guides here who stay particularly busy during the spring.
“In my experience‚ striper fishing in the Roanoke Valley in April and May is as good as anywhere in the world‚” says Bob Caudle‚ who leads fishing and hunting outings through his company‚ Bucks Unlimited Outdoor Adventures. “It’s phenomenal.”
This area is considered the Rockfish Capital of the World‚ as each spring the striped bass – commonly known as... Read More »
Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park Preserves Endangered Birds
Eastern North Carolina is known for its magnificent wildlife. Bobcats‚ red wolves‚ bald eagles and marsh rabbits are among the animals attracted by the coastal region’s abundant food and temperate climate.
Just as the Roanoke River Natural Wildlife Refuge helps nurture these native species‚ the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center carries out an equally important mission: preserving endangered waterfowl from around the world.
“What Sylvan Heights is doing is making people aware of the... Read More »
