VIRGINIA'S BLUE RIDGE

Thousands of athletes from all over the world are coming to the Roanoke Valley for the Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge Triathlon.

Roanoke College alumna and Olympian Shelley Olds is stepping up to lead Roanoke College's first competitive cycling team.

Three time Olympic gold medalist, Kristin Armstrong, is in Roanoke to work alongside Virginia's Blue Ridge's cycling team, Twenty24.

Samantha Scott and Makala Jaramillo, two of Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 junior athletes, were chosen to represent the USA at the upcoming UCI Road World Championships, according to USA Cycling.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge announced its tourism initiative on Saturday at 11 a.m.

ROANOKE, Va. – Tourism boards in Southwest Virginia received a financial boost to help attract visitors through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virginia Tourism Corporation awarded a total of $80,000 to five tourism boards. The awards included:$20,000 for Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge$20,000 for Botetourt County$20,000 for the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce$10,000 to the Town of Rocky Mount$10,000 to the City of SalemVisit Virginia’s Blue Ridge President Landon Howard said his organization’s $20,000 will be spent mostly on online marketing. He believes regional travelers will look to the Roanoke Valley for a getaway. “Those people may not be traveling to Europe for a two or three week vacation, but they will do weekend trips to places like Virginia’s Blue Ridge.”

ROANOKE, Va. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a 200% spike in use of outdoor amenities in the Roanoke area. Now, a local nonprofit wants to raise money to repair, maintain and improve outdoors spaces so they arent worn down. We run the risk of loving our outdoor assets to death, said Roanoke Outside Foundation Director Pete Eshelman. The foundation started Project Outside, a fundraising campaign aimed at raising money to benefit outdoor amenities in the region. Ask yourself, How often are you using the trails, the rivers, the greenways? And then try to put a dollar value on that, said Eshelman.

ROANOKE, Va. Businesses in the Roanoke Valley are starting to get on board with a new Stay Safe Pledge.Visit Virginias Blue Ridge came up with the idea, asking businesses and customers to commit to ensuring a safe environment as more people travel during the pandemic. The pledge asks businesses to promise to follow guidelines for face coverings, capacity limits and health screenings. Customers pledge to follow those rules. "This is our opportunity to encourage and ask people to wear masks, to follow the guidelines so that the businesses stay safe and visitors can come and feel welcome to Virginia's Blue Ridge," said Catherine Fox, Vice President of Public Affairs and Destination Development for Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge. Click here to learn more about the pledge and participating businesses.

ROANOKE, Va. – As travel season gets underway and families hit the road, Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge wants everyone here at home and those visiting to know they’re safe in the Roanoke Valley. That's why VBR is asking businesses to take the "Stay Safe Pledge." The pledge asks businesses to promise to follow recommended guidelines from the CDC and public health officials and post the pledge on their storefront. VBR says that helps create an environment of safety while getting more people back in local businesses. The Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge visitor’s center will open back-up starting Friday to help people navigate their stay.