Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508150080
SECTION: DISCOVER ROANOKE VALLEY PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
\ Gotta love summer with its lazy days, and even lazier nights.
Leave it to me and I'd write this entire article about the wonders of a simple life.
Lemonade. Rocking chairs. Front porches. And fireflies.
Add Roanoke's mountain backdrop to any combination of these, and you'll find summertime bliss. I promise.
The time will come, however, when you'll get bored with sipping, sick of rocking and tired of watching. But don't worry. There's plenty of summer fun for on-the-go types, too.
Especially if you don't mind being on the go in a literal sense - like in a raft with nine other people, making your way through 10 miles of rushing rapids, starting off dry and ending up soaked.
White-water rafting through the New River Gorge can't be beat. It's scenic, refreshing and terrifying. One heck of a good time, for the price of a $39 to $69 admission, depending on the company you choose.
There are a slew of white-water rafting companies clustered in the West Virginia area. The cheapest we found was USA Raft in Fayetteville, W. Va. They offer New River trips for $39 Sunday through Friday. They can be reached at 1-800-346-RAFT.
The two-hour drive from Roanoke to West Virginia is scenic, but when you aren't busy swallowing your fear and braving the rushing waters, the view from the raft is even better. Steep green mountains slope down to both sides of the river. The long-since deserted buildings of mining ghost towns dot the horizon. And the old railroad bridge crossing the gorge is spectacular.
Most rafters aren't there for the scenery, though.
They're in it for the adrenaline rush - pure and unbridled. Fierce hydraulic whirlpools with ominous-sounding names like "Greyhound Bus stopper" will keep your pulse racing and heart booming. This is an activity-intensive trip. Rafters are expected to paddle hard.
And here's an extra tip: if your otherwise mellow guide starts to freak out, paddle even harder. It's not a good sign.
If you're seeking a more tranquil water experience or a different kind of nautical excitement, look no farther than Smith Mountain Lake. Just over a half-hour's drive from Roanoke, the 20,000-acre lake with its 500 miles of shoreline is the perfect haven for swimming, boating, jetskiing, fishing, parasailing and hot-air balloon rides. The area is also renowned for its golf courses.
Public access to the water is available from Smith Mountain Lake State Park, which is located along Virginia 626. There are nature trails, a boat launch, a sandy beach and plenty of prime picnicking and bird-watching spots.
The best bet, however, is to get out onto the water. The easy, low-energy way to do this is to book a cruise on Virginia Dare, a side-wheeler dining vessel that can carry more than 100 people and features live entertainment. Dinner cruises run $38.40 a person; lunch is $25.83 per person and Sunday brunch is $29.98 per person. Virginia Dare also offers sightseeing tours for $12.54 per person. Call 1-800-721-3273 for more information.
Wanna master the helm yourself? There's no shortage of boat rental businesses, many of which are clustered around Hales Ford Bridge, which connects Bedford and Franklin counties.
Most boating agencies provide partial and all-day rentals. The cheapest rental boat is a pontoon. A six-hour trip costs about $65 in peak season, with additional fees for gas and oil. The pontoon can accommodate as many as 10 people, so if you're on a streamlined budget, bring a crowd and split the price with your friends.
Be sure to ask for a swim ladder and go for a dip. The cool, clear water is heavenly.
If fishing is more your speed, rest assured, the lake is impressively stocked. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are in abundance, and fishermen in the area are all-too-delighted to swap tales about 40-pound striped bass catches.
The Smith Mount-ain Lake Cham-ber of Com-merce/ Partner-ship can provide more specific information about the resort area's offerings. They can be reached at (540) 297-1001 or 1-800-676-8203.
On now to Goshen Pass, the last watery excursion we'll mention before reaching drier ground. The Maury River flows through this mountain gorge, 12 miles north of Lexington on Virginia 39. It's beautiful during any season, but most refreshing on hot summer days.
Nothing beats lounging around on the flat rocks by river's edge, basking like sun-soaking snakes. When you reach boiling point, take a dip in the crisp water, which rolls over the rocks, creating mild rapids and natural Jacuzzis, as it makes its way downstream. Tubing is a must-try pastime in these parts.
Make a day of it. On your way, stop off at the circa-1862 Olde Country Store on Virginia 39 for cold drinks, penny candy, homemade crafts and a little history. A few yards down on your left, marvel at the shed-sized Rockbridge County post office and hanging foot bridge that crosses the river. Spend a few hours at Goshen Pass. And then wind your way home, stopping to browse through the shops of historic Lexington, or grab dinner at Harb's, complete with good food and patio tables out back.
If you're more into "The Natural" than the natural, don't worry. The Roanoke area's got that, too. Baseball fans gather throughout the summer to root for the Salem Avalanche, formerly the Buccaneers, formerly the Redbirds, formerly the Rebels.
Minor-league baseball hit Salem in 1968 with the Rebels. Since then, the team has been affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and now, the Colorado Rockies. The Class-A Avalanche play in the Carolina League.
In the team's heyday, which most fans agree was 1974, the franchise featured a powerhouse lineup that included Carolina League player of the year Miguel Dilone, catcher Steve Nicosia and pitchers John Candelaria and Rick Langford.
For years the team has played at Municipal Field, a down-home, bare-bones, traditional baseball field on Texas Street (also known as Route 11/460) in Salem. It's the American pastime at its finest. No-frills hot dogs, pizza, peanuts, popcorn and beer. Trust me. You can't top Municipal Field for ambience.
Most of the crowd sits on lawn chairs or cushions in the cinderblock-step seating areas behind the dug-outs. These general admission tickets are the cheapest, just $3. Top-of-the-line box seats run $6. Reserved seats, with fold-out chairs, a roof overhead and a good vantage point behind home plate, cost $5.
If you're really lucky, you'll get to sit in front of diehard fans. They'll shout, cuss and offer unsolicited pointers with all the zeal of World Series watchers. Minor League or not, it makes no difference to them, and the entertainment they provide is worth way more than the admission price.
Assuming Salem works out all the bloops and blunders associated with its efforts to build a new multimillion-dollar stadium, this will be the Avalanches' last season at Municipal Field. Next year, the team should play at the new deluxe, 6,000-seat stadium, which is under construction behind the Salem Civic Center.
Call 389-3333 for schedule of games and ticket information.
The summer season also brings good opportunities for concertgoers and theater buffs.
Lime Kiln Arts, an outdoor performance area in Lexington, hosts an impressive summer music series. Sponsored by Coors, the series features a wide variety of acts - rock 'n' roll, cajun, jazz, a cappella - but Lime Kiln's specialties are bluegrass and folk. Nestled in the mountain settings, that only seems right.
The concerts begin at 8 p.m. every Sunday night from the end of May through the beginning of September. Ticket prices vary, ranging from $6 to $21, depending on the show. Coupon books for 10 concerts can be purchased for $125 or for six concerts, $80.
Lime Kiln also offers a summer play and presentations series. This year's lineup features performances that focus on local culture, the region's rich Civil War history and folktales. The whole family will enjoy the Family Folk Tale Festival that runs from Aug. 20 to Sept. 2. Tickets for plays also vary, ranging from a suggested donation of $4 to a ticket price of $15, depending on the show. Coupon books for six plays are available for $60.
by CNB