Options For a Pet-Friendly Weekend in Virginia’s Blue Ridge 

Looking to travel with your pup to Virginia? Here are some great trip options for a pet-friendly weekend in Virginia’s Blue Ridge for you and your fur baby to enjoy.

Activities 

What’s more fun than shopping? Shopping with your pet, of course. There are numerous pet-friendly shops to take your furry friend to such as the Unleashed Dog Bakery & Boutique.

You can also check out Historic Roanoke City Market, which is open daily year-round. Located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, it is Virginia’s oldest continuously operating open-air market. Some vendors even specialize in pet products.  Grandin Village is a walkable pet-friendly neighborhood outside Downtown Roanoke with sidewalk-lined streets, several local shops and restaurants offer pet-friendly patio space, and even water bowls. You can also check out Black Dog Salvage located along the Roanoke River Greenway.

Outdoor Adventures

Located at milepost 115 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Explore Park has 14 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as access to the Roanoke River. The park also boasts pet-friendly lodging and a brewery (Twin Creeks Brewpub) with plenty of outdoor seating.  If you are looking for hiking trails, check out Mill Mountain Park located in Downtown Roanoke. It offers several hiking trails, as well as picnic areas and the iconic Roanoke Star overlooking downtown Roanoke and the surrounding valley.

Another great hiking option is the Roanoke Valley Greenways – 30+ miles of paved trails leading through neighborhoods, parks, and along waterways. Observe everything from wooded areas to cityscapes, depending on your starting and ending points. Roaring Run offers an easier hiking trail in nearby Botetourt County that features a series of waterfalls. You can even reward yourself and your pup with a sweet treat from nearby Cupcakes and Canines. Blue Ridge Vineyard is just 12 miles from Roaring Run and also pet-friendly. 

Lastly, Read Mountain Preserve has more than five miles of trails set off from the parking area and you can mix and loop them as you wish. Buzzards Rock Trail leads to the second-highest point of interest within the preserve and offers one of the most popular lookouts in the area. 

Lodging 

Virginia’s Blue Ridge has over 50 pet-friendly lodging options, including hotels, cabins and campgrounds. Peaks of Otter Lodge (April – October) – is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway (milepost 86) about 45 minutes from Roanoke. Every room has a waterfront view of Lake Abbott, and popular pet-friendly hike Sharp Top Mountain is adjacent to the lodge. Nearby Peaks of Otter Winery & Orchards is also pet-friendly. 

Other lodging options include the Home2 Suites (Roanoke); The Lofts at Downtown Salem , and Explore Park, which is a short 15-minute drive from the heart of downtown Roanoke. You can reserve pet-friendly cabins, campsites, and glamping tents. The park also houses Twin Creeks Brewpub. 

Food & Beverage 

The VBR Cheers Trail is a collection of over 2 dozen breweries, wineries and distilleries; most have pet-friendly patios or tasting rooms.

See this blog post for a list of 15 pet-friendly patios that include breweries, wineries, and restaurants. 

If you’d like to checkout Downtown Roanoke, you have several pet-friendly breweries including

Big Lick Brewing, Twisted Track Brewpub, Golden Cactus Brewing, or A Few Old Goats. If you’re looking for a place to eat, you can check out Roanoke City Market Building (try Fork in the Market or Scrambled for pet-friendly patio dining.) The Green Goat is another great option located along the Roanoke River Greenway – perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Sweet Donkey Coffee is minutes from Downtown Roanoke and Mill Mountain (Roanoke Star).

Over in Salem, you have a Walkable downtown with plenty of outdoor seating and local restaurants offering takeout. Grab a beer at Parkway Brewing’s pet-friendly patio. They often have food trucks and are conveniently located along the Roanoke Valley Greenways. In warmer months, stop by the Salem Farmers Market on Main Street. 

Events

GO Outside Festival happens annually in Roanoke each October. In addition to being a pet-friendly event, one of the weekend’s highlights is a series of events that you can enter your dog in, such as dock jumping.  You can also check out the events happening at Dr. Pepper Park, a performance venue in Downtown Roanoke that allows dogs at most events.

Blue Ridge offers numerous events and options for you and your four-legged friends to enjoy! You can go to VisitVBR.com to see a comprehensive pet-friendly page on our website. It includes everything from attractions and activities to pet-friendly lodging and events.