
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995                   TAG: 9508150078
SECTION: DISCOVER ROANOKE VALLEY                    PAGE: 11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THE BEST OF THE REST

Peaks of Otter lodge and restaurant: located off the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Roanoke. Named for two relatively small mountains you can hike up through October. The Peaks were once noted for party-enders in which big men on campus and their dates climbed up to see the sun rise.

Virginia 785: Take Virginia 311 out of Roanoke across Catawba Mountain and turn right just after passing the general store. Peaceful, unspoiled country and at least one haunted house.

New Castle: Keep on 311 after country store. Do it just to see the courthouse with the Yankee saber slash in the newel post in the stairway. Also has one of the best Confederate soldier statues in the state.

The highlands: Continue on 311 and see Potts Mountain and the village of Paint Bank. Dip into West Virginia briefly and generally follow a route used to reach the mineral-water spas to which Virginia planters went to take the waters and escape the fevers of lowland Virginia. You'll also go through Sweete Chalybeate. Some of the old spa's building and mineral water pools are still there. It's pronounced "sweet-calee-bee-ut," no matter how much you want to say "sweet shally-beat." Your neighbors might be impressed that you've been to a place with a name like that.

Natural Bridge: One of the seven natural wonders of the world. George Washington carved his initials there. Thomas Jefferson once owned it. At night, there is a drama depicting the creation of the world. Enough said. But be warned, it will cost you $8 to see the bridge or $4 for children. And the wax museum and caverns are extra.

by CNB