It is tradition for Greg and I, and friends Ruth and Ralph, to visit the Roanoke in the month of December to celebrate the holiday season. We stroll through the halls of the Hotel Roanoke, originally built in 1882 by the Norfolk & Western Railway as a Tudor Revival landmark, and enjoy the beauty of the trees that have been decorated by local businesses and organizations in a decorating competition. Visitors vote for their favorite tree and every dollar donated supports a meaningful cause.
Our tradition was derailed a couple times by illness, but we managed to get to Roanoke twice and these are some of the images that I captured. The first is the fireplace in the lobby of the Hotel Roanoke.
The next is the Pedestrian Walkway that connects the Hotel Roanoke to the historic downtown and allows folks to see the railroad tracks that led to Roanoke, originally called Big Lick,to become one of the premier railroad cities in America. For a century, Roanoke was home to the Norfolk & Western Railway.
The next three are murals seen during a morning stroll around the historic downtown area
If you’ve not been to Roanoke, Virginia, you should visit sometime.
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 
Beautiful images Laurie 😊 The murals are amazing especially that early Nabisco one.
Sounds like a lovely tradition with friends❤️
Roanoke looks like a fun city. This post makes me want to visit it sometime.
I don’t know why, but I’m amazed there’s no snow in December in Roanoke !! Green grass and leaves on the trees? It’s like a summer day!
The Railroad built some stunning hotels in North America. What a gorgeous fireplace all dressed up. The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald in Edmonton was originally built by the Grande Trunk Pacific Railway and opened in 1915. Google for a look-see. We love the patio for pricey summer drinks 🤣 (we can walk there along the river paths).
Glad you were able to get away with friends. It’s good for the soul 🩷 My favourite mural is the trompe-l’oeil painting of the doorway! I’ve always loved that style of painting. Maybe it originated in the Saturday morning cartoons, when Wile E coyote would paint a mountain with a detour road leading to a trap to nab the Road Runner? LOL 😂 Hugs K
What a great tradition for everyone! I absolutely love the fireplace and decorations at the Roanoke Hotel. I could sit there for awhile with a warm beverage and a good book. Looks like a lovely place to visit during the holidays.