Pix of Roanoke (Franklin, Rocky Mount, Stanley: houses, live, safe)

[bande1102]

I'd love to see some pictures of Roanoke--candid, every day shots. Oh, and of course Boones Mill...

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by bande1102

I'd love to see some pictures of Roanoke--candid, every day shots. Oh, and of course Boones Mill...

Sean has posted many within the threads, but more would be great too. I just love looking at the beautiful area.

[seanpecor]

Okay, here goes!

Summer is a great time to spend afternoons at Fairystone Beach. Not completely clear in this photo is the expansive kids only area, with floating soft animals and other fun stuff!

http://extranet.digitalspinner.com:8180/fairystone_beach.jpg (broken link)

BTW, a public beach just opened up on Smith Mountain Lake east of Rocky Mount!

September in Franklin County is beautiful, almost like a second Spring:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D09_2D20_20Creek_20Early_20Autumn.jpg (broken link)

Late September brings Monarchs over the Roanoke Valley and Boones Mill. I remember during September '05, a sunny morning that was interrupted by a short light rain. The rain cleared while I was weed trimming along a pasture lane. Then from out of the sky, thousands upon thousands of Monarchs landed on trees all around me, so much that the limbs began to sag, and I could see them flitting about everywhere. As soon as their wings were dry, they were gone. It was pretty magical and I doubt I'll ever experience it again. But if you've got something like bottlebrush buckeye bushes in plain aerial view, you're in for a treat every September guaranteed:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D09_2D28_20Monarchs.jpg (broken link)

Foliage begins to turn around the middle of October:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Fall_20Sunset.jpg (broken link)

You'll enjoy fall colors that rival the best that New England has to offer:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D10_2D20_20Cahas.jpg (broken link)

Taken last Halloween, on Stanley Street in Roanoke. Stanley Street is Halloween HQ, the street is blocked off from car traffic to make it safe for trick or treaters. The entire street gets into it with creative and appropriately whimsical or spooky "sets" in front of most houses. Imagine nearly 1,000 trick or treaters approaching your home in 4 hours! Amazing.

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D11_2D01_20Halloween4.jpg (broken link)

Taken at the end of October '06, on Wades Gap Road, which crosses from Roanoke County to Franklin County over Cahas Mountain:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D10_2D29_20Cahas1.jpg (broken link)

Late October means tens of thousands of acorns falling from our white oak tree (12' around, 80' tall, 70' wide crown). This brings out the Deer and Turkeys who feast on them for about a month, until they're all cleared out:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D10_2D17_20Deer_20and_20Turkeys.jpg (broken link)

Autumn colors dwindle although persist through November, particularly because Oak, Dogwoods and Basswoods thrive so well in this area:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D11_2D09_20Trail1.jpg (broken link)

We head over to Floyd and visit our favorite Christmas Tree farm every year:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/images/HuntingGathering_13B16/Blog20061221Tree2.jpg (broken link)

During the winter you'll usually see a couple of good snowfalls that are melted off within a day or so:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D02_2D12_20Snow_2019.jpg (broken link)

Winter high temperatures rarely stay below freezing, so outdoor activities are still possible. But even though Roanoke brings in great events every month of the year, winter is a good time to enjoy what the city has to offer. Pictured below is a scene from the annual Kazim Temple Circus:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/0204061509.jpg (broken link)

April brings Spring in like a lion:

http://www.pecorfamily.com/Blog_202006_2D04_2D15_20Trellis_20Completed.jpg (broken link)

I wish I had more shots of Roanoke city itself; hopefully others can step up!

If you want to view the BEST candid photo gallery of Franklin County events, then you can't go wrong with:

Photo Gallery (broken link)

The site is woefully under-promoted and not many folks know about it, but the photo galleries are all organized by event and are very representative of life and culture in Franklin County.

Sean

[Erin1264]

Love the pictures, Sean, and I live here!

[bande1102]

Thank you, Sean. Those pictures are beautiful--I can't wait to visit.

[hikers]

Wonderful shots Sean, we English Cousins are very much looking forward to visiting in the Autumn

[Tiger Beer]

Thanks for the photos!