Julia Belvin

When I was growing up in Roanoke, I looked forward to moving to a larger, more “glamorous” city. Now, years later, I’m still here and loving Roanoke!

I traveled extensively for 17 years in my job and as much as I love traveling and seeing new places, I always loved the convenience of the Roanoke airport when I arrived home. I appreciated the 20 minute drive to the airport, the ease of parking there and the accessibility of claiming bags very quickly!

Outdoor activity is important to me, so easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail and Smith Mountain Lake make Roanoke an ideal location. I also love the charm of the City Market for the wonderful farmers’ produce as well as unique shops and restaurants. In fact, when colleagues visit from San Francisco and Wilmington, (headquarters for former jobs), they are extremely impressed by our Market, Hotel Roanoke, O. Winston Link Museum, the new Art Museum and The Jefferson Center (and it’s huge variety of performances including ballet and opera!).

• Julia’s Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia