Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway
[Updated August 12, 2021] The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited national park unit in the USA, attracting more than 15 million visitors each year. It’s far more than just a beautiful scenic roadway, encompassing nearly 500 miles in NC and VA and protecting wilderness areas extending far beyond the road’s shoulders. Within these protected … Read more
[Updated July 27, 2021] With only one or two Blue Ridge Parkway hotels in North Carolina, it’s not easy to find accommodations along the world-famous route during the peak season in Autumn. We wanted to bring our furry friends (Boo-Boo and Huckleberry) along for the ride when we visited in October, so instead we searched … Read more
Arguably ranking among the world’s great road trips, the Blue Ridge Parkway was built in the 1930s to connect Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Shenandoah National Park. Spanning 469 miles in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the BRP offers sensational scenic vistas, historic sites, and thousands of species of birds, plants and animals. … Read more
Emerald Village is located just 31 miles from Asheville and three miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The family-friendly attraction proved to be one of our favorite things to do in Little Switzerland NC, one of our favorite little tourist towns in the state. Featured on shows such as National Geographic Channel’s The Savage Line … Read more
[Updated July 29, 2021] “You don’t choose Asheville… Asheville chooses you.” This enigmatic insight from Peter White, co-owner of the Black Walnut Bed and Breakfast Inn, was a perfect summation of our fascination with what was then still a burgeoning little Blue Ridge mountain town. By our second visit to Asheville in 2014, you could really … Read more
Stretching north to south across the eastern United States, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are truly an iconic American landscape. The Blue Ridge range encompasses over 34,000 square miles of gorgeous mountain terrain filled with towering summits, meandering rivers, lush national forests, gleaming lakes, and cascading waterfalls. So there is no shortage of breathtaking scenery … Read more
[Updated September 14, 2021] In our opinion, taking a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is one of the finest romantic getaways or family vacations the United States has to offer. The parkway stretches, winds, climbs, and descends some 469 miles through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. It creates a marvelous conduit between two of the … Read more
As a tourist destination, the Blue Ridge Parkway specializes in three things: spring blooms, autumn leaves, and jaw-dropping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While there are many places to stop along the way that supply all three of these things, Craggy Gardens, NC is the ultimate option in my opinion. Located nearly 5,900 feet … Read more
Located in North Carolina between Blue Ridge Parkway mile markers 238.5 and 244.7, Doughton Park is actually the largest recreation area along the famous road. This Blue Ridge park spans about 7,000 acres and includes picnic areas, campgrounds, an official Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center, two historic cabins, and a collection of beautiful mountain streams. … Read more
