Chances are you're familiar with the classic image of the Blue Ridge Parkway: rolling hills and rounded mountains laced with mist. Hundreds of miles of vistas like this make the parkway one of the United States' most popular tourist destinations.
Some 20 million people travel at least part of the 469-mile (755-kilometer) highway, which winds through national forests in North Carolina and Virginia.
The parkway is a two-lane road that dips and curves and along the way provides some of the nation's great vistas. Among the most celebrated vantage points is the overlook where 6,000-foot (1,830-meter) Cold Mountain, the setting of Charles Frazier's novel, is often shrouded in that famous blue-gray haze. And at many stopping points, waterfalls and fishing spots are just a short trek away.
The National Park Service, which oversees the parkway, promotes the area as a journey through the culture of the region. And in fact there are dozens of stopping points where visitors can learn about the region's history, people, agriculture, natural history, and even music.
STEP ONE
Invest in Information
The Blue Ridge area is so rich in natural beauty and historic sites that it's worth poring over a few guidebooks and Web sites before heading out. For a great start, see the Park Service's official Blue Ridge Web site (www.nps.gov/blri/).
William Lord's Blue Ridge Parkway Guide is one book that provides a general overview of the sites and points of interest along the parkway. Hikers may want to peruse Randy Johnson's Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway for more detailed information on trails and their levels of difficulty. Other guides highlight Cherokee Indian heritage, bluegrass music hot spots, gardens, and mountain biking.
STEP TWO
Do It Yourself or Follow an Itinerary
The Blue Ridge Parkway may be in the north end of the South, but many visitors adopt a laid-back southern approach to their journey.
Some travelers take many days to meander, giving themselves ample time to explore the wide-open terrain, nearby attractions like Monticello or the Biltmore Estate, and places that weren't on their original agenda. Even the National Park Service Web site encourages a relaxed pace: "Please don't be in a hurry."
Interested in a little more guidance? At least one outfit, American Driving Vacations, has put together several different itineraries for exploring the parkway (www.americandrivingvacations.com). One route points wine lovers to fine dining and wineries. Another steers travelers to hotels that are of historical interest.
STEP THREE
Pick a State—Or Don't
Rules and Regulations
North Carolina and Virginia can each claim bragging rights to some element of the parkway. The portion in Virginia is lower and many of the popular cultural sights, including Mabry Mill, near Floyd, are found in the state. Said to be the most photographed structure in Virginia, Mabry Mill is a former gristmill and sawmill that hosts demonstrations of mountain crafts such as blacksmithing.
Brand-new Virginia attractions include the Michael Graves-designed Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester and the Blue Ridge Music Center, an amphitheatre for Appalachian performances, in Galax.
North Carolina boasts the highest peaks along the parkway and some of the most stirring vantage points. Doughton Park's sprawling meadows are among the best spots for wildlife viewing. Another popular North Carolina stop is Linville Falls, where a series of waterfalls drops into a deep gorge.
STEP FOUR
Choose Your Foliage
Both fall and spring visits offer spectacular scenery, albeit of different hues. In fall the gum trees and dogwoods turn red, the leaves of the hickories go yellow, and the oaks add a layer of dark maroon to the dramatic display of color.
Spring is equally colorful when the flowering trees and shrubs come back to life. The park is known for its dense thickets of purple rhododendrons, which bloom in both Virginia and North Carolina come May.
STEP FIVE
Rough It or Relax
Along the parkway there are nine campgrounds, three lodges, and a group of cabins that are open seasonally. The National Park Service has information on all available lodging that sits directly along the parkway (www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/lodging.htm).
The Blue Ridge Parkway is never far from a town and the expected hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts. Popular stops include Asheville, North Carolina, as well as Staunton, Lexington, and Charlottesville in Virginia.
STEP SIX
Pick a Point of Entry
There are many points of entry to the Blue Ridge Parkway. But if you're planning to take on all 469 miles (755 kilometers) in one shot, you'll need to start at either one of the end points: near Waynesboro, Virginia (at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park), or Cherokee, North Carolina (near the northeastern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park).
Two of the most popular entry points are Roanoke, Virginia, and Asheville, North Carolina.
Roanoke is served by a number of airlines: US Airways, United Express, NWA, Delta, Atlantic Southeast, and Comair. Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National/Alamo all rent automobiles at Roanoke.
Continental, Delta, NWA, and US Airways all serve Asheville Regional Airport. Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National/Alamo also rent cars out of the airport.
-Hope Hamashige
Photograph by James C. Richardson
