Smokies and Blue Ridge Parkway Photos
Oct 5, 2015 12:06:06 #
Just back from a trip North from the Smokies up to Roanoke Va. the Hurricane created some weather problems and the northern portion of the Parkway was closed. Colors are great right now. A few photos from the trip
Cabin along Blue Ridge Parkway
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Mabry Mill along Blue Ridge Parkway
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Linnville Viaduct along Parkway
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Roadside waterfall due to Hurricane rain
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Roadside in Smokies In NC due to Hurricane
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Oct 5, 2015 12:10:26 #
Oct 5, 2015 12:33:27 #
13oct1931
Loc: Lebanon, Indiana
Nice pix. We will be there in a few weeks, staying in Pigeon Forge. Been going there for 10-12 years, but never on Blue Ridge Parkway.
If you have not been "in the park",,, you should.
Alyn
If you have not been "in the park",,, you should.
Alyn
Oct 5, 2015 12:37:47 #
Saw a Public broadcast special (actually a series) on the politics and creation of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
It's a wonder that it exists, given the work that went into acquiring land, easements, and the people who got elected simply to make it happen. ]
I was intrigued. The National Parks system has many good special such as this. It's fascinating to see the lengths people and politicians (not the same) have gone to in preserving special places and scenery in our country.
It's a wonder that it exists, given the work that went into acquiring land, easements, and the people who got elected simply to make it happen. ]
I was intrigued. The National Parks system has many good special such as this. It's fascinating to see the lengths people and politicians (not the same) have gone to in preserving special places and scenery in our country.
Oct 5, 2015 12:48:07 #
Oct 6, 2015 05:40:35 #
Oct 6, 2015 06:17:38 #
Oct 6, 2015 07:45:55 #
Thank everyone for stopping by and taking a look and for your kind words as well. The photo at Mabry Mill is my favorite one as well. It was pouring rain and I held an umbrella over the camera on the tripod as that photo took somewhere between 25 and 30 seconds to take. I took several and once the geese saw me, they came right over so all I have is a blur of white across each photo. This one was the first photo before they saw me. As you can see from the other roadside shots it was seriously raining. Most of my photos have rain drops on the lens, so guess I will have to go back once the highway opens up and take more photos.
Oct 6, 2015 08:17:46 #
JimBart
Loc: Western Michigan
Thinking of heading to the blue ridge pkway and smokies next Friday. Based on your experience what area is closed vs open Also any recommendations for photos and places to stay. We were planning on 3 -4 days for the trip and conclude in the smokies for a few days. Actually don't know how long to plan between stops Send me a message if you like and thank you much.
By the way beautiful pics and whetting my appetite for this time away with the wife
By the way beautiful pics and whetting my appetite for this time away with the wife
Oct 6, 2015 08:19:14 #
JimBart
Loc: Western Michigan
Thinking of heading to the blue ridge pkway and smokies next Friday. Based on your experience what area is closed vs open Also any recommendations for photos and places to stay. We were planning on 3 -4 days for the trip and conclude in the smokies for a few days. Actually don't know how long to plan between stops Send me a message if you like and thank you much.
By the way beautiful pics and whetting my appetite for this time away with the wife
By the way beautiful pics and whetting my appetite for this time away with the wife
Oct 6, 2015 08:19:59 #
Oct 6, 2015 08:55:33 #
Due to the Hurricane and Rains, when we headed north, everything North of Roanoke Va was closed. We tried a couple of different places closer to the Shenandoah Skyline Drive to get back on, but they were closed, so we ended up on I-81 to get home (I don't like Interstate highways and prefer back roads and smaller roads). We stayed in Knoxville in Tennessee, although I have been told Pigeon Forge on the Tennessee side, although touristy, is still better than Gatlinburg as a place to stay. Both are small, so at this time of year may not be to crowded. The main road through the Smokies is only about 30 miles long from the bottom of the TN side to the bottom in Cherokee on the NC side. WE stopped in Roanoke VA on our way home. WE stay in Best Western hotels because they all look more or less the same, so when you wake up, you kind of feel like you are at home as you know where everything is. Also the people we have encountered at the front desks have all been very helpful whenever we have had questions about places to go and things to see. Hope you have as much fun as we did, even in the rain.
Oct 6, 2015 16:30:38 #
Very nice series.
BTW, been going to the Smokys since I was a kid (70 now) and I wouldn't stay in Pigeon Forge if you paid me. It's the ultimate tourist trap.
If you want a nice place to stay, try the Bearskin Lodge in Gatlinburg. It's at the last street before entering the park ( corner of River Road and Ski Mountain Road) and a block off the Parkway. Be sure to ask for a creek side room. We get up early, go into the park for the day come back in the evening, have a good meal and walk it off in town.
Did I mention I hate Pigeon Forge with a passion? It's nothin but a couple miles of hotels, cheap souvineer shops and carnival rides.
BTW, been going to the Smokys since I was a kid (70 now) and I wouldn't stay in Pigeon Forge if you paid me. It's the ultimate tourist trap.
If you want a nice place to stay, try the Bearskin Lodge in Gatlinburg. It's at the last street before entering the park ( corner of River Road and Ski Mountain Road) and a block off the Parkway. Be sure to ask for a creek side room. We get up early, go into the park for the day come back in the evening, have a good meal and walk it off in town.
Did I mention I hate Pigeon Forge with a passion? It's nothin but a couple miles of hotels, cheap souvineer shops and carnival rides.
Oct 6, 2015 17:07:07 #
I have never been to Pigeon Forge, only driven around it, I figured Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg were both tourist trips and I prefer not to go there. Cherokee is basically a Casino so have only driven through there as well. Do love the drive through the park and on the parkway though and may go back next weeks as we were basically rained out on the northern portion up through the Shenandoah portion of the highway. Thank you for the info about Pigeon Forge, as now I know it is not somewhere I want to visit.
Oct 6, 2015 18:09:18 #
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