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Blue Ridge Parkway advice
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Nov 13, 2018 14:20:07   #
fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH
 
My wife asked me to plan a 1 to 2 week visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway, next year. We'll drive from here in New Hampshire. Since the Parkway's 469 miles long, I'm seeking good places for both photography and recreation. Our camping days are pretty much over so I'm looking for good Bed 'n Breakfasts at 3 or 4 central locations where we can spend 2 or 3 days at each and doing day trips. I won't ask for lens advice; if I don't know it by now, I never will, but if you know a particularly photogenic spot you favor, please describe the location and the best time of day & season to visit it. Thanks, folks.

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Nov 13, 2018 15:15:45   #
cameraf4 Loc: Delaware
 
Don't forget Skyline Drive in VA. Skyland Lodge and Big Meadows are great places to overnight. No B&B on the Parkway but can be found in Blowing Rock, Spruce Pine and, of course, Asheville.

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Nov 13, 2018 15:19:02   #
Photocraig
 
At the Staunton, VA area it is an easy exit and drive to Charlottesville VA, and the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and much more. B&B's galore.

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Nov 13, 2018 15:34:54   #
maggiemae Loc: North Carolina
 
The parkway is great. Fall is the best time of year to go if you want great foliage pictures. Also, the wheather is usually pretty good as long as it doesn't rain. There are plenty of B and Bs all over.

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Nov 13, 2018 16:16:14   #
DWHart24 Loc: Central Florida
 
I second Blowing Rock. Great little city right off the parkway and not far from Boone. Plenty to do. We have a timeshare cabin that is located there as well. Google Swiss Mountain Village. They always have cabins for rent.

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Nov 14, 2018 05:49:36   #
gorgehiker Loc: Lexington, Ky
 
Blowing Rock is near Price Lake, Grandfather Mountain, Linville Cove Viaduct, and Linville Falls. While at Linville Falls, don't miss scenic little Duggar Falls.

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Nov 14, 2018 05:56:26   #
dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl
 
fourlocks wrote:
My wife asked me to plan a 1 to 2 week visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway, next year. We'll drive from here in New Hampshire. Since the Parkway's 469 miles long, I'm seeking good places for both photography and recreation. Our camping days are pretty much over so I'm looking for good Bed 'n Breakfasts at 3 or 4 central locations where we can spend 2 or 3 days at each and doing day trips. I won't ask for lens advice; if I don't know it by now, I never will, but if you know a particularly photogenic spot you favor, please describe the location and the best time of day & season to visit it. Thanks, folks.
My wife asked me to plan a 1 to 2 week visit to th... (show quote)


Both the Skyline drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway have excellent spots to pull over and get shots.. Also there are some areas that are excellent for parking the car and hiking/walking for a half mile or so in either direction and getting shots. At various places along both, (assuming you have the time to putter), don't be afraid to get off the "Parkway/Skyline Drive" and go down into the surrounding towns for excellent photo ops. We took the "backroads" from Florida up to Warminster PA (just northwest of Philly) last year before last and got excellent photo ops.. Also did it coming down a trip before that. We basically roamed the areas from 95, Route 17, and 81. We also used a lot of the "back roads".
So, if you have time, don't be afraid to explore the areas, towns, etc. that are off the beaten path along the way. I even found a small antiques place (Near Monticello) that had a sign paintesd on their truck saying, "Antiques, made fresh daily." I have a photo of it somewhere. lol. It was a long trip and we took several days for it. But it was a lot of fun and got to see some excellent places.

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Nov 14, 2018 05:58:11   #
DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA
 
I can tell you this, just for info. I manged a funeral home in Wester NC. There are some old family cemeteries in those mountains. If you were taking a funeral procession up there you had to get a special permit since a hearse is a commercial, a real pain but understandably so. Have fun!

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Nov 14, 2018 06:01:04   #
mrova Loc: Chesterfield, VA
 
You can stop for a few days at Peaks of Otter, near Bedford, VA area. Beautiful grounds, great restaurant, easy on/off access from there to other places. It's right on the parkway I think.
Another place would be in the Mt. Airy, NC area. Easy on/off access from parkway to surrounding point. Drop down into Mt. Airy if you ever enjoyed Andy Griffith and Mayberry.

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Nov 14, 2018 06:03:34   #
mrova Loc: Chesterfield, VA
 
You can stop for a few days at Peaks of Otter, near Bedford, VA area. http://www.peaksofotter.com/ Beautiful grounds, great restaurant, easy on/off access from there to other places. It's right on the parkway I think.
Another place would be in the Mt. Airy, NC area. Easy on/off access from parkway to surrounding point. Drop down into Mt. Airy if you ever enjoyed Andy Griffith and Mayberry.

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Nov 14, 2018 06:11:02   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
A stop every couple of hundred yards should do the trick, and definitely every pullover. Go North to South and follow the colours down. We used budget or lower end motels for our trip but I'm sure there'l be some good b&b in better locations.

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Nov 14, 2018 06:17:24   #
miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida
 
Ashville has a few really nice places to stay and all along the parkway are viewing places to stop relax and take some nice photo's.

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Nov 14, 2018 06:39:31   #
CO
 
Mabry's mill is a great place to stop for photography. I was there several years ago. If you go there be sure to go to the restaurant there and have their pancake sampler. They have some real Buckwheat pancakes. The batter is actually black in color. Just do a search online for Mabry's mill in Floyd county.

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Nov 14, 2018 06:41:17   #
ggenova64
 
Don't forget to get off the Scenic Routes!

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Nov 14, 2018 06:44:06   #
Deanie1113
 
I second Asheville, NC. We stayed in a great motel right off the Parkway and next to the outlet mall. A great seafood restaurant, the Arboretum and the zoo were right there, too, which were a great little stops for a change of pace.

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