Blue Ridge Parkway advice
Nov 14, 2018 12:42:26 #
Fogman
Loc: Fields Landing, California
Les Brown wrote:
In winter, much of the drive is closed because of snow and ice. They do not clear it. Summer, early fall and late spring is best.
Don't run over the turtles, although it might be tempting after you've swerved to miss the first hundred. It's an amazing trip, take your time.
Nov 14, 2018 12:53:53 #
Nov 14, 2018 12:55:04 #
Nov 14, 2018 13:14:53 #
I am suggesting Skyline Drive too .... but also ... just west of the first exit going south (at least years ago) .... is Luray, Virginia .... and Luray Caverns .... I am 75 ... I went with my parents in 1962 ..... and then in 1980 with my wife and 2 sons .... and again in 2006 with our daughter ... for each of those trips we stayed at the Luray Motel ... adjacent to downtown ....there are other newer motels ... the reason I took them there was to duplicate my early memories. The Luray Caverns is worth the visit .... we went there after checking into the motel. The last tour of the cavern .... was shorter in length.
Nov 14, 2018 14:04:55 #
TerryLA
Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fl
I drove several segments of the Blue Ridge Parkway back in 2014 and if your getting on starting with the Shenandoah Parkway and going south you will find a vast number of pull-offs on both sides of the road. Depending upon the time of the year traveling might be slow to very slow (speed limit 45). I was traveling north and it was the last week of Sept. so on the southern leg there was little leaves changing colors but as I got further north the leaves were getting more vibrant. I did have one day where it rained most of the day and towrads late afternoon fog started coming in and being a two lane road I was on and for the most part no guard rails I did get off. As far as B&B's you will have to venture off and into the nearby towns to find lodging and the same for gas. If I had a due over I would have started maybe a week later but that varies from year to year if your doing a fall foliage trip but the spring time is also great. Good luck and enjoy!
Nov 14, 2018 16:03:54 #
Blue Ridge Parkway is great everywhere! Take lots of time and if you have any time left stay in Cherokee NC for a few days. Besides the Great Smokies NP there are lots of great drives to the South after I he parkway ends. Someone has mentioned Bryson City already. I have motorcycles the parkway and the south side of the Smokies. You just can’t go wrong!
Nov 14, 2018 16:35:51 #
InspireOne
Loc: Chattanooga TN
fourlocks wrote:
My wife asked me to plan a 1 to 2 week visit to th... (show quote)
Be sure to go to Cades Cove GSMNP its an 11 mile loop will take you 2 to 3 hours if lots of traffic, be sure to turn down Sparks lane and Hyatt Lane. The Missing Link out of Wears Valley just opened and will have fresh and new vies that have not been seen by people of general public since the 30's the cost to build the missing link is 178 million dollars and they say it was worth every penny.
Once you end up over toward Maggie Valley be sure to head over to Cataloochee were you can take photos of huge Elk right from your car, but getting out of your car is the best experience but warning if bad weather do not go the road is icy and muddy during bad weather and difficult for cars that are low to the ground to go over.
No matter what time of the year its always possible to see a Black Bear in Cades Cove if temperatures hit above 50 degrees for several days. Look for Walnut Trees till end of Nov after that probably won't see them till March.
Nov 14, 2018 16:36:00 #
Enjoy your trip. You've chosen a wonderful area to visit. Gather the info and also enjoy the planning.
Nov 14, 2018 17:03:23 #
There are very few towns or lodging on the BR Parkway. Many are a 30 mile drive and back.
If it is cloudy, at least south of Roanoke, you will likely encounter fogg because the clouds hug the top of the Blue Ridge.
Otherwise, many photogenic sites on the BRP. I drove it several times between Roanoke and Asheville.
The trees on top may be barren since it is colder and they turn and fall sooner than the valleys.
I hope you have sunny weather. Since it is so long, there isn't congestion like the Smokies and just as pretty.
If it is cloudy, at least south of Roanoke, you will likely encounter fogg because the clouds hug the top of the Blue Ridge.
Otherwise, many photogenic sites on the BRP. I drove it several times between Roanoke and Asheville.
The trees on top may be barren since it is colder and they turn and fall sooner than the valleys.
I hope you have sunny weather. Since it is so long, there isn't congestion like the Smokies and just as pretty.
Nov 14, 2018 17:37:51 #
I second Skyland Lodge and Big Meadows. Nice accommodations and good food, not to mention scenic views. Also suggest the Farm House at Veritas (https://www.veritasfarmhouse.com) for a place to stay. There's also a wonderful winery on the property. Just off the Parkway, comfortable rooms, great wines, very good food, 30 minutes from Charlottesville and 5-10 minutes away from two great craft breweries (Blue Mountain and Devils Backbone) with great food. Also suggest a visit to the Frontier Cultural Museum (http://www.frontiermuseum.org), just off the Parkway and I-81 South of Stanton. If you stay in Asheville NC you'll be in beer heaven, if you like craft beers. Suggest mid-May to beat the traffic, although Fall would be the most beautiful time of the year. Safe travels.
Nov 14, 2018 17:38:05 #
Did Skyline Drive in the rain about a year ago, several caverns along the way south of Front Royal, also Natural Bridge of Virginia is nearby as you head south.
Nov 15, 2018 05:01:26 #
Tommy 86
Loc: East TN
An interesting little town is Floyd, VA. They have a very nice hotel, Hotel Floyd, and the town has a great little general store. Very funky, fun little town. The hotel had a really good live band - mostly bluegrass - that gave a nice little set - about an hour - while we were there. Also, as others have noted, Blowing Rock is a place you really should not miss.
Nov 15, 2018 05:24:16 #
Tommy 86 wrote:
An interesting little town is Floyd, VA. They have a very nice hotel, Hotel Floyd, and the town has a great little general store. Very funky, fun little town. The hotel had a really good live band - mostly bluegrass - that gave a nice little set - about an hour - while we were there. Also, as others have noted, Blowing Rock is a place you really should not miss.
I've been in Floyd. It's a quaint little town. There are lots of shops that have crafts. Blue Heron pottery is there. I went there after going to the Old Fiddler's convention in Galax, VA.Nov 18, 2018 01:27:00 #
fourlocks wrote:
My wife asked me to plan a 1 to 2 week visit to th... (show quote)
We drove part of the BRP in June 2016 as part of a trip that started in Charleston SC, then up to Manteo NC, Charlottesville VA, Asheville NC, Paducah KY, then Davenport IA. If you haven't been to Monticello, it's a must-do. We had lunch and did a wine tasting nearby at the Trump Winery, which is beautiful (from someone who lives an hour from the Napa Valley). A visit to the University of Virginia is worthwhile too. We stayed at a beautiful place near Charlottesville: the Prospect Hill Plantation Inn. Asheville is worth a stop also. We stayed at the Black Walnut B&B and would stay there again.
Aug 7, 2019 01:49:15 #
TerryLA
Loc: Port St. Lucie, Fl
I traveled the Shenandoah Parkway first part of October 2014 and it was beautiful there are pull offs maybe every half mile or so enabling you hundreds of photo ops. One thing you will want if you don't already have is a National Park pass. There was a $15 charge. I didn't have one at that time but was the best $15 I ever spent. I had almost all my equipment with me so I could change out different lenses for whatever the mood struck. I had spent a couple of days in New Market, Va. and took in Luray caverns and some Civil War battlefields. I'm single so I took a 6 week vacation covered 11 states drove over 4,000 miles and about 4,800 pics along the way. Best of travels to you.
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