Basics
- Location:
- This Parkway runs along the west-central portion of Virginia and North Carolina.
- Length:
- 469 miles (754 km)
- Time:
- 4 days to enjoy the Byway
Description
It was built during the Great Depression and passes through some of the earliest towns in America. It serves as a link between the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. And, it is one of the most scenic drives in the country.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is filled with pathways and parks. The Peaks of Otter trails offers beautiful views and a pleasant trek through the countryside. There are also numerous lookouts along the way, such Great Valley Overlook, where the traveler can stop and peer out over the awe-inspiring panorama. Photography, wildlife observation, hiking, biking and visiting the historic hill towns are all part of the travel scene on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Blue Ridge Parkway carries the traveler through realms of mountains, lush green valleys, an area rich in history, and thousands of acres of parklands. Traveling for 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, the nation's longest rural parkway offers interesting stops in towns such as Mabry Mill, where tourists can get a taste of homemade apple butter and a glimpse of mountain-style country living.
Attending a folk concert at The Blue Ridge Mountain Music Center is a delightful way to learn the saga of the hill towns. The songs hold the stories and legends of the region and are as informative as they are entertaining.
This Parkway runs along the west-central portion of Virginia , just 2 miles shy of Roanoke and plunges into the state of North Carolina, ending at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
Helpful Links
Points of Interest
Points of Interest Along The Way
Air Bellows Gap (NC)
Asheville (NC)
As a stopping place near many of North Carolina's byways,Asheville is a perfect stop for travelers. With a population of63,700, the city offers all the visitor amenities and many attractions. Yet even with its urban traits, Asheville manages to keep a mountain-town feel.
Beginning as a health resort in 1850, Asheville has always drawn people to its natural location amid the peaks and forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today, visitors can explore the areas around Asheville for the most delightful of outdoor activities. Within the city, travelers will find places like Biltmore Estate, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, and the Folk Art Center.
Biltmore Estate (NC)
Biltmore House took six years and 1,000 men to build; it opened its doors on Christmas Eve in 1895. With a 390-foot façade,the House has more than 11 million bricks, 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, 43 bathrooms, 34 bedrooms, and three kitchens, all of which are contained in over four acres of floor space. The massive stone spiral staircase rises four floors and has 102 steps. Through its center hangs an iron chandelier weighing 1,700 pounds and containing 72 electric light bulbs.
At its completion, Biltomore House was one of the most innovative and technologically advanced homes in the world. Imagine indoor hot and cold running water, elevators, indoor heating, a fire alarm system, refrigeration, electric lightbulbs, and 10 Bell telephones - all unheard-of luxuries at the turn of the century.
While such luxuries are commonplace today, nowhere will you find such a simply elegant and stunning setting as on the Biltmore Estate.
Directions
The Biltmore Estate is located at 1 N Pack Sq # 400 in , Asheville, NC.
Biltmore Village Historic Museum (NC)
Located across from Biltmore Estate, this historic village inAsheville was formed in the late 1800's and now features architecture and landscaping done by the same men who designed and engineered Biltmore Estate. Now these historic houses hold shops, boutiques, and restaurants for shopping with atmosphere. Visit the Biltmore Village Historic Museum and learn more about the buildings and the time period they came from.
Directions
Located at 7 Angle Street in Asheville, NC.
Black Mountain (NC)
Known as "the front porch of North Carolina,"
Black Mountain is a picturesque North Carolina town associated with several state byways, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Settled in the 1780s, Black Mountain has maintained an old-fashioned feel throughout the decades. A stroll down main street tickles at the senses of another time. Craftsmen practice their arts, while antique shops sell art of the past. A central location for exploring the Appalachians, Black Mountain offers all the comforts of home.
Blowing Rock (NC)
Blowing Rock is a historic community on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a perfect location for traveling the Byway and stopping at the sites. The town of Blowing Rock offers all services to visitors and is a place that has captured all the atmosphere and romance of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This community on the Blue Ridge Parkway is named for a nearby geological formation known as Blowing Rock. Such a formation is not without a story. The legend tells of a Chikasaw Indian princess who met an Indian brave from the plains on the edge of the rock. They spent many days together in the woodland mountains of the area until one day a strange reddening sky appeared as a bad omen to the brave. Torn from having to choose between his true love and returning to the plains, he jumped off the Blowing Rock into the woodlands below. The maiden prayed daily to the Great Spirit until another evening came with a red sky. This time, a mighty gust of wind blew her lover back to the Rock where she was waiting for him. Since then, the wind continually blows upward from the valley below to the top of Blowing Rock. The wind is so strong that sometimes,the snow even seems to fall upside down.
Boone (NC)
Visit the "Firefly Capital of the World" where Daniel Boone once camped. Appalachian State University is located in Boone as well as several other points of interest. Make sure you take time to explore the Appalachian Cultural Museum. Or drive to Hickory Ridge Homestead where exhibits will open your eyes to life in an 18th Century log house.
Boone is a mountain town right in the middle of some of North Carolina's most beautiful natural wonders. Near to ski resorts and several North Carolina byways, Boone is a natural stop for travelers.
Directions
Boone, North Carolina is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Highway 321.
Brinegar Cabin (NC)
Dating from about 1885, the cabin was the home of Martin Brinegar and his family. Hand-loom weaving and other craft demonstrations are often given during the summer months.
Cherokee (NC)
If you are interested in learning about the Cherokee culture, there is no better place to do it than Cherokee, NC. Visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village and make your own arrowheads as you learn about the different tribes; women of the village will show you their original beadwork and as you relax against the fire, learn how the slow burning fire will help create a canoe. Many other aspects of the Cherokee Indian culture can also be discovered here; plan to spend more than just hours to enjoy it all.
Chimney Rock (NC)
Enjoy nature and hiking in the area of the towering Chimney Rock.
