America’s favorite drive: Blue Ridge Parkway
For motorists looking for places to go in the southern US, the 470-mile journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the North Carolina border is becoming increasingly popular.
“All along the way, you’ll enjoy awesome natural beauty, a fascinating pioneer heritage and first-rate outdoor activities — all cloaked in good, old-fashioned Southern hospitality,” says ArcaMax.
Visitors encounter panoramic lookouts on mountain tops that reveal vast expanses of unspoiled woodlands, weathered log cabins and split rail fences. Quaint villages and tidy farms are laid out like patchwork quilts blanketing sleepy valleys far below.
“There’s a reason the Blue Ridge Parkway is called America’s Favorite Drive,” says NC.com.
Actually, there are lots of reasons: “glorious fall foliage, vibrant spring flowers, charming little towns, friendly mountain folks, rich Appalachian culture, dramatic vistas, quiet meadows, intriguing tunnels – the list goes on,” the site says.
But perhaps what folks love best about the Parkway is its uncanny ability to force travelers to slow down and enjoy the drive.
“The Blue Ridge Parkway is timeless,” said Penn Dameron, executive director of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, a 25-county region that includes the Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “It takes you to a completely different world and serves as a constant reminder of what an extraordinary place we live in.”
Visitor centers mark scenic and historic sites located no more than 15 miles from the highway.
By David Wilkening
David
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