Travel
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Blue RidgeParkway
in Travel
Has anyone ever done a road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Any stops or places along the way to recommend?
Re: Blue RidgeParkway
Hmm...not sure what areas you'll go on but we drove parts of Skyline Dr and really enjoyed it. We stayed at Skyland and thought the lodging was decent. Both Skyland and Big Meadows had good food. Loved the blackberry pancake syrup. This looks like a good site.http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/
Yes. DH and I did it two years ago. The key to it is to get off the road and do some hikes and site see. We started at the end of it that is south of Gaitlinburg, TN. And, we exited it near Lexington, VA. Lexington has a lot to see history-wise with VMI, Washington & Lee University, and Stonewall Jackson's home. We did two hikes along the route: Graveyard Fields (NC) and one in VA but I can't remember the name (sorry). It is very curvy and hilly, so if you get car sick easily you should take something for motion sickness or be the driver. Here is the website...
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/index.php
Also, it is a two lane road. The speed limit is pretty moderate. There are slower drivers and cyclists to be aware of. And, it's often difficult to pass people.
There are little towns dotting the map along the drive. We didn't make any overnight reservations anywhere. We just pulled off, found a family-owned motel/hotel and stayed there. FYI: There are very few brand-name hotels along the way unless you stay in larger cities like Lexington, etc.
OMG, sunny, Lake Lure. I haven't heard about that in literally decades. I used to go there with my summer camp. I thought it was the weirdest place ever, primarily b/c I hadn't been exposed to, um, redneck America. They asked me if I wanted a "melliola" aka mellow yellow. I'd never heard of either. Plus the lake had some weird slime goo on the bottom.
I did go to blowing rock on a road trip years later and thought it was a cute town. And I love Asheville, having both gone there as a camp counselor and as a college student. So, that's all the substance I have to add.
I primarily posted b/c of the lake lure flashback.
My parents and I did the whole parkway when I was a kid (took about a week). We have also been back to different spots on the parkways millions of times. It's my dad's favorite place on earth. Places I would take time to stop and enjoy - Craggy Gardens, Grandfather Mountain, Linn Cove Viaduct (the visitors center there tells you all about how they built this part of the parkway), Mabry Mill, and The Natural Bridge. Like others said take time to pull off at the different lookout places and do some hiking.
If you had never been to the Biltmore House and won't ever get another chance to go do it too. But I think it's worth taking it's own vacation. DH & I spent 3 days there and still didn't see it all.
Ditto Blowing Rock, and check out Grandfather Mountain, which is about 1/2 hour down the Parkway from there. It has the Mile High Swinging Bridge, animal habitats, and some pretty breath-taking views, (although you will find great views all along that section of the Parkway.) It is more expensive in the fall, so a lot will depend on when you are going. Somewhat touristy, but I love it.
Some things to keep in mind--if you are going in the winter months, they often close large sections of the parkway if it snows. The speed limit is typically 45 or lower, and they take speeding seriously! Fall it gets really, really crowded.
Have fun!
Steps on My Spiritual Journey