Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, United States

4Ward D 5:00 PM Jan 3, 2023

A beautiful drive winding through the mountains
The Blueridge parkway is a 469-mile road that travels through the Great smoky mountains. It was designed to connect Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park during President Roosevelt’s era in 1935. It was finally completed in 1987. Most of the route is windy 2-lane road at various elevations with about ½ of the route in North Carolina and ½ in Virginia. Many parts of the road are at higher elevations so driving conditions may be challenging due to limited visibility or changing weather. There is no fee to use the parkway. There are numerous sights and pullouts for you throughout the park. The speed limit is mostly below 45 miles per hour and quite often lower than this. There is something for everybody along the trail from waterfalls to hikes to panoramic vistas. I would recommend that if you want to see the entire trail, you should take vacations and see parts of it on different trips. I highly recommend that you plan your trips on the parkway with the weather in mind so that you can get the best experience. I have taken some beautiful pictures above the clouds from several of the pull-offs. Overall, it is a great path to enjoy the mountain scenery and views. Enjoy!

4Regi W 5:00 PM Nov 10, 2022

Hooked on North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains
My husband & I took a road trip to Lake Lure, North Carolina in Fall, with the leaves in color. The southeastern states change of seasons, is breathtaking, and every bit as beautiful as the northeastern states. We stayed in a duplex up the mountain, with friends. There are hiking trails of a variety of skill levels and a large lake for boat rides, canoeing, fishing, etc. If you are a golfer, there are 3 courses in the area to choose from. We ate at the Lakehouse Restaurant & Bar and the food was delicious! Not too far from Lake Lure is the town of Asheville located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a scenic drive. It is an eclectic city, artsy and folk music festivals and musicians on the street corners and near the courthouse. Old, historic buildings, local art crafts and museums and plenty of restaurants to choose from. I recommend visiting the Biltmore Estate which is just amazing, but, it cost over $100, per person, to tour it. The estate tour is on 3 or 4 levels and the elevator was not working when we were there. The staircases are long, but there are chairs and benches for sitting. The rooms in the estate are exquisite, and the gardens of the estate are colorful and charming. Give yourself plenty of time to visit, because the estate is huge! Driving along the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway we traveled to Mt. Pisgah and stopped at the Pisgah Inn Lodge Restaurant for lunch and the gorgeous view of the valley below. Call to make a reservation, because the restaurant is very busy. There is lodging, if you want to explore the mountain trails and stay over a night or two. We also went to the town of Blowing Rock, which is just off the Blue Ridge Mountain Pkwy. Another interesting town to visit. Lots of shops, art, pubs, restaurants and amazing views. If you decide to visit, check the temperature up there before going. It was 55 degrees at the bottom of the mountain and 32 degrees in Blowing Rock and the wind is mighty strong and does not let up! Bring winter jackets, if you visit in the Fall. North Carolinians are very friendly people. Loved the state and we hope to be back to drive more of the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway, which starts in Gatlin, Tennessee and goes through North Carolina and Virginia.