A friend and I are planning a trip to the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Parkway in late April. We've heard conflicting reports about how "green" everything will be at that time of year. I'm sure that mid-to-late May would be better, but we're unable to make the trip then. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Would we still enjoy our trip even if things wouldn't be quite as lush? Thanks for your help!
Blue Ridge Parkway
Recent Activity
View all United States activity »
- 1 First-Time Hawaii Advice
- 2 I-5 bridge over Skagit River collapses, cars with people in water |
- 3 How to plan San Diego trip
- 4 IMPORTANT! Hawaii Ocean Safety Tips!
- 5 Washington Wineries
- 6 Airport luggage tamparing
- 7 California, Northern
- 8 GROCERY STORES MAUI, HAWAII
- 9 San Francisco,Monterey, Yosemite etc.!
- 10 Visitor ocean awareness Kauai/statewide
- 11 Maui. . .where to stay for local feel
- 12 Best museums and botanical gardens in the Hawaiian Islands?
- 13 Maui Rain Forest Hike vs Haleakala Crater Hike vs Downhill Bike Ride
- 14 Advice for 2 night intro trip to Moab in early June (1-3)
- 15 Pick up north of Boston Logan
- 16 Hudson Valley to Stockbridge, MA/Berkshires
- 17 East coast tour - Part2: Phily, Washington, Niagara Falls
- 18 Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah
- 19 Using public transit in San Diego
- 20 10 day anniversary trip to Oregon Coast
- 21 Buy now or wait . . . airfare to Santa Barbara in late July?
- 22 Back to the Lovely City!!
- 23 Maine - July 5th to July 14
- 24 East coast tour - Part1: NYC
- 25 Exciting historical sites in upstate NY
Yes, you'll still enjoy it. The Parkway is at elevation so it isn't going to be very green. There may be splashes of dogwoods and redbuds on the hillsides. It will probably be just budding green at the higher elevations. It's still beautiful.
Green, almost-green, white, yellow and pink. Superb, and when you come down, even better.
From late April last year, mostly around Roanoke and Lynchburg...
A hillside: http://gardyloo.us/20110425_21as.JPG
Another: http://gardyloo.us/20110425_8as.JPG
Roadside: http://gardyloo.us/20110425_27as.JPG
Another: http://gardyloo.us/20110426_52as.JPG
Trip report - http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/an-appalachian-spring-break.cfm
Those are beautiful pictures, gardyloo.
I love the soft pastel colors of our Virginia spring.
Thanks so much! Your pictures are gorgeous, Gardyloo. I think you've both helped to make our decision for us. April it is!
We live very close to the Parkway in Boone - April is our favorite time of year to visit the parkway. Have a great trip!
Thank you! That is so good to know. We are thinking of spending some time in the area near Boone and then heading toward Shenandoah Natl. Park. Do you know of a town/area to stay between Boone and the park for a day or two? We're using VRBO for most of our lodging, but a B and B would be fine too.