cbcollier

I live in southeastern Virginia and planning a budget honeymoon along the virginia/ northern north carolina section of the blue ridge parkway. I'm looking for any suggestions for things to do and places to stay. we are interested in light hiking, natural beauty maybe some river activities and and winery tasting/tours, any help would be great. I just dont know where to start. Thanks

xrae

First off, visit a Virginia welcome or tourist info center and pick up a Map of Scenic Roads in Virginia and a guide to Virginia wineries. If you can't find a tourist info center, you can order them free from the state. N.C. also has a winery guide.
http://www.virginiawines.org/
http://www.visitnc.com/what_to_do_wine.asp?s=fw
http://www.virginia.org/site/main.as...lications&id=3

A beautiful area with rafting/float trips is Todd, N.C. http://www.rivergirlfishing.com/ (warning: all flash site). You can also rent bikes in the area and bike on Railroad Grade Road, which is a long long level road, the former roadbed of the Virginia Creeper railway.

Mt. Airy, N.C., is in the area, and it's a nice small inexpensive tourist town (Andy Griffith's home town, original Mayberry ... burial place of Chang & Eng Bunker, the Siamese twins ... largest open-face granite quarry). There are wineries in that area of N.C.

There are a lot of inexpensive things in that area. You'll get other great ideas.

Thomas6

If you are interested at all in heritage music, The Crooked Road in Virginia, www.thecrookedroad.org, is very cool. We've stayed at the Claiborne House B&B in Rocky Mount, VA, near the start of it - they have reasonable prices, no two-night minimum, and a cute little cabin in the back if you'd like privacy.

Photodog

There are several closures along the parkway due to road construction. Check out www.nps.gov/blri for locations and great info on the sights along the way.

cbcollier

thanks for the input guys!! anyone else have any input!!! Thanks

chewy1

Here are some thoughts-

Canoe/kayak the New River in the West Jefferson area of NC...very cheap, and phenomenal way to spend a fall afternoon. Its just gorgeous. You can also do this in the Hillsville area of Va at New River State park, which has canoes, and a great bike trail along the river as well.

Laurel Springs, NC, has a winery, and also they have saturday night bluegrass but I'd check on that.

Hanging Rock State Park near Mt. Airy is also a fantastic hike with great views of the piedmont.

If you are looking for cool little towns, Floyd Va. is nice, also Chateau Morrissette Winery near Meadows of Dan, not only a scenic setting, but check their website as they have a fantastic outdoor ampitheatre and frequently have concerts...same thing for Shelton Vineyards in Dobson NC. The Yadkin Valley area wineries are really improving, and they many times have concerts as well.

Finally, get picnic in one of the towns, and go up on the parkway and find a great spot with a vista. Almost all of the overlooks also have trails and hikes associated with them. Just look the parkway up on the internet.

critternurse

cbcollier, you've probably gone on your trip already, but thought I'd post this anyway for anyone planning a visit to the same area. We stayed at a place called Pisgah Inn right off the parkway. This place was great, laid-back, reasonable, romantic and the food was out of this world. I would highly recommend it.