Development along the parkway has been minimized in order to preserve the pristine wilderness of the region. There are many stores in the nearby towns and cities, but in some areas general stores are many miles apart.
Charlottesville ranks as one of the top 10 book markets nationally (and claims the top spot for the most avid-reading households). Bibliophiles would do well to browse through the city's independent bookstores, especially those specializing in used and antiquarian books.