We are going to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Sept. We have been to this area several times but I am stuck on one area. We are spending one night in Asheville, then going on to Blowing Rock for 3 nights. We have been to Peaks of Otter several times so we want something different. We have been to Charlottesville, do not want to go back there. Is there any other place several hours out of Blowing Rock that we might visit and stay for two nights? We want to look at scenery and hike. We want to stay as close as we can to the parkway. We have to drive back to Asheville our last day, to fly out the next day. Any help would be appreciated.

You could go south of Asheville to Brevard on the edge of the Pisgah Forest.

Are there enough things to do in Brevard for two days? Is it similar to Blowing Rock? It sounds very nice from what I have read. Do you know if there are a lot of restaurants in the area?

Greenville, SC, has a very happening, though family friendly, downtown.

Greenville is a little farther than I wanted to go since we will be heading to Blowing Rock and Peaks of otter after we leave Brevard.

Look at a map. You could go a little east and see Hendersonville and its apple festival. So you are going back to Peaks of Otter?
I suggest you go online and look at the BRP and what is nearby for your own interests.
If you fly fish, there is more than enough to do.

Thank you for the info on Hendersonville. We will be there in time for the apple festival, I will definitely check into this.

Linville, NC is along the Parkway and offers a good variety of attractions. Grandfather Mountain with its mile high swinging bridge, Gorge area, Linville Falls and Caverns. We love including both Linville and Boone into our Blowing Rock trips. Boone is just a short drive from the Blowing Rock area. My suggestion is to have breakfast (or dinner) at Daniel Boone Inn in Boone, NC. Yum.

Thanks for all the great info, I will check out the Daniel Boone Inn for dinner.