blue ridge parkway itinerary for 1 day
 

What should be our itinerary for 1 day to blue ridge parkway from Bryson city and back,we would like to see some natural sightseeing and stay away from city.

The beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway isn't far from Bryson City, just a few miles north and east near Cherokee. You could spend a half-day taking a very leisurely drive from Cherokee to Asheville on what is perhaps the most scenic portion of the entire parkway, spending time on some of the trails and overlooks on the parkway, and then spend some time in Asheville (where there is an abundance of things to do) before taking I-40 and US 74 West back to Bryson City. (I doubt you'll want to drive back on the Parkway at the end of the day...while very scenic, it is slow, and the freeway drive back to Bryson City will only take about 80 minutes.)

ThePhan gave good advice. Several things to consider:

Cold Mountain overlook.
Graveyard Fields
Devils Courthouse
Mt. Pisgah
Cradle of Forestry/Fish Hatchery (about 30 minutes off Parkway in Pisgah National Park).
NC Arboretum (5 minutes off Parkway)

You can lookup these sites on Google to see if they look interesting.

Mike Honeycutt

We are planning a trip on the BRP from Asheville up to and possibly past the VA border, any interesting places to stop north of Asheville, don't want to venture too far off the parkway, what about Linville Caverns? Also looking for a hotel hopefully right off the parkway to spend the night and we will return back towards Asheville area the next day, any suggestions?

Make sure you have enough gas! It is truly limited access.

Justmom: The Pisgah Inn is the only hotel I am aware of that is actually ON the parkway. Very rustic , no TV, no phone, no luxury, but a spectacular view and not very expensive, but must reserve very early.

Otherwise, just get off the Parkway at one of the exits near Asheville and stay at any one of many basic off-the-interstate type hotels.

I am actually looking for a place near the NC/VA border off the BRP, since we are starting off in Asheville, and have been on the parkway between Cherokee and Asheville before and now want to go further up this time but not all the way to Skyline Drive. So do most think the nicest portion of the parkway is between Cherokee and Asheville?

I'm doing this from memory, so please check my distances ...

North of Asheville on the Parkway:
Craggy Gardens
Mt. Mitchell
Lynn Cove Via Duct
Grandfather Mountain

Linville Caverns is near Boone (a college town) and is about 20 minutes off the Parkway. Boone would be a good place for a hotel. It is roughly 60 miles (approximately 2 hrs) from the VA border. Remember the speed limit on the Parkway is 45 mph.

Blowing Rock would be another option
and is closer to the Parkway.

Keep the questions coming.

Mike Honeycutt

How fare it is from Bryson to Blowing rock and Granfather mountains?

perhaps this will help:

http://www.nps.gov/blri/pphtml/lodging.html

"How fare it is from Bryson to Blowing rock and Granfather mountains?"

If you choose to drive it one way strictly on the parkway, it's pretty far--about 170 miles to Grandfather Mountain, and another 10 miles to Blowing Rock. (There are two short sections of the parkway still closed for construction, north of Mount Mitchell and south of Linville Falls, probably until May.) And remember, the top speed on the road is 35 MPH, and that doesn't include any side trips or stops at overlooks or hiking trails.

I thought the top speed was 45. But many areas are curvey enough that it's tough to average 35.

You're right, it is 45 MPH. And you're right, too, in that it's tough to average even 35 MPH.

And if you get a ticket, it's a Federal offence.

BTW, don't leave anything attractive to theives in the front seat. There has been a rash of smash and grabs on or near the parkway south of Asheville. It has happened TWICE to us.