My husband and I will be travelling to Asheville, North Carolina from NYC and we're planning to take 3 nights to get there. I'd like to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway and nearby areas along the way. I thought our first night might be Front Royal; 2nd night, Peaks of Otter Inn; 3rd night, Boone area. We weill arrive mid-afternoon in Asheville. Is this a good breakdown of places to stop in and visit.
Another question-- we'll be travelling with musical instruments; how safe are the stops along the way?
Thanks for your help!

Dear Paule,
Your trip schedule will serve you well along the Skyland Drive and The Blue Ridge Parkway. Your tentative overnight stops are well placed and very good sites to spend an evening and some time in the area. Research the areas well and enjoy the "road less traveled". It is a beautful drive that offers many opportunities for hikes, walks, fishing and historical sites along the way.
You and your luggage will be much safer than in NYC. I would not worry beyond the common sense approach of locking your auto doors.
While in Boone, I recommend the Daniel Boone Inn for a great country meal. Peaks of the Otter is a nice place to R&R for an evening. Thomas Jefferson's country estate retreat is close by and well worth a visit (Lynchburg). Look for wildlife during the early morning and late afternoon and evening hours.
Your trip is one of my favorites! Have fun and stop and enjoy the area.

Paule,

A trip to Asheville would not be complete without a visit to the Biltmore Estate. It is very much worth the ticket price. My husband and I have been twice. Once in the Summer and once at Christmas. It was just awesome. The gardens are amazing. There are also a lot of quaint shops in Asheville. I think they are called the shops at the Biltmore or something similar.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is an amazing ride. Enjoy and feel free to stop along the way for breathtaking views and great photo-ops.

In Boone, try to eat at the "The Mining Shack"; the food is wonderful, the atmosphere so friendly! I'm a native North Carolinian, and found the Daniel Boone Inn food not to be very authentic, but a lot of people love it. There's lot of great little shops in Boone.

Asheville is wonderful - ditto the remarks on the Biltmore Estate. The Thomas Wolfe Memorial was so interesting, but did that burn down recently?

Anyway, have a great trip!

We're headed back to Front Royal for our son's high school graduation (Hooray!) this weekend from Randolph-Macon Academy. I would highly recommend that you have dinner at Flint Hill Public House -- which is about a 15 minute drive from Front Royal, but certainly a delightful place for dinner. We've eaten at just about every place in the surrounding area, and this is simply wonderful. Don't know if you've planned where to stay, but there are a ton of motels before you ever get into town off of Route 29. We've found the other side of town, closer to Skyline Drive, (along the "bypass") is quieter.

Thanks, everybody, for your suggestions. Any recommendations for places to stay in Front Royal and Boone? I appreciate the information about the motels near Front Royal. Is there any motel in particular I should call to make a reservation? We will be staying the Peaks of Otter Inn for one night, but am comfortable with motels for the other 2 nights.
Thanks for the restaurant recommendations-- I'll definitely try to go to the ones suggested in Boone and Front Royal!
thanks again,
Paule

Paule,

There is a Hampton Inn in Boone (see hamptoninn.com for info). They are always terrific, with free breakfast, pool, jacuzzi at this particular one. You can get a room for $89 per night/ with AAA or AARP Card. I think they are just the best for what you pay. I just stayed in one in Jonesville, NC, last week, and it was unbelievable for the money! Beat the pants off a Hyatt Regency I just stayed in at Savannah, in every way, except it wasn't on the river! In addition to the amenities listed above, they also have fresh baked cookies, fresh fruit, warm popcorn and coffee, tea, hot chocolate in the lounge. I've stayed in a lot of them over the last seven years or so, and I can see why they consistently get rated so high in consumer surveys!

And another vote for "The Mining Company" in Boone, my fave restaurant in that area.

Have a great trip!