mdtravel

Hello. I live in Charlotte and would like to plan a long weekend trip up and down the Blueridge Parkway. I know little, but have seen it listed as one of the most scenic drives in America. I would appreciate any information on:

1. Websites with information on the route and sites.
2. Routes to take or avoid.
3. Scenic spots or must sees along the way.
4. A good three day route starting in Charlotte.
5. Romantic inns.
6. Dining options.

mahoneycutt

MDTravel - I'll try to answer your questions, but the Parkway is nearly 500 miles long and the maximum speed limit is 45 mph, so you may need a very long weekend if you plan to stop and see the sites.

1. Websites with information on the route and sites.

Do a Google search on "Blue Ridge
Parkway". www.blueridgeparkway.org
is a place I often send people to.

2. Routes to take or avoid.

Once you've done your research,
you'll know what side trips
and main stops you'll want to
make on the trip.

In general, the weekends are much
more congested than the weekdays.
All bets are off in October


3. Scenic spots or must sees along the way.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but some of my favorite
places in NC are: Shining Rock
Wilderness Area, Grave Yard Fields,
Mt. Pisgah, NC Arboretum (off the
Parkway near Bent Creek), Folk Art
Center, Craggie Gardens, Mount
Mitchell, Grand Father Mountain.
I've ignored most of the overlooks.

4. A good three day route starting in Charlotte.

I would head north on I-77 and
pickup the BRP around the VA line.
There are not many places to stay
on the Parkway, but there are tons
of B&Bs and motels within 25
miles of the BRP. You can exit
in Asheville and return to Charlotte
via I40 or I26.

5. Romantic inns.

Check the web.

6. Dining options.

Depends on your tastes. Everything
from local home cooking, to BBQ, to
fine dining. I would let the cities
you visit determine your dining
locations.

I would encourage you to be very picky in your determining your route and stops, since I'm worried you will not have enough time.

Let us know if you have other questions.

Mike Honeycutt

Gretchen

I would head toward Brevard and pick up the parkway at the lower part of the Pisgah Forest. See the Cradle of Forestry there. Start up the Parkway and probably leave it up around Virginia. You need to get a map of the parkway (google will get it for you) and look for towns near the Parkway for places to stay.

mahoneycutt

I can't argue with Gretchen's suggestion. I was at the Cradle of Forestry last Sunday. This area also has Sliding Rock (think swimming in liquid ice), the fish hackery, a camp
ground, Mount Pisgah, and too many trails to name.

It would be hard to go wrong with any route to the Parkway.

Mike Honeycutt

Photodog

An excellent publication is the Blue Ridge Parkway Directory put out by Blue Ridge Pkwy Assoc., Inc in Asheville. It lists sights to see, a bloom calendar, hotels and restaurants.
You will find the higher peaks located near the Smokies end of the parkway. The upper part of North Carolina into Virginia you will find more homes visible as well as pastoral scenes (rolling hills & barns). If you want to start in the Smokies take I77N from Charlotte to I-40W exit at the sign indicating Great Smoky Mts National Park (about 3 hrs from Charlotte)take this to US441, about 40 minutes past turnoff into the Smokies. Parkway entrance (milepost 469) is just before you get to Smokies Visitor Center. Some highlights on the Parkway would suggest are Waterrock Knob (MP451), Devil's Courthouse (MP422), Mt Pisgah (MP408 lodging here), Folk Art Center (MP382), Mt. Mitchell State park turnoff (MP355) this is highest point east of Miss. River, Linville Falls (MP316) Moses Cone Memorial Park (MP294). You could exit here on US321 at Blowing Rock and take this back to I40 and Charlotte