Blue Ridge Parkway

[blueridgelover]

This is one of my favorite times of the year to go driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially through the Linville, NC area. Fantastic views of the Gorge. Have any of you ever been? What are your favorite spots?

 

[Snuggles]

I do hope you took your drive a couple of weeks ago. The leaves peaked and all fell off in about a week's time. It is a beautiful drive. We used to go up every fall when I was a kid to see the leaves and buy apples somewhere along the way. My favorite spot is Thunder Hill!

 

[blueridgelover]

Usually, we spend a few days in Boone around the first of November, but this year, we couldn't go. Quite a shame, because the leaves are one of the things I look forward to most.

I think I remember Thunder Hill. One of the best views of the Gorge!

We've checked the Lost Cove Cliffs overlook at night to see if we could spot the Brown Mountain lights, but no luck yet. Very curious to find out whether or not they're real.

 

[Newanderthal]

I've only been on the Blue Ridge once. It was several years ago when I was hitching around the country. An Aussie driving an Astin Martin Vantage picked me up and we spent the whole day cruising the parkway. By far the nicest car I've ever thumbed a ride in. The weather was lousy, overcast and raining, but it was still a pleasure.

 

[ppine]

I used to like the Skyline Drive in Virginia and the caverns at Luray, VA.

 

[Blazer]

I've traveled the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway at least 2 dozen times, if not more, in the last 20 years. I spent my 30th birthday driving the Parkway in my '91 Mustang GT convertible.

I used to drive down to the Smoky Mountains 2-3 times/year and my main mode of travel was the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of my favorite stops was Blowing Rock, NC. Nice town with good inns and restaurants. There are lots of nice towns and attractions all along the Parkway and it ends at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is worth going to by itself.

BRP is a nice driving road except for the Floridians who invade with their RVs during the summer and clog it up. For a sports car or biker there were so many roads in that area. Some of the best in the east. I had a Miata back then and would detour off and explore all the roads in the area, especially around Linville and south of Grandfather Mountain. Great driving roads!

I've taken my Jeep down there too..but not as often as I'd like. I want to head down south and do some hiking and camping in that area before I leave the east coast. Here's a pic at the highest point and the other pic is just south of Linville near Grandfather Mountain. Beautiful fall foliage! Mid to late October is the best time to go there.

 

[Blazer]

Couldn't resist adding a few more: View attachment 2343
View attachment 2343

 

[Blazer]

I used to like the Skyline Drive in Virginia and the caverns at Luray, VA.

The crowds at Skyline Drive are insane and the views and Blue Ridge Parkway just south of it is better and free. . I usually skipped Skyline Drive on my drives unless it was the "off season" or during the week.

Once I did a trip to Skyline Drive and the Luray Caverns with my daughter on our way to a Jeep Jamboree in Virginia. The caverns are worth a stop. Here are some pics from that trip:

 

[Blazer]

This is one of my favorite times of the year to go driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially through the Linville, NC area. Fantastic views of the Gorge. Have any of you ever been? What are your favorite spots?

Are you talking about this gorge? I took a detour with my Jeep and drove down a dirt road that ran along this gorge. Beautiful views...well worth the time to check it out!

Still not sure why I needed 4WD to drive down that road.