Blue Ridge Parkway
Lately I’ve been feeling nostalgic about my childhood vacations in the Great Smoky Mountains. My family spent a week there each summer until we kids got too cool or too busy to hang out with the parents. Our destination was the 177-mile southern tip of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Blowing Rock and Cherokee, North Carolina, with Asheville in the middle. With no billboards, few exits, few passing zones, lots of curves and tunnels, deer and black bear sightings, it’s nature’s own theme park ride. The speed limit is 35-45 mph, and nobody’s in a hurry. There are lots of pull-off points for scenic views or longer adventures like hiking and rafting. In summer, the hillsides are blanketed in daisies, black-eyed Susans, buttercups, lilies and Queen Anne’s lace. Just off the Parkway are state and national parks with awesome campsites and cabins.
Daddy wasn’t the camping type, nor was our family in the luxury cabin bracket, so we “camped” in quirky vintage roadside motels. My favorite was a cluster of mini-cabins dwarfed by mist-shrouded blue-green mountains. Every day began at a new milepost and a different adventure. I still can feel the icy water numbing my toes and the sun on my back as I picked my way over the smooth, slippery rocks poking out of trout streams. I loved the trails through forests of mountain laurel and pink rhododendron, and that scary-fun wobble across Grandfather Mountain’s mile- high swinging bridge. I loved getting soaked in the mist at Bridal Veil Falls (Asheville), and picnicking at roadside tables and in wildflower-strewn meadows. A highlight of the week was Unto These Hills, an exciting and moving Cherokee Indian reenactment of the Trail of Tears. Summer nights in the outdoor amphitheater got downright cold, but being bundled in blankets under the stars enhanced the mystique.
When I took my own kids back to these favorite childhood spots, I was thrilled to find that the best stuff was still there. And it still is. Starting at the top, here are some of my faves.
Milepost 291 Blowing Rock
One of the few towns actually on the Parkway, this is a great place to start your adventure, with good accommodations and restaurants. Pick up free Junior Ranger and Kids in Parks packets at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center.
Grandfather Mountain Blue Ridge Parkway
Milepost 304- 305 Grandfather Mountain
At 5,946 feet, it’s the second-highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is the home of the awesome mile-high swinging bridge. Heads up: some trails are so steep they have cables and ladders to reach the rugged peaks. My kids and I had the muddiest, most exhilarating hike of the decade here. The Linn Cove Viaduct at milepost 304 is like a magical 10-mile long snake writhing in mid-air around the mountain. You can walk part of it to one of North Carolina’s most stunning postcard scenes.
Milepost 316 Linville Falls
The most photographed waterfall in North Carolina has been in several movies, including The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunger Games. There are some easy trails to the falls.
Milepost 355 Mount Mitchell
At 6,684 feet, it’s the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi. The scenery and trails are gorgeous, and as a state park, admission is free.
Mileposts 384 - 388 Asheville
It’s not Cinderella’s castle but the Biltmore Estate is the real deal. With 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces, it’s America’s very own Downton Abbey. The 8,000-acre estate includes spectacular gardens, an adorable farm village, and adventures like fly fishing, mountain biking, and more at the Outdoor Adventure Center. An absolute Asheville must-do is the French Broad River, with spots for both whitewater rafting and lazy tube floats.
Biltmore Estate Blue Ridge Parkway
Milepost 408 Mount Pisgah/Pisgah National Forest
Hiking, horseback riding, several waterfalls, and beautiful scenery in all directions. The iconic Sliding Rock is hugely popular with children. Too crowded for me.
Milepost 469 Cherokee
The town of Cherokee was super-touristy when I was a kid, and you still can get fun selfies with the full-feathered Indians in front of teepee-roofed souvenir shops. But the top-ranked Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Oconaluftee Indian Village, and Cherokee Bonfire have enhanced the cultural aspect. These admission-based interactive and living history experiences include stuff kids love, like war paint and dances, storytelling, mask sculpting, and canoe carving. And finally, there’s my favorite: Unto These Hills. Seriously – don’t forget to pack your blankets.
#1 Must-have
Besides the blanket, the best piece of gear I’m taking this year is my new Picture Keeper Connect. This two-inch gadget plugs into my phone and downloads all my pictures and videos so the phone never runs out of storage. I mean, imagine this: there’s a big black bear scoping out a picnic table right on the Parkway. What are you going to do – drive on, or take gazillion videos? Right! You also can use it to view everybody else’s phone pictures and grab what you want. I received the 16 GB review sample from picturekeeper.com. It retails for $60-75.