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There are lots of interesting stops to make along the way when traveling this famous route. By Paul Sullivan. Wandering the Blue Ridge Parkway Date published: 8/14/2004
THERE ARE TWO ways to look at the Blue Ridge Parkway: It is often viewed as a 469-mile drive with scenic stops for pictures. But it also can be seen as a unique ridge-top road tying together hundreds of interesting places to check out. There is nothing wrong with seeing the world-famous parkway as just a spectacular scenic drive, but it offers so much more for the curious visitor who will take the time to explore. I had built in enough time on my trip back from South Carolina last week to amble back along the parkway and stop where I wished. What I hadn't counted on in mid-summer, though, was weather problems. I had planned for most other eventualities, but the heavy rain and the low clouds I encountered in Cashiers, N.C., followed me for the next 24 hours, almost to the Virginia state line the following day. The upshot is that, while I actually drove three-fourths of the sinuous road, I really saw only the northernmost 270 or so miles. But that wasn't all bad: I missed the spectacular views, peering into mile after fuzzy mile of dense fog and clouds, but I had the parkway to myself. The next day, the weather cleared, skies were sunny, and with the weather came a flood of motorcycles, vans, RVs, cars and bicycles. During the foggy first day, I tried to hike a North Carolina trail and turned around. When 50 feet is the limit of visibility and the turf is unfamiliar, you begin to worry about getting lost! I had better luck the next day, hiking the first of four trails, all but one of them fairly short and easy. Visitor centers scattered along the parkway in both states have a free list of trails originating on or accessible from the parkway. They also have a free map of the entire parkway which is invaluable. I strongly recommend getting a copy of both.
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