Spanning 469 miles, the winding Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Passing through 29 counties, this historic route—part of the Appalachian Highlands range—is the longest linear park in the country with more than 280 scenic overlooks. It is regarded as one of the most-visited national park sites, attracting more than 16.7 million people in 2023.
Waterfalls of all sizes dot the mountainous landscape, and while some are found at the end of moderate or even strenuous hikes, several are accessible to all—including a handful that are viewable from the road. Whitewater Falls near Cashiers, North Carolina, features a 1/4-mile paved path to an upper overlook with views of this impressive water display. With a 411-foot drop, it is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies. To the north, the three-tiered Linville Falls in McDowell County, North Carolina, boasts the highest volume of water on the northern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In addition to these awe-inspiring falls, mines, caves, and caverns also are popular attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Luray Caverns in northern Virginia was discovered in 1878 and is one of the few such sites providing self-guided and docent-led history tours (for individuals and groups) along an all-paved, well-lit underground path. A highlight of this Natural National Landmark is the Great Stalacpipe Organ—an electrically triggered lithophone—which makes the icicle-shaped stalactites hanging from the cave’s ceiling sing.
Celebrating the region’s traditional musical legacy, Virginia’s 330-mile heritage music trail is known as The Crooked Road. Among the 60-plus venues and festivals is the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, Virginia. Free live music is featured daily on the covered breezeway, along with a summer concert series in the 3,000-seat amphitheater at the base of Fisher Peak. Milepost Music is a traveling concert hosted at iconic parkway locations on Sunday afternoons from June through September. The Roots of American Music Museum, located inside the center, highlights the impact this region has had on American music, including bluegrass, folk, Americana, country, blues, and gospel.
Credit: Michael Frome
Go back in time along the 1/4-mile Plantation Trail at the Booker T. Washington National Monument in Hardy, Virginia. A reconstruction of the 19th-century Burroughs tobacco plantation—complete with period gardens and livestock—is where Washington was born into slavery in 1856. About 130 miles to the northeast sits the town of New Market, Virginia, where battle raged on May 15, 1864, during the latter part of the Civil War. The New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and Virginia Museum of the Civil War encompass the Bushong Farm—where the actual Battle of New Market took place—along with a large collection of authentic military artifacts.
A colorful arts culture can be found along the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, where artists open their studios and galleries to visitors to observe how ideas are transformed into masterpieces. Every medium can be found here—including pottery, paintings, weavings, woodworks, blown glass, photography, fiber artwork, and jewelry—with many trades dating back generations. The Folk Art Center, just an eight-minute drive east of downtown Asheville, North Carolina, is one of the many places showcasing the creative talent of the region’s artists.
Savor a craft of a different kind along the Brew Ridge Trail, featuring dozens of breweries and a variety of food and live entertainment. Asheville was one of the first cities to tap into this growing industry, boasting more breweries per capita than any U.S. city (at nearly 30) and thus supporting its title as “Beer City USA.” Check out Botanist and Barrel, The Funkatorium, Green Man, or Thirsty Monk. Less than a 20-minute drive out of town, Sierra Nevada operates a large 300,000-square-foot Mills River Taproom, brewery, and visitor center, with plenty of space throughout the 26 acres well suited for groups looking for suds, snacks, songs, and behind-the-scenes tours.
Open the door to a bygone era of opulence at the 175,000-square-foot Biltmore Estate in Asheville. America’s largest privately owned home—constructed between 1889 and 1895—is actually a 250-room French Renaissance chateau with 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and a staggering 65 fireplaces. The sprawling 8,000-acre property features 75 acres of gardens, including a glass-enclosed heated conservatory, along with meandering nature trails leading to the French Broad River.
By Dianna Stampfler
Main Image: Linn Cove Viaduct, Blue Ridge Parkway, Newland, North Carolina; Credit: Adobe/BNorth Photography
