Blue Ridge Parkway is a True Blue Highway

This is the highest Blue Highway trip I’ve ever taken. I started on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It was nice to get off the interstate, slow down, and spend some time traveling on one of the most scenic roads in the country.

This is a place that hasn’t changed. Looking out the window, it could be the 1800s. It’s easy to forget that I am in a spaceship of an automobile with AC and a cell phone when all I see is God’s beauty. There are no hotels hanging off the side of a cliff, no people on decks loudly partying. There are no convenience stores. There aren’t even any traffic lights. There’s nothing but a spectacular part of America that, thankfully, refuses to change. Construction began on the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1935, and most was completed by 1966 - all 469 miles of it. The section that wraps around Grandfather Mountain was not finished until 1987. That remains one of the favorite stretches for Blue Ridge travelers.

Every small town passed through has its own character. The business districts are dominated by general stores, candy shops, outdoor outfitters, and those quirky businesses that most mountain towns have. It seems, for instance, the very best place to acquire a geode. I didn’t partake, but I do have a hoodie I bought from a small store to commemorate my visit.

The speed limit here is between 25 to 45 miles per hour, depending on the stretch.  It is a windy road with beauty everywhere you look. The highest point is over 6000 feet, and there are plenty of pull-offs and scenic overlooks to stop and snap some good shots. The views, after all, are the appeal.

There are also places you can stop and access picnic areas and trails.

There is an abundance of waterfalls along the parkway. Some say hundreds of them.

If you make it to the Virgina section of the parkway, you can see Crabtree Falls, which is the highest vertical drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi. Things can get slippery, so be careful.

One word of caution, however. It is essential to check the weather before going. I once found myself in a fog so thick, I literally couldn’t see the end of the hood of my truck.

Speaking of being careful, bear activity is highest in the spring and fall as they prepare for hibernation and seek food. Attacks are rare but can happen.

Although managed by the National Park Service, it is not a National Park. If it were, it would be the most visited National Park with millions of visitors each year.

There are no traffic lights or stop signs on the 469-mile Parkway.

There are lots of tunnels - 26 total, with 25 of those in North Carolina.