Posted on 09/06/2015 12:57:38 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck
She Who Must Be Obeyed and I are putting together a road trip for about a month from now. I'm looking for info from anyone who has been around up there some and knows what is cool and what is worth staying away from.
...so where was he buried?
Don't forget your Squire card, the staff delights in scolding members.
Skyline Drive is fantastic, especially if you catch it during the fall foliage. Be forewarned, however, that you'll be driving the road with LOTS of others! It's a very popular attraction, so be patient.
Funny story: we drove Skyline Drive during fall foliage and traffic was at a dead stop. We wondered why, and finally came upon the reason: a black bear was halfway up a tree next to the road. He was casually staring at all the cars going by, as if to say "Hey! You lookin' at ME?"
If you do make it to George Washington's Mt. Vernon, you'll be about a mile or so from my house! :-)
Yes, Grayson Highlands park is great. Lots of wild horses there and the Appalachian Trail goes by there.
When you leave there, if you are on a Harley or an Indian, you’ll enjoy Wild Woody’s Campground and Antique store. There’s a restaurant there and on weekends the most amazing display of bikes you have ever seen.
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=156
Do you think you’ll head further north east toward Winchester, VA? If you do, there’s a good motel I can recommend.
Love that place. I never like sweet wines, but they have a dessert wine - a bright red color - that is just fantastic.
Beautiful vistas and good food. Even the crackers they serve with the wine tasting are good.
Feel free to skip Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg which are nearby, both tourist traps.
But DO enjoy the Smokies and the start of the Parkway.
The Parkway to Asheville is stupendous!
When you pass through Memphis you should definitely check out Interstate Barbecue. It’s located at 2265 S. Third Street so it’s on the same side of town as Graceland.
http://www.interstatebarbecue.com
Check beforehand to make sure the way ahead is clear. Mrs. Dweller and I drove to N.C. some years ago, to the Asheville area, and had to detour several times due to washed out road sections on the Parkway. Be warned, few cars in N.C. have operational turn signals!
I second (third) all of what has been said here. There is a lodge near Doughton Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway called Bluff’s Lodge (I belive it is closed). The mountain meadows behind that lodge have panoramic views, rock outcroppings and wind sculpted individual trees. The combination of high meadows and mountain views is unique. One of my favorite places on God’s earth.
The Biltmore is amazing!
Oh my - The Grove Park Inn. Stayed there for three days. Left early. We had dinner out on the terrace. It was beautiful. Unfortunately the waiter was a deranged man who was totally out of control. We sat there during dinner, with the other couple we were traveling with, and we were totally stunned at his behavior. We left early the next day!! I've never seen anyone like that outside of an institution.
I called the Grove Park Inn after we left and told them what had happened. They seemed to be familiar with the situation and sent us a letter asking us to come back for a weekend to stay gratis in their executive accommodations. No way would we ever go back.
A couple of years ago Obama went there for a weekend. I hope he got that waiter, although I suspect the waiter is either in prison or incarcerated somewhere.
While you are in Lynchburg . . . not far from me . . . there is an OLD boarding house and they serve lunch daily, usually reservations in advance are necessary . . . it is called Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House. The Ladies Of Lynchburg operate it year round and the large round tables where the meal is served family style and the tables have large lazy susan’s and you just spin it around vs. passing items.
I took the kids years ago the week of Thanksgiving, they start serving their holiday meal that week through New Year’s. It was great. Something different. Old Southern Style Cooking.
If you are in Boone, be sure to stop at the Tomato Shack. They have the best veggies in NC . . especially their onions. So sweet Hubby and I eat them by themselves, and he’s not even an onion lover like I am. If you want to take a tour off the Parkway . . and if you liked the movie The Hunger Games . . we live in Hildebran where most of the movie was filmed. It’s really interesting to walk through the old worker shacks where District 12 was in the movie. A friend of ours owns the property and he has opened it up into a tourist attraction that has garnered a lot of attention. This is a beautiful state. Hope you enjoy your trip.
All survived. One guy went down something like 15 times on his feet.
I have enough trouble walking, I couldn’t even imagine!
Amazing. I've been there several times, but never saw anyone try it standing up. I did it once, sitting down, didn't break my neck; I'm good. Wife got a good picture.
Just off the Blue Ridge near the exit is a place called the Blue Mountain Brewery.
They are a farm brewery and restaurant that grows their own food and ingredients for the beer they brew.
Beautiful place, great food and beer and they treat you like you belong, even if you are not dressed like a king.
We just ferried a A4 convertible from NJ to Dallas and drove the Parkway.
Our impressions:
Signs directing one to the Parkway in Va are horrible. They are excellent further south and distinctive in brown
The village of Blowing Rock is lovely. But, with highway construction going on, we could not find THE Blowing Rock area described in the tour guides.
The colors should just be starting around Linville Falls.
Asheville and Biltmore Castle are beautiful.
Like a room addition, figure on needing more time (for your trip!)
You will not regret it all!
Safe travels,
A couple of years ago Obama went there for a weekend.
Now that has jaded my enthusiasm for the GPI some though.
This was back in the 70s, before they put in the Life Guards, and other infrastructure. Back then, there was a wide spot in the highway where you could park and that’s about it.
Not that I recall, but there was some issue with a guy collecting rocks off my property a while back, sounded like the husband of an irate woman in the vicinity who contacted me, but it was hard to tell for sure she wasn’t talking about her dog, so could be this hound was over my way.
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