The Blue Ridge Parkway: America's Favorite Drive

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Looking for a beautiful scenic drive to calm your nerves? Searching for a great place for some on-road bicycling over steep grades that will test your body’s limits? Or, do you just want to shop and enjoy a good meal? The Blue Ridge Parkway has it all: attractions, nearby spas and resorts, destinations and restaurants.

Start at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Center, a 12,000 square foot, environmentally friendly facility in Asheville that has native plants growing from a sod roof and solar panels in front to supply heat. Inside, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area volunteers and staff assist visitors with their travel plans. A large interactive map covers one entire wall of the structure. As visitors move along the wall, monitors across the length of the map display videos and photographs of relevant places along the Parkway. Exhibits at the Visitors Center focus on recreation, natural and cultural diversity and the economic strength of the region.

In addition, ten kiosks provide tickets to participating regional attractions, outdoor activities and tours. The Go Blue Ridge Card is also available here. The Go Card is also sold online and features more than 25 participating attractions. A bookstore, auditorium, classroom space, and a 25-minute movie round out the center’s offerings.

Sightseeing along and near the Parkway

The listings below highlight only some of the stops and are chronicled North to South, ranging from the north entrance of the Parkway at the Virginia border in North Carolina’s Alleghany County to its termination in Cherokee.

Stone Mountain State Park
Roaring Gap - Gentle streams, trails and the sheer rock face of Stone Mountain have created a haven for anglers, hikers and climbers. Its 13,500 acres include tent, primitive and backpack campsites; 17 miles of trout fishing streams; rock climbing; hiking trails and waterfalls. The park joins the Parkway near Doughton Park.

The Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock - The Blowing Rock is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, above Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below. The rocky walls of the gorge form a flume through which the northwest wind seeps with such force that light objects thrown over the void return to their senders, thus the name Blowing Rock. The current of air flowing upward from the Rock prompted the Ripley's "Believe-It-Or-Not" cartoon about "the only place in the world where snow falls upside down." Enjoy the scenic views and observation tower, gardens, small garden waterfall and unique gift shop.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park
Blowing Rock - This 3,500-acre country estate was the turn of the 20th century home of “Denim King” Moses H. Cone, whose textile empire made this magnificent retreat possible. Today, 26 miles of carriage roads are available for hikers and horseback riders. Shop for fine crafts at the 23-room manor house. Or, simply sit on the front porch and enjoy the views and cool temperatures from 4,000 feet.

Linville Falls
Linville Falls - The home of the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains due to its accessibility to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a spectacular three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge, the "Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians."

Mount Mitchell State Park
Burnsville - Mount Mitchell is the highest peak (6,685 feet) in the eastern United States. The park offers easy access from the Blue Ridge Parkway with a restaurant, tent camping area, museum and picnic area, as well as hiking trails connecting to the Pisgah National Forest.

Pisgah National Forest
Asheville - Experience more than 500,000 acres of towering mountains, hiking trails and Sliding Rock (a natural water slide with public access - bring old shorts for the ride down the rock.) Public campgrounds are available. (Mountain biking is also permitted in the national forest; on the Parkway, bicycles are limited to established roads.)

History and Heritage along and near the Parkway

Hickory Ridge Homestead & Living History Museum
Boone - Experience living history recreated by docents in traditional costume, working with traditional tools, engaged in hearth baking, candle making, weaving, tin smithing and other activities among original mountain cabins.

Appalachian Heritage Museum
Blowing Rock - Started out of a love for the history of the Appalachian Mountains, the Appalachian Heritage Museum found its home at Mystery Hill in 1989. With authentic turn-of-the-century decor, visitors learn how mountain families lived in the early 1900s.

Spruce Pine Gem & Gold Mine
Spruce Pine - Mine for native gemstones with one of the oldest mining families in North Carolina. Documented by National Geographic Magazine and featured on PBS and in Readers Digest, Spruce Pines is arguably one of the country’s most important mining districts, dating back to 1810.

Cherokee Indian Reservation
Cherokee - On the reservation, experience the rich heritage of the Cherokee tribe:

Museum of the Cherokee Indian - This attraction underwent a $3.5 million renovation in 1998. The museum combines technology (computer-generated images, holographic imaging, specialty lighting and audio) with a solid artifact collection.

Oconaluftee Indian Village - Experience an authentic 18th-century Native American community in this recreated village that includes replicas of Cherokee homes, council house and squareground. Cherokee artisans and guides demonstrate and explain the arts and crafts and the lifestyle and culture of their ancestors.

Cherokee Heritage Museum - Located at Saunooke Village, the Museum highlights Cherokee's past through displays of art and cultural items such as masks, crystals, the uketena and more.

Arts and Culture along and near the Parkway

Folk Art Center
Asheville - Stop at Milepost 382 to visit the home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, which represents craft artists from Southern Appalachia. The center shows work of contemporary and traditional Southern Appalachian craft, houses three fine art galleries and a library and an auditorium and offers daily craft demonstrations. Come for book signings, woodworking and quilt making demonstrations, and exhibits featuring traditional woodworking, textiles, furniture, basketry, pottery, dolls, and other crafts of Southern Appalachia dating from the 19th century.

Asheville Art Museum
Asheville - Explore world-class special exhibitions and the Asheville Art Museum's outstanding collection, showcasing the very best of 20th and 21st century American art.

Deja View Gallery
Waynesville - This art and craft gallery features work by local, regional and national craftspeople including a large selection of pottery, jewelry, original and limited edition fine art, garden art and decorative accessories for the home. Featuring the nature photography of Jon D. Bowman. Located in the heart of downtown Waynesville in the historic American Fruit Stand Building.

Maggie Valley Opry House
Maggie Valley - This staple of Appalachian culture is one of the many stops along the Blue Ridge Music Trail and features traditional Bluegrass and mountain music.

Stompin’ Ground
Maggie Valley - Cloggers from all over the country come to Maggie Valley & the Stompin’ Ground to participate in the American Clogging Hall of Fame competition.

High Adventure Along and Near The Parkway

Adventure Depot
Highlands - Outdoor adventure planners will put together any outdoor adventure and offer rentals of bikes, canoes and kayaks.

Blue Ridge Outdoor Adventures
Bakersville - Located in historic Loafer's Glory, Blue Ridge Outdoor Adventures offers you the best in river recreation. Choose from a float down a lazy river in a tube to riding the rapids in a funyak. Tube and boat rentals are offered along with half and full day guided rafting trips and overnight rafting trips.

Spas and Resorts

A Spa Inn-Asheville
Asheville - Think beyond a bed & breakfast. This inn offers spa services, luxury amenities and beautiful gardens. Indulge body and soul in the unique boutique bed and spa.

The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
Asheville - One of the South's most famous grand resorts, The Grove Park Inn was built in 1913 overlooking the Asheville skyline and Blue Ridge Mountains. The 510-room inn boasts a world-class spa, championship golf and fine dining.

Old Edwards Inn and Spa
Highlands - A luxury destination spa resort featured on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy fine dining in Madison's Restaurant and Wine Garden and indulge in the European Spa. The Inn boasts 32 individually appointed guestrooms, suites and cottages, featuring antiques and the latest contemporary amenities.