A drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great way to spend the day, or even multiple days! This protected parkway has limited entrances and exits, so as to keep traffic moving with minimal distraction from the gorgeous scenery. The Parkway has many overlooks so you can easily make a stop for a picnic or just a short break to stretch your legs, as well as numerous tunnels through the mountains.
Blue Ridge Parkway was built as a part of the New Deal as a way to provide jobs to the unemployed during the Great Depression. The idea was to create a link between the Shenandoah National Park to the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Construction began in 1935 and it was finally completed in 1983.
There are many things to see and do along the Parkway, so it’s great for couples as well as families! We enjoyed visiting Sliding Rock, which is a fun and popular place to go swimming on a natural rock slide! There are also plenty of hiking opportunities, as well as historical sites and fun towns that you can stop off and visit.
We drove the Parkway on an overcast and rainy day, but it made for some lush scenery and lots of waterfalls along the journey (not to mention less traffic). So sit back and relax, listen to the music, and come on a quick road trip with us!
A special thanks to Asheville natives, Jen and the Juice, for the awesome music! Click here to visit her Facebook page and to hear more great tunes!
- For more information on the Blue Ridge Parkway, click here to visit their official website: http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/index.php
Love the video…Great idea! The Blue Ridge Parkway is such a fun and beautiful drive. I wish we lived closer! 🙂
Thanks Merete – such a great little road trip! We were there during the summer, but I know that right now the colors of Fall are amazing. So I bet the drive is even more beautiful. We may need to take another little road trip 🙂
– Liz