Plan my blue ridge parkway trip!

So my girlfriend and I are planning an end of summer trip down the blue ridge parkway basically from start to finish. We're leaving Friday and coming back Wednesday for work obligations; I'd like to stay much longer.

We're focusing on exploring Boone, NC, for most of the weekend, since I'm strongly considering a masters at Appalachian State, so we're looking for things we can't miss along the way as well as once we get to Boone.

We're not looking for all day hikes, we'll save that for another trip, but short ones would be perfect, as well as places to eat, see, drink, and play.

PS: we're taking her Sidekick, not the Civic, so the Tail of the Dragon or other such roads will unfortunately not be part of this one...

Near Boone, see Blowing Rock (the rock, not the town it is near) and Grandfather Mountain (you have to pay to get in, but it is worth it).

The Blue Ridge Parkway has a slow speed limit and it is enforced by the Feds who are very competent at catching speeders. The fines are high.

Further south is Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. On a clear day you can see five states. Days that clear are getting to be less frequent.

http://www.earlygirleatery.com/ <-breakfast or die

I've spent a few vacations around asheville... give a yell if you are interested in more info...

http://imladrisfarm.fatcow.com/store/index.html <--- If you see that Jam in any store.. berkeleying BUY IT

Gatlinburg (the 'Myrtle Beach of the mountains') can be a neat side trip. The road getting there is interesting as well. Well, maybe not so much in the Sidekick, but still interesting.

Here's something to try: pick a cloudless night, ride up as high as you can to one of the overlooks. You want one with a real clear view of the sky and no light pollution from below. Get out of the car, but don't look up until your eyes get acclimated to the dark (might take about 5 minutes). Then look up at the stars. Try not to let your jaw drop too far.

scottgib mentioned Mt Mitchell, there's an observation platform at the top with an absolutely breathtaking view.

Brown Mountain in the Pisgah National Forest has some pretty good 4x4 trails. They have them and the dirt bike trails marked for degree of difficulty very much like ski trails: avoid black diamond or double black diamond unless you like pounding out dents.

thanks peeps! sounds good so far. To scottgib, we'll be camping right by grandfather mtn, so we'll be sure to make it up there, probably first thing sunday.

I'm aware that the parkway is not the friend of speeders, but we are planning on all of saturday to get from Shenandoah to Boone. I don't mind going slow all the way down, but is there enough interesting stuff to see to make it worth it, or am I better off finding the fast way down and spending more time around our final destination?

jensenman, the dirtbikes are for another trip as well unfortunately, as are the mtb trails. the gf is afraid once I get into Pisgah on a bike I won't see her for a week or so...

ignorant, feel free to send me any info about asheville. as I'm sure you know, theres so much to do its hard to know where to go in just a few short days...

Closer to Asheville, The Pisgah Inn is a good place to stop and eat (dessert is cheap anyway). Near there is a short 20 minute hike up to a lookout at Devil's staircase. Also, +1 on just checking out the stars. I spent many nights up there as I worked at a summercamp nearby. You can lots of shooting stars, satellites, etc.

Personally, I would find the fastest way to get to Boone/Blowing Rock and get on the Parkway there and go on south. There is a small but interesting mineral and gem museum right at the Spruce Pine/Marion exit that is worth a few minutes. That area has the most diverse minerals and gems of anywhere in the USA.

If you had the right car, there is a road very similar to the dragon that crosses the parkway before reaching Mt. Mitchell. Hwy 80 east. My granddad designed and built it about 1915 and it hasn't been changed since. Last I was there it had excellent pavement.

Hit the motorcycle museum in Maggie valley , also in maggie is a cool ass junk yard with some british cars in it . Outside of hendersonville <<< they just put in a 300k skateboard park <<< is route 64 nice run over to 9 = bat cave and the river flowing into chimney rock good place to sit and relax . Rooms where $45 bux jutted out over the crick . Oh yes and lake lure < dirty dancing movie shot there >> sorta morbid though with condition of patrick swazy

Boone is a cool place...You gotta get a pizza at the mellow mushroom! Maybe someone else can back me on this, but the parkway in that area has been underconstruction (most of it was closed in may) You get detoured all around boones "suburbs"

The really cool thing about seeing the stars from up there: you can see the different colors. Down here in the thick sea level air they all tend to look blue or white, up there you'll see blue, yellow, red, orange, all kinds of different colors.

If you want to experience absolutely over the top conspicuous consumption, go see the Biltmore House. That place is frickin' AMAZING.

If you want to experience absolutely over the top conspicuous consumption, go see the Biltmore House. That place is frickin' AMAZING.

Took the words right out of my mouth!!! It's worth it to rent the little headphones too.

Best trip I've taken up there:

Stay in/near Brevard (cheaper than A-ville.) Eat brunch at Jordan Street Cafe in downtown brevard (Tenderloin or Salmon eggs benedict + bloody mary = awesome.) Go for a hike in Pisgah. Plenty of 1/2 day hikes.

Hit the Biltmore the next day. It's easy to spend all day there!

how about the best real bbq joint in asheville/boone/anywhere else? Upstate NY is not exactly barbecue paradise, so i'm itching for some of the good stuff..

http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/

Gotta put in a plug for Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, southeast of A-ville. Beautiful place. For cinematic reference, it was where they shot "Dirty Dancing".

And I also recommend Biltmore....phenomenal house/gardens/concept.

poopshovel wrote:

If you want to experience absolutely over the top conspicuous consumption, go see the Biltmore House. That place is frickin' AMAZING.

Took the words right out of my mouth!!! It's worth it to rent the little headphones too.

If you have AAA you can get discount tix for the biltmore. $30 a pop instead of $50 or $60.

I want to second the speeding comment. We had a group of motorcycles (I was on the tail end, traveling at an honest to god 35 mph) and the cop SWORE he clocked "someone" in our group going over 70 (which I don't see how... I mean with a group someone could be speeding up and slowing down but I was with the group doing 35) and threatened to impound our motorcycles. First offense. Told us in no uncertain terms to find the fastest route out of the park and stay out and there would be no warning next time.

Not really very friendly.

Dont really know all the locations on that route, but i have driven it before, most recently on BABE '07. All i can say is someday i hope to live right off of it someday. Best drive ive ever been on. HAVE FUN!

Chimney Rock is great, there used to be an annual hillclimb there.

Jamesc2123 wrote: how about the best real bbq joint in asheville/boone/anywhere else? Upstate NY is not exactly barbecue paradise, so i'm itching for some of the good stuff..

a place called 12 Bones.... down on the river.... it's a real dive but the ribs are better than any I've ever eaten .... any where.... and I've eaten a bunch of ribs