June 29, 2006
The Blue Ridge parkway
Now that summer is well and truly here, your thoughts may be turning to your next vacation. If you live along the east coast, you are within fairly easy reach of one of America’s most celebrated and scenic highways. Stretching for almost 500 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers the chance to experience some of the country’s most spectacular mountain scenery.
In 2005, the Parkway celebrated its 70th birthday and it remains the country’s longest designated scenic highway attracting well over 20 million visitors every year. Driving the Parkway is enjoyable during the summer months, but fall is also a wonderful time to visit with the endless vistas of fall colors visible around every turn.
Construction on the Blue Ridge Parkway began in September 1935, although it had been in the planning stages for several years before. The Parkway was conceived partly because the recently established Shenandoah and Smoky Mountains National Parks were already attracting many visitors.
It was also decided that such a huge construction project would provide much needed work for the many thousands of builders and architects out of work because of the recent depression, as well as provide employment to local families in the traditionally poor region of Appalachia. The increasing use of the car led to the idea of a highway linking the two parks, as well as passing through stunning scenery.
Conditions were difficult for the construction crews because of the remoteness of the location, the often extremes of weather – snow in winter, unbearable heat in the summer -and the lack of any good paved roads to bring equipment in. As land was gradually purchased, construction of the road took place in sections, and continued right up until the 1960s.
One of the most demanding sections of the road to construct was the Linn Cove Viaduct, a 1240 feet elevated section of the road which skirts Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, and is still considered an engineering marvel today.
The 469 mile road was officially designated on September 11, 1987 – over 50 years after construction first began. Today the National Park service maintains the entire length of the road as well as much of the surrounding countryside.
Driving the parkway is an experience to be savored – maximum speed along the 2 lane road is 45 mph, 35 mph in many places. Most drivers take longer than they think, as there are so many places to pull off the road and admire the spectacular view or the “scenic overlook” as they are known. There are virtually no gas stations, motels or restaurants along the road to detract from the beauty of the surroundings – when you want to get back to civilization, you simply take the next exit.
Do you know of a small laptop that would have maps and directions? Someone mentioned a Tom Tom. Do you know anything about this?
Henry
Do you know of a small laptop that would have maps and directions? Someone mentioned a Tom Tom. Do you know anything about this?
Henry
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful roads to travel. But you have to drive it slow and take in all the beauty it gives. Be careful of the many motorcycles that also drive it. They tend to go alittle fast.
Try to take an October drive in this area. Its just breath taking with all the colors.
In the early summer days you have beautiful wild flowers blooming and later on the mountain laurel.
Just stop at one of the many pullovers and get out and listen to the peace of the Blue Ridge Mountains.