On day 48 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Blowing Rock to Lewisburg, on part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most beautiful scenic roads the United States has to offer. The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches, winds, climbs, and descends some 470 miles through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, creating a beautiful connection between two of America's most renowned national parks: Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and the Virginia Shenandoah National Park. The mountainous region that the Blue Ridge Parkway traverses is rich in history, from adventurous settlers like Daniel Boone and escalating tensions between Native Americans and colonialists to the bloody battles of the Civil War. We will drive the Blue Ridge Parkway in a few days. This second part of the route includes a few stops for a drink and something to eat, but it is advisable to bring enough provisions as it will be a long day.

The Blue Ridge Parkway was built in 1935 by Franklin D. Roosevelt, but most of it was not completed until 1966. It is the longest linear park in the US and runs through four US national forests: Jefferson, George Washington, Nantahala and Pisgah. There are more than 200 scenic viewpoints along its entire length, where you can enjoy beautiful views. Each offers breathtaking panoramas of the Blue Ridge Mountains, charming mountain towns, fertile valleys, beautiful arrays of wildflowers, and colorful displays of fall colors. It is almost impossible to visit all viewpoints, so we have marked the most beautiful ones with a Route Point, the others are marked with a Via Point, the points contain a photo as a reference to determine whether you want to stop.

We pass several parking lots with a viewpoint. Depending on the season, the panoramas are beautiful green or in beautiful autumn colours. Some viewpoints are blocked by trees and bushes and are not worth the effort.
A number of stops are marked as photo stops and are well worth stopping briefly and enjoying the view. Most "Outlooks" have picnic tables and some also have restroom facilities. There are not many gas stations along the route, so make sure you have a full tank.

We leave early in the morning to see the sunrise at Thunder Hill Overlook which is about a 15 minute drive from the starting point in Blowing Rock. At Thunder Hill Overlook you can enjoy a panoramic view of almost 180 °. Supposedly this is the most popular stop on the Parkway to watch the sunrise.

The next beautiful "Overlook" is Osborne Mountain Overlook where you have an excellent view of the mountains and valley on both sides of the Blue Ridge Parkway, well worth a stop. The Elk Mountain Overlook about a 15 minute drive also offers a beautiful view of the pine clad mountains.

The next stop at Cascade Falls, also called "The Cascades" is a must if you like waterfalls. You will need to do a short loop hike of about 1½ miles to get to the waterfall in EB Jeffress Park.

The waterfall is located in the Falls Creek and begins with a small free fall before sliding down the rock face in a cascading waterfall. The water eventually ends up in the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir and the Yadkin River. Like many waterfalls in North Carolina's northern mountains, the falls are tall, but limited in water.
There are information boards along the walking trail with educational materials about local wildflowers and plants, such as mountain laurel. There are two viewpoints. The upper viewpoint is about 6 meters above the falls, the lower viewpoint gives a different side view of the waterfall, unfortunately this point is no longer accessible from the trail. There used to be a path, but due to damage to plant life and the banks of the stream, a fence has been put in place to prevent further access and damage.

Along the route you will see several old cabins (Cabins), some worth a quick stop such as at Brinegar Cabin, a historic home built circa 1880. This one-story log cabin is built on a fieldstone foundation covered with overlapping wood siding. In the log cabin you can see an exhibition of mountain crafts and weaving. There is also an outbuilding on the property. Brinegard Cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Another old cabin is Puckett Cabin, where Orlean Puckett lived with her husband John. Born circa 1837, "Aunt Orlean" is a local legend, she was a midwife who delivered over 1,000 babies. About 5 minutes from Puckett Cabin, we stop at Groundhog Mountain Overlook, one of the best stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway: Aside from a nice, open area for a picnic, the lookout also features an old wooden lookout tower once used by the Virginia Forest Service, split rail fences, and beautiful vistas.

We stop for lunch at Mabry Mill Restaurant, they have an Appalachian inspired menu. Rich in history, Mabry Mill is one of the most iconic and photographed buildings on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The grist mill and sawmill have been restored by historic conservationists, visitors can see live grinding demonstrations. The nearby Matthews Cabin is an excellent example of the area's architecture and craftsmanship. You can visit the historic whiskey distillery, sorghum mill and working blacksmith shop here. The Mabry Mill Gift Shop sells Virginia artisan products and foods, including locally ground grits, cornmeal, and buckwheat flour, as well as a wide selection of Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway-inspired gifts, such as clothing, books, music, and memorabilia.

We continue on the Blue Ridge Parkway with some nice viewpoints to stop at;
- Rock Castle Gorge Overlook with a nice 120° panorama into the canyon. Rock Castle Gorge was created over millions of years by mountain erosion by Rock Castle Creek. The canyon gets its name from the colorless quartz crystals found in the area.
- Saddle Overlook, where you can enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and valleys from both sides of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Rakes Mill Pond Overlook. Jarman Rakes ran a grist mill near this location in the early 19th century. He dammed the stream. The mill no longer exists, the dam and pond are still there and can be viewed from an observation deck next to the dam.
- Pine Spur Overlook. Here you have a beautiful panoramic view of the Blackwater Valley.
- Devils Backbone Overlook, offers one of the best scenic views. There are mountains close by, in the distance and you have a nice view of the farms and estates in Blackwater Valley.

After the Devils Backbone and a fuel stop in Roanoke, we leave the Blue Ridge Parkway to head north to Lewisburg. We spend the night in Lewisburg. The next day you can visit the Lost World Caverns, with its beautiful vast wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites 30 meters below the earth's surface.

Lost World Caverns was discovered in 1942 and is a truly magical place, you can walk through it in about 45 minutes. But self-guided tours are also offered, so you can take your time exploring the cave at your own pace. Information boards along the trails provide information about the different formations. The temperature in the cave always remains a constant 11⁰C, so bring a jacket and long pants and wear good shoes because of the rocky paths that can be wet and slippery.

In addition to the short walks through the caves, you can also participate in the Wild Cave Tour. This four-hour tour takes you to the deepest, darkest corners of the cave. Go where few have gone before. Crawl, climb, get muddy, have fun. The expert guides will accompany you on this scenic tour of more than a mile through the caves and passages. They provide the equipment, the snacks along the way and take photos. The tour itself lasts about 4 hours; with the safety talk and a lunch break, the total time on site is 6 hours. A hot lunch is provided and showers are available after the tour. The reservation can be booked online and costs $79. More information about these beautiful caves and the Wild Cave Tour can be found on the website (see the link in this review).


Lewisburg is located in the Greenbrier Valley, this area has a rich history and many historic old buildings, parks and museums, dating back to well before the Civil War. More information about the Greenbrier Valley can be found on the website (see link in this review).