On day 52 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Farmville to Waynesboro. We drive along the narrow back roads of Virginia back to the mountains to enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway that winds through Shenandoah National Park. There are many parking lots on this part that are often referred to as an Overlook or Viewpoint. Unfortunately there is not always a nice view because of the trees, the points that are really worth stopping are indicated as a via point, the others are with a waypoint and in most cases with a photo and a short description so that you can decide to stop.

Make sure you bring enough food and drink for the day as there are not many options to stop at a restaurant or bar along the route. In Hamden-Sydney it is possible to do your shopping at Granny B's Market.

We drive along the beautiful winding country roads through the green fields and forests of Virginia, passing small villages and farms. The first stop is planned at the Big Otter Mill built in 1785. This old saw and grist mill, on the banks of the Big Otter River, has been used for over two hundred years for grinding corn and for the sawmill. It is now a landmark managed by the Big Otter Mill Foundation, their goal is to restore the mill for the purpose of historic preservation as a working mill. The architecturally unique mill is well worth a stop. Guided tours are given by appointment.

We continue to the next stop at the James River Visitor Center. Here they provide information about the Blue Ridge Parkway. There's also a small gift shop, two walking trails, and a riverside picnic area with great views of the Harry Flood Byrd Memorial Bridge, a two-deck bridge, the upper for vehicular traffic and the lower for pedestrians.

Close to the Visitor Center is Otter Lake where we stop briefly to take a few photos. This is an artificial lake formed by damming Otter Creek. It is a popular tourist attraction, as both the lake and the dam with its Otter Lake waterfall are worth a stop. At Otter Lake, you can also walk a 1.6 km (1 mile) hiking trail around the lake in 45 minutes.

The next 100 kilometers we drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoy this beautiful winding road through Shenandoah National Park with its beautiful vistas, stop at the places where you have good visibility to enjoy the beautiful views.

Be sure to stop at the Humpback Rocks Parking. From here you can walk a 6.6 km loop to climb the Humpback Rocks, there is also a shorter 2.2 km route. The top of this rock formation offers a spectacular 360 degree view of the area. To the north you can see the southern part of Shenandoah National Park, to the east a patchwork of farms, to the southwest the dense forests and ridges of the George Washington National Forest. This is perhaps the place with the best views along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

About a 6-mile drive from Humpback Rocks, we come to the end (or the beginning if you're heading south) of the Blue Ridge Parkway and turn left to drive to Waynesboro, the final destination of the day.

But before we check in at the hotel, we pay a short visit to the Swannanoa estate. This beautiful estate was built in 1912 by James Dooley for his wife, Sallie May Dooley. Swannanoa is a beautiful 2134 square foot marble mansion on Afton Mountain, it was their summer home to beat the heat and humidity of Richmond where they lived. The exterior is white Georgian marble and the entire interior is Italian imported marble. The Tiffany stained glass window at the top of the grand staircase is by Sallie May, his wife, and is the largest Tiffany glass piece found in a private home in America.
Swannanoa has always been a private historic estate with only 3 properties since 1912. The Dooleys 1912-1925, Swannanoa Country Club 1926-1932 and Skyline Swannanoa Inc. 1944 to present. From 1948-1998 it was leased by the Russell Foundation, now known as The University of Science and Philosophy, as a cultural center run by Walter and Lao Russell.
When the Russel Foundation's lease expired in 1998, the current owners invested $3 million in the restorations that lasted from 1999-2006. Since 2007, they operate as a private venue that is only accessible for private bookings such as weddings, receptions, parties and photo shoots.