On day 47 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Asheville to Blowing Rock, 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 part of the route includes a few stops for drinks and food, 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.

The first stop is a visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center just outside of Asheville. Explore the exhibits that highlight the region's natural and cultural diversity, economic traditions, and recreational opportunities. Watch the movie "The Blue Ridge Parkway-America's Favorite Journey", shown regularly in high-definition surround sound, a 24-minute film that captures a father-daughter highway journey that explores the history and present-day sights and sounds of the region are processed.

We drive through the Great Craggy Mountains, an area of rocky surfaces and high peaks that offer breathtaking views of the southern Appalachian ridges in the distance. Large expanses of native rhododendrons cover the slopes and peaks of the Craggies. This area has long been known as Craggy Gardens to the locals. June and July are the months to visit this spectacular area with its pink and purple flowers of the Catawba rhododendron. Throughout the summer, smaller native wildflowers, such as pansies, blackberries, mayapples, and turkish lily, blanket the ground in vibrant pops of color.
There is a visitor center, picnic area and a variety of trails including the Craggy Pinnacle Trail which offers the most exceptional and beautiful panoramic vistas. The 20 minute walk starts from the upper level of the Craggy Dome Parking Overlook (just north of the tunnel visible from the Visitor Center). Visitors are rewarded with breathtaking 360-degree views from the top.

We continue on the Blue Ridge Parkway through Mount Mitchell State Park, passing several more parking lots with lookout points. A stop at the Glassmine Falls Overlook is a must. From the parking lot you can see the Glassmine waterfall. A short, paved path leads to a viewing platform for a closer look. The remains of the Abernathy Mine, a mica mine, are located at the base of the falls.

We briefly leave the Parkway to drive to the top of Mount Mitchell at an elevation of 2,037 meters (6,684 feet). This mountain is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. From the parking lot it is a short walk to an observation deck which offers breathtaking views of the mountains on a clear day. There is also a restaurant to have lunch and a souvenir shop to buy a gift to take home.

After lunch we continue the ride. There are a number of viewpoints along the route that are definitely worth a short stop, such as;

- The Laurel Knob Overlook, it was originally called Licklog Ridge Overlook, a name that still appears frequently in Blue Ridge Parkway literature. The forest you see here is the first piece of land ever purchased by the US Forest Service in 1911. There is a very interesting dead tree near the parking lot, which gives the panorama extra character. Here you have a beautiful view of Grandfather Mountain, Linville Mountain, Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock.

- The Black Mountains Overlook. Here you have a beautiful, unobstructed view of the mountain range. It does show depth, as there are smaller mountains in the foreground and larger mountains in the background. The Black Mountains include six of the ten highest mountains on the East Coast, including the tallest, Mount Mitchell, at 7,000 feet (2,037 m).

- The Three Knob Overlook. Here you have a great view of everything that makes the Blue Ridge Parkway so beautiful. Here you have an excellent view, complete with mountains, ridges, valleys, forests and even farms. The scenery and views are well worth a stop.

The next stop is in the town of Little Switzerland where you can take a break to have a drink and eat at the distinctive Switzerland Café, which has specialized in fresh, homemade sandwiches, soups and quiches for over 30 years. They have one of the largest wood-fired smokehouses in the state and their Applewood Smoked Trout and Hickory Smoked Pork BBQ are award-winning on the North Carolina Barbeque Trail. There is a small General Store that offers picnic items, wine, beer, cheese, T-shirts and souvenirs. A great place to stop.

We continue to the Chestoa View Overlook, we park and take a short hike to reach the overlook rock platform, you will see one of the best views in the Blue Ridge region here. The breathtaking scenery stretches across the vast Linville Gorge, part of Pisgah National Forest, with Grandfather Mountain and Table Rock in the background. This is also a popular spot for an afternoon or early evening picnic.

The next stop is planned at the Linville Falls Visitor Center, for this we have to leave the Parkway and drive 1.5 miles. The Visitor Center receives 350,000 visitors each year who come to see Linville Falls, one of the most famous falls in the Blue Ridge. There are several easily accessible hiking trails with four viewpoints that lead to the falls. The breathtaking three-tiered Linville Falls above the Linville Gorge is known as the "Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians." Please note that climbing on rocks or swimming in the water around Linville Falls is prohibited.

We continue to Beacon Heights where we park in the parking lot and walk to the Beacon Heights summit via one of the most popular hiking trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy beautiful views of Grandfather Mountain from the rocky lookouts and explore a beautiful rocky mossy forest. It's not a long walk: the round trip is just under a mile. The views from Beacon Heights are expansive, panoramic, and beautiful. The summit offers exceptional vistas to the south, east, and north, including neighboring Calloway Peak at Grandfather Mountain.

We drive over the beautiful Linn Cove Viaduct; it is the most famous and perhaps the most photographed bridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Design began on the Linn Cove Viaduct in the late 1970s. The challenge was to complete the last section of the parkway around Grandfather Mountain's natural environment without damaging it. Engineering firm Figg and Muller Engineers, Inc and general contractor Jasper Construction, Inc used 153 precast concrete segments to construct the viaduct. This famous bridge is 376 meters long and snakes around Grandfather Mountain.

We make a brief stop at Price Lake, the most scenic still mountain lake along the Parkway, a must-see as you travel the Parkway through North Carolina, then continue to Blowing Rock, the final destination of the day. The village offers the best of small town living: cool climate, beautiful views, year-round outdoor activities, a safe environment, beautiful churches, an award-winning school and the best accommodations with excellent restaurants and shops. A great effort has been made over the past decade to protect the village's proud historical heritage and preserve the community character that so enhances this small town. You can spend the night in one of the many hotels.