Premiere Drive: Virginia's Blue Ridge
Mountains
by
Thomas R. & Deborah A. Fletcher
Technically, it is two roads, Skyline
Drive and the
Blue Ridge Parkway
, two roads in two National Parks. In
reality, it is a continuous, sinuous strand of two-lane asphalt lacing together
some of
America
’s most stunning views. Combined,
they must be
Virginia
’s premiere scenic drive. These
roads through Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are a favorite with the
traveling public, especially as crisp nights bring on the multi-hued shades that
drape the ridges and valleys in a mosaic of rich fall color.
The
drive and the views are a delight to the senses.
The brisk, fresh air rustles through the crackly leaves.
Gone is the mugginess of summer. The
musky aroma of the fall woods fills the air.
A chattering squirrel announces its presence.
The magnificent scenery stuns the eye.
Skyline
Drive bisects
Shenandoah
National Park
, extending from its northern terminus in Front Royal south to
Waynesboro
. The road plunges through wooded
forests of oak, bursting forth onto exposed ridgeline, twisting and turning,
snaking along the spine of the
Blue Ridge
. Around nearly every turn there
seems to be an expansive view of either the
Shenandoah Valley
to the west or the Piedmont Country to the east.
The
road definitely meets its design objective, dramatically displaying the scenic
beauty of the area. With nearly
eighty overlooks in its 105-mile length, plan on progressing slowly, as you’ll
more than likely be stopping often. Skyline
Drive ends with the southern boundary of
Shenandoah
National Park
in
Waynesboro
, where the
Blue Ridge Parkway
begins.
The
Blue Ridge Parkway extends 469 miles southward linking Shenandoah National Park
to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Inspired by
Skyline Drive
, the
Blue Ridge Parkway
began as a public works project, with work beginning September 11, 1935.
The parkway will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2010.
The entire project of joining the two National Parks by one roadway
wasn’t officially completed until September 11, 1987.
Designed for leisure travel, the parkway speed limit is 45 MPH.
The parkway can be entered or exited via any US or state highway
intersection—and there are many. Numbered
mileposts make convenient parkway reference points.
Humpback
Rocks
Visitor
Center
and Mabry Mill offer insight into Southern
Appalachian culture. At
Humpback
Rocks
Visitor
Center
, a short ¼ mile walk allows one to see how an 1890’s working mountain farm
looked; cabin, chicken house, barn, garden and various farm implements.
Costumed living history re-enactors bring history to life, as they
describe life on a mountain farm. At
Mabry Mill see a working, water-driven mill grinding corn, or catch one of the
many farming demonstrations (such as making apple butter or lye soap) held at
the mill throughout the primary traveling season (mid-April through
early-November).
A
hike up the Humpback Rocks Trail is a strenuous two-mile hike, but well worth
the effort. Be sure to carry water
and wear appropriate footwear; a hiking boot that covers the ankle.
The rocks offer spectacular views out over Rockfish and
Shenandoah
Valleys
.
Traveling
these roads for their beauty alone is enough for most people.
For those who venture out, there are numerous opportunities for side
trips to nearby towns or attractions a short distance from either
Skyline Drive
or the
Blue Ridge Parkway
. Stop at one of the many picnic
spots, explore a picturesque mountain trail, or see one of the nearby
attractions.
Wildlife
is a common sight along both hiking trails and the roadway, from the plentiful
squirrels and deer, to the more obscure black bear and wild turkey.
The serene environment is enjoyed by both humans and wildlife.
A deer raises its head from grazing, pausing briefly, begins grazing
again, barely noticing the passing hikers barely fifteen yards away.
Squirrels scurry about gathering acorns for winter.
If a romantic diversion is what one has in mind, we highly recommend the
Sugar Tree Inn (Milepost 27 on the
Blue Ridge Parkway
) in Steeles Tavern, Virginia. Constructed
of hand-hewn logs reclaimed from historic
Shenandoah Valley
structures, the elegantly rustic, romantic inn is situated at an elevation of
2800 feet, a prime location for vivid fall color in the surrounding hardwood
forest.
Dinners
at the inn are available by 24 hours advance reservations, Wednesday through
Saturday. Enjoy the elegance of gourmet dining by candlelight, complimented by a
fine
Virginia
wine, topped with a soak in the whirlpool tub.
Not a bad ending to a delightful day on the road.
Our
dinner at the inn was great, but the breakfast was nothing short of incredible.
Owners Jeff and Becky Chanter put together quite a feed. The inn’s
signature breakfast dish is Becky’s baked oatmeal; a tasty, semi-crunchy,
delightful consistency, hard-to-describe delight.
Since it is the inn’s signature breakfast item, Becky doesn’t share
precise cooking details. We don’t
know what she does, but she does it very well.
It is quite unlike any oatmeal we’ve ever had.
Looking
for an historic diversion?
Virginia
’s Explore
Park may fit the bill. Explore Park is
the place to learn more of the history and heritage of the Roanoke Valley, the
largest metropolitan area in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region (Milepost 115).
Known as Big Lick until a name change in 1882, the city of
Roanoke
is located at what once was a fork in the
Great Wagon Road. By 1775 the road passed through
the
Roanoke Valley
as it stretched some 700 miles from
Pennsylvania
to
South Carolina. From the fork, the options were
the Wilderness Road leading west into Tennessee
or the
Carolina Road
leading south into the Carolinas and Georgia.
Tickets
to the historic area are sold at the
Arthur
Taubman
Welcome
Center
. The center is the place to gain an
overview of the park’s offerings. Explore
Park focuses on three time periods: 1671, 1757, and 1850.
Stroll through the historic section of the park as living history
interpreters, recreations and historic structures bring early
Virginia
history to life.
The
Totero
Village
portrays the written account of the Native American village encountered by
those first European settlers (1671). Living
history interpreters depict the culture of the woodland Native Americans that
made their home in
Virginia
’s Blue Ridge and
Piedmont
areas in the late 17th century. 
The 1757 Frontier Fort was modeled after an
August
County
frontier family fort. The 1850’s
section shows a frontier community: a one room schoolhouse (Kemp’s
Ford
School
), farm house, and blacksmith shop. Kemp’s
Ford
School
was originally located near the
Blackwater
River
in
Franklin
County. The blacksmith shop, a replica, is
the equivalent of an 1850’s “service station.” It
would have been a busy place along the
Great Wagon Road
in the 1850’s.
The
park celebrates
Virginia
’s role in westward expansion of the nation, but it is more than history.
Mountain biking is an option. The
park has 12 miles of biking trails. Rentals
are available in the visitors’ center. Hiking—six
miles of hiking trails, canoeing, and kayaking are other outdoor activities to
be explored in the park.
Need
an outdoor diversion? Primland
Resort is a 14,000 acre outdoor
person’s dream. The resort is in a
prime
Blue Ridge
location in the Meadows of Dan. There
are streams to fish and hills to hunt (quail, pheasant, wild turkey, and deer).
ATV’s, horseback riding, tennis and sporting clays are a few more
options to keep guests busy.
“If
it isn’t illegal or too immoral, we’ll do it,” says Steve Helms Vice
President, General Manager of the resort’s policy of keeping guests satisfied.
If You Go:
Dawn over the 
Roanoke
Valley CVB
"The Cookie Lady," Afton, Virginia
Sunrise over Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, view from the 
Clay shooting at the 
Clay shooting at the 
Mothers and children explore Native American ways at 
