The Blue Ridge Parkway isn't technically a National Park, but it might as well be. It connects two National Parks (Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains) together and the parkway itself is the most visited unit controlled by the National Parks System. Each year, more people drive along its roads than visit the Grand Canyon. True fact. People flock to it with good reason, though...it's pretty gorgeous. Plus, there's tons to see and do along the way. Here's a few highlights to see along the way.
839 Petrel St, Goose Creek, South Carolina United States
Guntersville, Alabama, United States
Dollywood Ln, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee United States
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the area is incredibly awe-inspiring. Fall is a super popular time to visit the Smokies, and with good reason: the changing colors are unlike anything anywhere else in the world. However, you can avoid the crowds and still get awesome views in the summer, and when everything is blooming in the spring, it's absolutely stunning!
And get a taste of luxury by visiting the Biltmore Estate itself. The 250-room house sits on 8,000 acres, making it America's largest house.
If you're feeling lucky, stop by Sugar Creek Gem Mine and prospect for precious stones. They'll help you identify anything of value and even set it in jewelry for you!
Honestly, you can't pick a bad time drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. In summer, the parks along the Blue Ridge Parkway are lush and green. In the fall, the entire drive is covered in fiery foliage (usually from early October to early November). In winter, the driving is a tad precarious, especially if it's a snowy winter. But, the Blue Ridge Mountains become blanketed in snow and it looks like a white wonderland. In spring, the flowers bloom across the route: the best to see them is between April and May.