Abbreviated Blue Ridge Parkway

If you can't get enough Blue Ridge beauty, tack on a cruise along the 52-mile Mount Mitchell Scenic Drive. It begins at the top of the 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell summit, then follows the Blue Ridge Parkway before dipping into the South Toe River Valley, and ending at the intersection of U.S. 19/23 and Interstate 26. Mount Mitchell is located in Mount Mitchell State Park, and you'll want to save an afternoon to explore. There's a viewpoint at the top, which is the highest point east of the Mississippi, as well as hiking trails ranging from quick walks to day hikes. There's even a lodge-like restaurant on site that features a killer view, so it's worth it to stop in for a cup of coffee or some pie to enjoy while you bask in the scenery.

Little Switzerland is a tiny community on the Parkway (which claims a population of 46) with a quirky, Swiss vibe (naturally!). It started as a mountain resort in 1910 that took inspiration from the Swiss Alps, and the surrounding area took the concept and ran with it. One of the gems in this unique town is the Switzerland Cafe & General Store. The smokehouse has been serving up tasty and fresh fare to travelers for thirty years. The menu is loaded with salads, quiche, sandwiches, and plenty of smoked meat. Save room for dessert; no matter which cake or pie you order, it's bound to be memorable.

Shenandoah isn't the only place along the Parkway to find waterfalls. North Carolina's Linville Falls is another stunner worth visiting. There's a visitor center and you can take several different trails for various views of the 150-foot-tall cascade. Erwins View Trail is a moderate, 1.6-mile round-trip with four overlooks. There's also another trail starting at the visitor center that forks; one side takes hikers into Linville Gorge (1.4 miles round-trip) and the other ends at the Plunge Basin Overlook (a 1-mile round-trip). Swimming is dangerous here, but there are boulders to climb on in the gorge.

Music is an important part of Appalachian culture, and you can gain a deeper appreciation and understanding for the sounds that helped shape folk and bluegrass at the Blue Ridge Music Center. It's open from May through October, and is generally free. It features an interactive Roots of American Music Museum and a Midday Music Program that lets visitors hear live "informal mountain music performances by local and regional old-time and bluegrass musicians" between noon and 4 PM. There are bigger concerts at the outdoor amphitheater some evenings, which you can attend for a small fee. It's incredible to see how the Center is preserving the history and forging the future of Appalachian mountain music.

The Fancy Gap / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA is another stellar stopover along the route. Activities include a gemstone- and fossil-panning sluice, a clubhouse, paddle boats, a pool, hay rides, and fishing. And since a happy stomach can make or break a campout, take advantage of ice cream socials, pancake breakfasts, Friday cookouts, and pizza delivery during the busy season. Those staying in an RV, a tent, or a Camping Cabin can also use the Camper Kitchens. The beautiful, forested setting is another huge advantage of this KOA; campers can reconnect with nature here.

One of the coolest features of the Parkway is the little mountain towns and farms that line it. Poor Farmers Market is a true-blue authentic country store; it even started as a roadside vegetable stand. Today, it's part gift shop, part produce market, part deli, and part bakery. Stock up on local wine, old-fashioned candy, farm-fresh apples or peaches, homemade ice cream sandwiches, hot sauce, homebaked cornbread and possum pie, specialty sub or biscuit sandwiches, pimento cheese, apple cider, and loads more, depending on the season. The banana pudding and fried apple pies in particular are local delicacies to die for. Oh, and you can even fill up on gas!

Natural Bridge State Park is one of Virginia's newest state parks, but its history goes way back: This 215-foot-tall limestone rock formation carved by Cedar Creek has been a sacred site of the Monacan tribe, was once owned by Thomas Jefferson (who called it "the most sublime of nature's works"), and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was a common subject for painters, its lodge has hosted countless famous guests, and there's even a tale that the bridge was surveyed by a young George Washington. Illustrious history aside, the park features six miles of hiking trail (including the Cedar Creek Trail that goes under the bridge), a recreated Monacan Indian Village, and the 30-foot Lace Falls. Pro tip: For another view, U.S. Route 11 (aka Lee Highway) runs across the top of the bridge.

Another great campground along the route is the Lynchburg NW / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA in Monroe, Virginia. This part of the Parkway has lots to see and do, so it's worth it to set up camp and take a day or two to fully explore the area. This KOA has lots of activities and amenities that set it apart, including an outdoor pool, a jump pad, a catch-and-release stocked fishing pond, a gem mine, and Saturday afternoon train rides. The campground offers tent sites, Camping and Deluxe Cabins, and standard, value, and premium RV sites. No matter which option you choose, you're sure to find your accommodations comfy and serene.

There's nothing like a quick, one-mile hike to stretch your legs during a road trip, and the Blue Ridge Parkway scenery certainly adds to the experience. Humpback Rocks is a popular photo op, thanks to the short (but slightly strenuous uphill) trail, which also provides access to the Appalachian Trail. There's a Parkway visitor center here, with museum exhibits on mountain life and 1890s-era log cabins that were relocated here during the Parkway's construction. The visitor center also hosts one or two free mountain music concerts a week during the spring and summer. This is one of the earlier stops along the route, as it's at milepost 5.8.

Shenandoah National Park is one terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but a visitor could easily spend a week exploring this park alone. Mountain hikes are a popular draw here. Stony Man Mountain is one of the park's signature hikes, perfect for those looking to hike up one of the park's famed peaks on a quick schedule. The loop is less than two miles, and the elevation gain is only a few hundred feet, but the views are drop-dead gorgeous. Hawksbill Mountain has a shorter and a longer hike option, and Old Rag Mountain is a bit longer, but remains one of the most popular and iconic hikes in the park. And if mountain trails aren't your thing, you can always go chasing waterfalls. The park's tallest cascade, Overall Run Falls, is worth the 6.4-mile round trip hike. The park's third-tallest, South River Falls features a shorter, 2.6-mile round trip hike. Shenandoah National Park is also home to Rapidan Camp, a group of three historic buildings built by President Herbert Hoover and frequented by other presidents in search of peace and quiet.