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Topic: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway (Read 4 times) previous topic - next topic
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Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Yahoo Message Number: 146663
Hey Everyone,

We're wanting to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway in mid-September.  Plans are to spend around 10 days going from south to north and back.  Anyone have any suggestions of what to do and where to camp and what to avoid.  Always welcome feedback from our fellow LD'ers.

Thanks,

David 05RK
david 05rk
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146664
Hi David:

The North East LD group along with some "cousins" from the South East LD group had our May GTG in Galax Virginia, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  That area of Virginia and North Carolina is home to old time music.  There is a Music Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway about four miles north of the Galax exit, where musicians play most days from about 1pm to 4pm.  There is no fee for the jams, but you might want to buy a CD or two while there.  Try to drive to downtown Galax on Friday night, go to the Rex Theater, and watch as the musical performance is broadcast live on the radio.  Five bucks a person for a couple hours of first rate entertainment.  And BTW, wear your dancin' shoes because many of the audience will get up to dance while the performance is going on.  It's expected.  Our group of LDs stayed at the Cool Breeze Campground, about 2.5 miles from the Galax exit on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We enjoyed it enough, we hope to take our adult children down some weekend.

Have a great time.

Bob
2011 MB
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146671
April 27 - the thread was posted by psclallen I think. Can't open the thread just now.
Sandy

Hey Everyone,

We're wanting to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway in mid-September. Plans are to spend around 10 days going from south to north and back. Anyone have any suggestions of what to do and where to camp and what to avoid. Always welcome feedback from our fellow LD'ers.

Thanks,

David 05RK
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146672
It's a great trip and lovely camping along the way.  Pay attention to the "stink bugs" as they are numerous and invasive to your RV during the summer.  We still had a few appear in our RV for over a year after being there.  Worth the problem, though!  Cheerios and happy travels.
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146676
You may have seen this 'official' site in your planning, but, if not, it is an excellent source of current information on the BRP:

Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service)

You might also search this message board for the BRP thread which appeared a while back; you should find several posts relevant to your query.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146688
A great drive with tons to see and do.  We've done it several times including the Skyline Drive.  Best advice is to take your time and enjoy the venues and sites along the way.  Great hikes to enjoy.  Some nice campgrounds along the way. Goggle the Blue Ridge and Skyline Drive to obtain guides, maps and campgrounds.  Be willing to drop off the Ridge and Drive to take in some neat sites such as Natural Bridge and  Monticello to really make a go of it.

Bob. SE 5
Kathy and Bob on the Go
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146689
A great drive with tons to see and do.  We've done it several times including the Skyline Drive.  Best advice is to take your time and enjoy the venues and sites along the way.  Great hikes to enjoy.  Some nice campgrounds along the way. Goggle the Blue Ridge and Skyline Drive to obtain guides, maps and campgrounds.  Be willing to drop off the Ridge and Drive to take in some neat sites such as Natural Bridge and  Monticello to really make a go of it.

Bob. SE 5
Kathy and Bob on the Go
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146701
Good recommendations.  We did the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive last June.  We did not drive the full length of either and were always in VA.  We did about "4 jumps" down the state, traveling roads other than the Parkways.  Stayed at places near the parkways and then did a number of day trips on the parkway and nearby areas in our Jeep.  There was a lot of fog while we were there and you could see very little scenery from the parkways;  just this large cloud in the Shenandoah Valley.  We didn't take our LD on the parkway but it would have been OK.
 For me driving the parkway, up and back would be just a bit too much, even if we could see down into the valleys.  I can only look at so many valleys and trees.
 I would suggest that you investigate the "Crooked Road" in VA.  It is a series of highways that run through the heart of the country music area.  It runs generally northwest from the Blue Ridge Parkway a ways north of the VA-NC border.  There is a very good web site for it and there is material about it at the VA visitor centers.  There are many interesting places to visit along the route.  As I recall there were a limited number of places to stay.  We did major portions of this area as day trips too.  One thing that we really enjoyed was the drama "On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine."  It is an amateur outdoor production done by the local residents in Big Stone Gap, VA.  I cannot remember for sure but we may have gone there on a day trip from Bristol/Kingsport.

Doug Baker
 
Re: Looking to do the Blue Ridge Parkway
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146949
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.  We'll be picking up the Blue Ridge Parkway at the south end.  Not sure how far up we make it because of all there is to see but will enjoy the ride none the less.

David 05RK
david 05rk