Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ia's Shenandoah National Park at Mile 0 to the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park at Mile 469.
North Carolina's piece of the parkway twists and turns for 262 miles of killer
grounds and visitor centers. Note that restrooms and gas stations are few and far
between. For details about the Parkway in Virginia,
Click here
.
Parkway highlights and campgrounds include the following, from the Virginia
border south:
Cumberland Knob
(Mile 217.5) NPS visitor center, easy walk to the knob.
Doughton Park
(Mile 241.1) Trails and camping.
Blowing Rock
(Mile 291.8) Small town named for a craggy, commercialized cliff
that offers great views, occasional updrafts and a Native American love story.
Moses H Cone Memorial Park
(Mile 294.1) A lovely old estate with carriage trails
and a craft shop.
Julian Price Memorial Park
(Mile 296.9) Camping.
Grandfather Mountain
(Mile 305.1) Hugely popular for its mile-high pedestrian
'swinging bridge.' Also has a nature center and small animal reserve.
Linville Falls
(Mile 316.4) Short hiking trails to the falls, campsites.
Little Switzerland
(Mile 334) Old-style mountain resort.
Mt Mitchell State Park
(Mile 355.5) Highest peak east of the Mississippi (6684ft);
hiking and camping.
Craggy Gardens
(Mile 364) Hiking trails explode with rhododendron blossoms in
summer.
Folk Art Center
(Mile 382) High-end Appalachian crafts for sale.
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
(Mile 384) Inspiring film, interactive map, trail
information.
Mt Pisgah
(Mile 408.8) Hiking, camping, restaurant, inn.
Graveyard Fields
(Mile 418) Short hiking trails to waterfalls.
Crystal Coast
The southern Outer Banks are collectively called the 'Crystal Coast,' at least for tourist
offices' promotional purposes. Less rugged than the northern beaches, they include sev-
