Last month, I got the opportunity to leisurely make my way down the Blue Ridge Parkway from Blowing Rock to Asheville with stops at any overlooks that appealed to me. Highly recommended!
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blowing Rock, NC
“Blowing Rock, named for a nearby geological oddity, is an old resort town filled with beautiful homes that once belonged to wealthy early-20th-century industrialists. It’s a small town, but the surprising array of restaurants, cafes and galleries make it pleasant to stroll, window-shop and sit to enjoy an ice cream. Blowing Rock also offers easy access to Moses Cone Manor and other notable landmarks.” – Jason Frye, Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip, 2018
“The village of Blowing Rock sits on the Eastern Continental Divide at an elevation of approximately 4,000 feet. Its location near the Blue Ridge Parkway is fortunate and provides additional recreational amenities. Unique restaurants, mountain inns and fascinating shops offer a myriad of opportunities to visitors. Ordinary visitors have also been joined by many famous visitors to the town, including Dwight Eisenhower, Pearl Buck, Annie Oakley, Richard Nixon, Margaret Mitchell, Eleanor Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover.” – Donna Akers Warmuth, Images of America: Blowing Rock, 2004
Camp Creek Overlook
A cool spot to take a break as you journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, the Camp Creek Overlook at Milepost 315 features a very short but rather steep hike to the scenic creek in question. For more details about hidden treasures along the Blue Ridge Parkway, I strongly recommend The Blue Ridge Parkway Guide by William G. Lord. Happy travels!
Chestoa View Loop Trail
A true hidden treasure along the Blue Ridge Parkway (MP 320.8), the 0.6-mile Chestoa View Loop Trail provides an easy leg stretcher through a scenic forest capped off with a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains. Or you can opt to skip the trail and make a beeline straight to the rock balcony. However I highly recommend the hiking trail so you get the full experience of the Chestoa View Overlook!
Wandering Florida 