Parkway Highlights
Linville Falls - Linville Falls is a beautiful series of dramatic falls that drop to a deep gorge, accessed by a trail lined with rare virgin stands of white pine and hemlock. The area around the Falls is one of the few places in these mountains where the Rosebay, Catawba, and Carolina Rhododendron grow side by side. A campground and picnic area along the Linville River are among the most popular on the Parkway.
Craggy Gardens - June and July are the months to visit this spectacular showplace of Catawba rhododendron and other late-blooming wildflowers. Long after the blooms have been spent on the lower elevations, the violets, blackberry, May-apple, and Turkscap lily come into their own in this high-altitude portion of the Parkway. This heath bald is only one of many throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains ; the name refers to the bald appearance of the mountaintop, which is in reality covered with grasses or mountain shrubbery.
Mount Pisgah - In the late 1800's industrialist George Washington Vanderbilt, while building his grand Biltmore Estate in Asheville, purchased Mount Pisgah and thousands of surrounding acres for a private hunting retreat for family and friends. The nearby 16-mile Shut-In Trail (a National Recreation Trail) is part of a longer route that Vanderbilt originally created for his hunting parties. Today the area adjoining the Parkway is part of the Pisgah National Forest and is still playing host to nature enthusiasts. Mount Pisgah has the distinction of having by far the highest elevation of any developed area along the Parkway. Be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions.
Also check out Mt. Mitchell (highest point east of the Mississippi river ) and Graveyard Fields.
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
This National Park Service site honors the accomplishments of American poet Carl Sandburg. Take a guided tour of the historic home; visit the farm and trails. Free for farm and trails. Fee for house tour; cash and check only.
Directions: From U.S. Hwy 26: Take exit 53 and turn onto Upward Road; left traveling west; right traveling east. At intersection with Rt. 176/Rt.25, continue straight to N. Highland Lake Road. At light, turn left onto U.S. Hwy. 225 south. At light take right onto Little River Road. Visitor parking on left.
www.nps.gov/carl
Cradle of Forestry
Home of the first forestry school in America, this historic site offers guided walks, historic buildings, living history interpreters, outdoor fun, antique equipment, an old logging train, and the Forest Discovery Center.
Directions: From Asheville, take I-240W to I-26E towards Hendersonville. Take the NC-280 exit # 40 (old exit # 9) Asheville Regional Airport/WNC Agricultural Center. At top of ramp, go right on NC-280W toward Brevard. Go through Mills River and as you come into Pisgah Forest, turn right (by Pizza Hut) on Hwy. 276 into Pisgah National Forest. It is 11 miles up on the right, located near Looking Glass Waterfall and Sliding Rock.
www.cradleofforestry.com
Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is one of the South’s most venerable and famous grand resorts. Built in 1913 from granite stones mined from Sunset Mountain, the resort overlooks the Asheville, North Carolina skyline and provides guests with majestic views of the legendary Blue Ridge Mountains.
www.groveparkinn.com
North Carolina Arboretum
A 426-acre public garden offering 65 acres of cultivated gardens and 10 miles of hiking/biking trails, a greenhouse complex and the Southeast’s finest bonsai collection. Group activities, gift shop and food service are available.
Directions: Located south of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 393, or take I-26, Exit 33 (formerly Exit 2) and proceed 2 miles south on Highway 191/Brevard Road.
www.ncarboretum.org
Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site
Novelist Thomas Wolfe’s boyhood home and setting for his 1929 novel Look Homeward, Angel. Visitor Center offers multi-media presentation and exhibits. Tours of the historic house are offered hourly.
Directions: This is located in Asheville at 52 N. Market Street, next to the hotel.
www.wolfememorial.com |
