Stories with Blue Ridge Parkway

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Light rays stream through a tree along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC

36 Free Ways to Explore Asheville

A great adventure in Asheville doesn't have to break the bank. As you explore the Biltmore, dine at award-winning restaurants, and shop at great local boutiques, add in these favorite things to do for extra fun free of charge. The Outdoors Lace up your boots or pack the car for a free outdoor adventure in the beautiful mountains and forests surrounding Asheville.  Hiking – Pick

Hiker on top of Black Balsam during sunset with fall colors

The Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes in and Around Asheville, NC

The Blue Ridge Parkway is more than a scenic drive. You could call the Parkway the country’s greatest hiking trailhead. The Blue Ridge Parkway offers easy access to all kinds of hiking adventures, from short walks to day-long treks. Find your perfect Asheville hiking trail! Use our  Asheville Hike Finder  to easily filter by distance from downtown, trail length

Biltmore at Sunset

50 Things to Do in Asheville, NC

If you’re looking for things to do in Asheville, then consider this list your primer to the many activities available in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you’re a first-time visitor, or perhaps well acquainted with the flair of this Southern Appalachian getaway, here are 50 ideas to help you see, do, and explore the best Asheville has to offer. Ver la versión en

Scenic Drive Parkway

Scenic Drives for Any Season

There’s Always Something Around the Bend in Asheville You don’t have to travel far from Asheville to become immersed in natural beauty. The topography of the Blue Ridge Mountains lends itself to some of the best scenic drives and awe-inspiring panoramic views you’ll find in the southeast. Within minutes, find yourself surrounded by the same forests, waterfalls and vistas that

Motorcycle Blue Ridge Parkway

Scenic Fall Routes on a Motorcycle

Travel Advisory: Potential Blue Ridge Parkway Closures Due to Weather With Hurricane Helene in the forecast, some areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway are experiencing temporary closures to ensure visitor safety. For real-time information on parkway closures, please refer to NPS.gov. View the changing autumn color at many elevations in one afternoon, with the wind in your hair. Our friends

Fall Drive

Fall Scenic Drives: Middle to Low Elevations

When the fall color reaches the middle elevations (about 2,500-4,000 feet), it brightens the mountainsides and begins to show up like candy dots in the valleys. While the highest elevation areas such as Craggy Gardens and Mount Mitchell have peaked by this time, they still make great vantage points for the changes happening below. If you want to be in the thick of it all, a scenic drive through

Black-Throated Green Warbler

8 Places to Bird Watch in Asheville, NC

Bring your binoculars to these birding havens Whether you’re a casual bird watcher or you’re collecting sightings for your Life List, Asheville is a birder’s paradise. Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Great Blue Herons and Pileated Woodpeckers are just a few of the 200 birds that make their home here year-round, while another 80 species migrate through the Southern

A beautiful summer sunset view at Max Patch near Asheville, NC

Top 8 Sunset Spots in Asheville, NC

The Best Places to Catch a Scenic Sunset The Blue Ridge Mountains offer some of the best vantage points to watch the sun drop below the peaks in a splash of color. People travel from all over the world to see the nightly show. We asked our social media fans to share their favorite places to watch the sunset in and around Asheville, North Carolina. Here are the results! 1. The Omni Grove Park Inn

Craggy Gardens Hiking

Hiking Craggy Gardens

Blue Ridge Heaven Just Miles From Town Even after 14 years of living in Asheville, just a glimpse of the Blue Ridge Mountains casts a spell on me. It looks so far away but ahh…it is not. Just a short drive from downtown and I’ll be at Craggy Gardens (Craggy for short) and a soaring 5,892 foot elevation. This is the locals’ favorite spot to head for the hills and get in

Couple road biking on BRP

How To: Road Biking Adventures in Asheville

A Guide to the Top Road Bike Routes Around Town Riverside Drive Riverside Drive features a bike lane for road cyclists and is a great option for a flat ride along the French Broad River without going too far outside of downtown Asheville. A common place to start for a ride on Riverside Drive is in the River Arts District where you can check out the array of artist studios, showrooms and art