As the leaves change colors, it truly begins to feel like fall. I have always wanted to chase the foliage, beginning with the Northeast. When you live in the Southeast, early planning is a must! I’ve always heard that Asheville, NC, is beautiful. My drive started from Southeast Atlanta. 4.5 hours later, I fell in love with nature all over again. At the time, the treen in North Georgia hadn’t quite peaked in color yet. As I approached Asheville, the trees vividly progressed from green to yellow, orange, and red. The drive made me wish I would’ve visited Asheville sooner.
The following day, I wake up refreshed and ready to explore. I stop by the store to grab a sandwich and chips and fill the car up. My only intention was to drive 30 miles at the most. You would think 30 miles would take around 45 minutes. Nope! It took me 3 hours to drive up Blue Ridge Parkway. I often stopped to take photos and check out the beautiful views.
On the drive up, I stopped at The Croggy Gardens Visitor Center to eat lunch and take a break from driving. On both sides of the parking lots, there were several portable toilets outside the center. You can also hike a trail that is .8 miles one way to get to the Craggy Gardens Picnic area.
After my lunch break, I kept driving the parkway away from Asheville. The roads are sometimes curvy, so paying attention is best, as some people take curves in the opposite lane. There are plenty of pull-off areas to stop and take in the sights. Some have trash cans and picnic tables. If you need self-care, a peaceful drive, and time away from the routine day-to-day schedule, driving along Blue Ridge Parkway will leave you in a better mood than when you arrived.
Tips:
- Don’t feed any wildlife you may encounter. Especially bears!
- Keep trash in your vehicle or wait until you can reach a trash can.
- Buy snacks/drinks before your drive begins
- You may or may not have reliable cell phone reception.
- Fill up your gas tank before your trip.
- Watch out for cyclists and pedestrians along the way. Please share the road.
- Take your time, as the trees and views aren’t going anywhere.
- Pack proper hiking gear for your agenda, such as water, footwear, sunscreen, etc.
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