The
Curve at Linn Cove Viaduct (NC) [1]
Curving for 469 miles along the crests of the Southern Appalachians,
the Blue Ridge Parkway reveals the true personality of this deeply
romantic part of the nation. This All-American Road is worth going out of your way to experience one of America’s favorite drives. The scenery is breathtaking and can give any trip along the best known Italian lakes, or the wide open plains of Route 66 a run for its money. Follow the Appalachian Mountain chain and enjoy the endless views of many parallel ranges connected by cross ranges and scattered hills.
From Shenandoah National
Park, follow the Blue Ridge, the eastern rampart of the Appalachians,
for 355 miles. For the remaining 114 miles, you'll skirt the southern
end of the massive Black Mountains, named for the dark green spruce
and fir that cover them, then weave through the Craggies, the
Pisgahs, and the Balsams. Finally, end your journey in the Great
Smokies.
The Curve at Linn Cove Viaduct (NC) [3]
Come drive the Blue Ridge Parkway for its natural botanical qualities.
The shrubs and flowers that blossom throughout the spring and
summer are a defining feature of the Parkway. In the fall, the
leaves burst in colors of red, yellow, and orange. And where there
is lush vegetation, there is also abundant wildlife.
Places
to Visit
Asheville,
NC
Asheville is the central city of western North Carolina where
visitors will find many points of interest, as well as the Blue
Ridge Parkway Headquarters.
Biltmore
Estate, NC
At its completion, Biltmore House was one of the most innovative
and technologically advanced homes in the world.
National
Scenic Byways Online provides travelers with current,
detailed information about byways throughout the United States.
Sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), this site
promotes the America's Byways.
Scenic
byways can be designated at the local, state or national level.
Some are called 'heritage routes.' Others may be called 'rustic
roads' or 'backcountry byways,' although some of these designations
differ slightly. The U.S. Forest Service began its National Forest
Service Scenic Byway designation program in 1988. In 1991, the
US Department of Transportation established its National Scenic
Byways program.
What
Are America's Byways?
Under the National Scenic Byways Program, the U.S. Secretary of
Transportation recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways
or All-American Roads based on their archaeological, cultural,
historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities. There are
95 such designated byways in 39 States. The Federal Highway Administration
promotes the collection as America's Byways.
National
Scenic Byway
To
be designated as a National Scenic Byway, a road must possess
at least one of the six intrinsic qualities. The significance
of the features contributing to the distinctive characteristics
of the corridor's intrinsic qualities must be recognized throughout
the multi-state region.
All-American
Road
To receive an All-American Road designation, a road must possess
multiple intrinsic qualities that are nationally significant and
contain one-of-a-kind features that do not exist elsewhere. The
road or highway must also be considered a 'destination unto itself.'
That is, the road must provide an exceptional traveling experience
so recognized by travelers that they would make a drive along
the highway a primary reason for their trip.
