Top of the world: The Blue Ridge Parkway’s Arnold Overlook and, left, Acadia’s Beech Cliff Trail.
Acadia All-American Road winds south on Route 3 from Trenton, Maine, onto Mount Desert Island, where most of the byway’s 40 miles meander along a 27-mile loop through Acadia National Park. The loop road leads to coastal Maine’s most mindboggling scenery— craggy granite peaks and outcroppings, lush old-growth forests and crashing waves—attracting some 2.5 million visi- tors annually to the only national park in America’s Northeast. With more than 120 miles of hiking trails and a 54-mile network of carriage roads that are closed to vehicular traffic— a big hit with walkers, hikers and bik- ers—Acadia poses ample opportunity for recreation within the park. Rock climbers come to belay the jagged 110-foot-high sea cliffs at Otter Point, while fit and motivated hikers can scale 1,532-foot Cadillac Mountain. Be sure to visit Bar Harbor on the Route 3 byway extension, just a few miles east of the park loop. This tony resort vil- lage, which blossomed in the early 1900s as a summer haven for wealthy families such as the Rockefellers, Carnegies and Vanderbilts, is home to dining and enter- tainment options galore. Need we suggest a freshly trapped lobster for dinner? Those aforementioned magnates were important figures in the park’s history because it was they who donated the land upon which it was established. It was John D. Rockefeller Jr., in fact, who built the park’s network of carriage roads.
The loop road closes seasonally, usu- ally from December through mid-May, and some visitor facilities are shuttered during the winter, so check ahead on closures at nps.gov/acad. The Blue Ridge Parkway rides the Blue Ridge Mountains for 469 miles, connect- ing Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, and is often cited as America’s Favorite Drive. No won- der, as the byway offers endless mountain and valley vistas, an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, numerous visitor cen- ters, historical and cultural attractions and ample opportunity for recreation. “We’ve driven the parkway many times,” says Lynn Seldon, a native Virginian and longtime North Carolina resident. “It’s the scenery above all else, but also the history and the amazing seasonal variations, that keep us coming back time and again.” The parkway is particularly popular during late spring, when rhododendrons and azaleas burst into full color, and from mid- to late October when foliage reaches its peak vibrancy. While there are no RV restrictions on the parkway, there’s at least one tunnel with clearance of less than 11 feet, so due diligence is suggested. Highlights on the northern section of the parkway include Virginia’s Explore Park where you can fish from the banks of the Roanoke River or loosen your limbs with a hike along the trails. At
Rocky Knob Visitor Center (mile 169), stroll through apple orchards and rem- nants of dwellings left behind by pioneer settlers. An adjacent campground has RV spaces but no hookups. Nearby Mabry Mill (mile 176) offers another glimpse of early pioneer life with its restored sawmill, blacksmith shop and water-powered gristmill. Enjoy the mill’s famous buckwheat pancakes, served all day. Tap your fingers and toes to the lively notes of old-time mountain tunes and learn about the roots of American music at the Blue Ridge Music Center (mile 213). Must-see features and attractions along the North Carolina segment of the park- way include Blowing Rock (mile 292), named for the strong northwest wind that blows up from the rock—actually a cliff that hangs 3,000 feet above Johns River Gorge. Linville Falls (mile 316.3) is a spectacular three-tiered waterfall that cascades into Linville Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians. Chimney Rock State Park (mile 384.7) was a filming location for The Last of the Mohicans and offers amazing views of Lake Lure from the top of the mountain. Five hiking trails range from leisurely to challenging. Wrap up your drive at the parkway’s southern gateway in Cherokee with a visit to Oconaluftee Indian Village (mile 469) where you’ll learn about Cherokee culture through a memorable living his- tory experience.
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