Each of us has milestones on this trip. For Dayne, reaching The Alamo was one. For me, one was Key West. Ean was excited about the Navy Seal Museum. Albert is looking forward to satisfying his curiosity about Berrien Springs, MI. One of Brodee’s milestones? Blue Ridge Parkway.

We didn’t really know what to expect. Thankfully, Jeff and Amy are very familiar with The Parkway, as locals call it, and helped us get a line-up of things to see, and in the order we’d come across them. Their suggestions were invaluable!! When they retire, we vote they become tour guides for this region.The Parkway is 469 miles long. It begins in VA and ends in NC. It has official entrances at both the northern and southern ends, and you can also get on anywhere in between. The Parkway was built so it’s a route by itself, but civilization isn’t far away. There are entrances onto the BRP on the outskirts of many towns along the way.
Our first stop was Waterrock Knob. There is a beautiful Visitors’ Center up there with a few exhibits showing some of the wildlife you may encounter while on the BRP.

This is a panoramic shot Albert took.

In the parking lot, you’re also high enough you feel like you’re even with the tops of the other mountains. We took the short hike that curves up around the top. As you walk, there’s a tiny stream that trickles along with you. Melbee loved being able to stop and drink when she got too hot.

It looks like all the mountains are covered in broccoli crowns. Can you imagine what it looks like in autumn?!?! It has to be breathtaking!

The view from the top was spectacular. You look out on the other mountains and can watch the clouds at almost eye level.

It was also a great place to test out new binoculars recently purchased at Smoky Mountain Knife Works…

After Waterrock Knob, we took off for Devil’s Courthouse. By the time we got there, the afternoon rain had beat us. We figured it wasn’t best to be walking out on top of a mountain with an electrical storm brewing.

On the way to Devil’s Courthouse, we had to mark Big Boy’s accomplishment!

A view of Devil’s Courthouse from the overlook.

Next on the Jeff and Amy list was Black Balsam Knob, but since the rain wasn’t going away anytime soon, we decided to park it for the night at the trail head and wait til morning. We weren’t the only ones spending the night up there. A few tent campers had sheltered under some of the evergreens. We slept like babies, with the sound of rain drops putting us to sleep. No city lights, no other sounds. Just the wind, the rain, and wonderful sleep.

Black Balsam Knob trail head

In the morning, we woke up and took a sunrise hike to the top of the knob. It was still windy, but it felt so good. It’s just such a peaceful feeling to look out across the way. The birds sing to you along the way, and knowing you’re somewhere special like this, your feet just keep moving all by themselves.
Graveyard Fields was another spectacular place. As we walked along down to the river, some of the foliage made us think we were back in Florida. It looked tropical. But at the same time, we could smell the sweet aroma of mountain blackberries.
When we got down the path toward the river, there were wooden stairs and a bridge that led out across. Being trailblazers, the boys decided to rock hop instead and had a blast doing so!Next on the docket was Mount Mitchell. This is a State Park, but it’s right off The Parkway, so you don’t have to pay an entrance fee. We were planning to take a hike, but since it was midafternoon….you guessed it…rain! We still had some fun anyway.

We wound our way through the mountains to the NC Museum of Minerals at the BRP Visitors’ Center in Spruce Pine, NC.

The last stop for the day was Linville Falls. The walk from the Visitors’ Center was beautiful. And even though evening rains continued, thet trees were so thick, we barely felt a thing. We spent the night in the parking lot and enjoyed more of the beautiful sounds of the mountains as we went to sleep.

Linn Cove Falls

Albert spotted this little guy one the way back to Big Boy. Can you?

Our final destination on The Parkway was the Linn Cove Viaduct.

As beautiful as this is, can you imagine it in autumn attire?

Back in fourth grade, Brodee had done a National Park project with one of his homeschool classmates. They chose Blue Ridge Parkway. One of the tasks was to create their own postcard. Brodee drew the Linn Cove Viaduct in autumn. And he asked me, “Mom, do you think we’ll ever actually get to go to Blue Ridge Parkway?” I told him I hoped so, and knowing we were doing it now…that was an incredible thing!

We took a hike first, and the hike takes your right under the viaduct. It was unreal. We were under the viaduct!! 

This hike was the perfect blend of elements the boys love – uphill, downhill, climbing over rocks and logs, and plenty of interesting things to see — like these roots that look like an octopus!

Then it was time to drive it. Le piece de resistance!  This was the moment we’d been waiting for….driving the Linn Cove Viaduct!

We exited The Parkway at Blowing Rock, NC. It truly was hard to turn off The Parkway, knowing we were leaving behind God’s Country. You couldn’t help but feel His presence up there. The simpleness of it all. The weather was beautiful…we didn’t use the air conditioner for the entire time on The Parkway. But it was time to move on. Maybe someday we’ll be back…