On the Blue Ridge Parkway, We Were Able to Touch the Clouds

September 30, 2014 in Attractions, Autumn, Road Trip

Autumn has arrived in our part of the world and I think it’s wonderful for me to reminisce about our first “real” autumn experience as a family. I call it “real” because when my son and I arrived here in the U.S. in November of 2010, all the leaves had already fallen so we never got to see the beautiful foliage. And seeing that there’s no such thing as autumn in the Philippines, it truly was a “real first.” So when autumn arrived the following year, my husband made sure that we got to see it at one of the most beautiful scenic places possible and one of the most visited during this season, the Blue Ridge Parkway.

My husband loves history, and he knows much about this area where he’s lived his entire life. As he told me, construction on the parkway began in 1930 during the Great Depression, and part of the work was done by people employed in some of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal work agencies: the Works Progress Administration; the Emergency Relief Administration; and the Civilian Conservation Corps. That was of great help to many of the people living in this mountain region during a time of great economic hardship.

We live in Western North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Parkway is less than an hour drive from where we live. I hadn’t heard of the place until I got here in the U.S. so I was giddy with excitement because I had no idea what to expect. With that said, imagine my amazement when I finally saw the beauty of the parkway. Even my son was as amazed as I was.

We planned the trip the second week of October when autumn was at its peak on the parkway and it was such a blessing that the weather was gorgeous that day.

We stopped at all the overlook areas because each overlook provides a different view. I can’t remember exactly how many overlooks we stopped at. See the beautiful foliage? And the mountains! I couldn’t get enough of that view.

Looking Glass Rock is one of the most popular overlooks and that is because of the scenic beauty of the rock. It is made of granite and whenever the sunshine hits it, it looks like glass, thus the name.

The parkway is America’s longest linear park and runs 469 miles through twenty-nine counties of North Carolina and Virginia. But we didn’t drive all the way to Virginia. We started in Buncombe County, Asheville, North Carolina and came out in Madison County, still in North Carolina.

“Wind-thrown tree trunks covered with moss and spruce needles looked like a graveyard destroyed by fire in 1925.” – This was how it got its name “Graveyard Fields” as per the sign.

At an elevation of 5120, this was the most crowded overlook of all. There were a lot of cars parked in the parking area and there were a lot of people checking the overlook. Apparently, it is also a favorite spot for hikers and campers.

It was in this spot that our cellphones acted weird and we really didn’t know why. The time of the cellphones changed like we were in a different time zone. Maybe because we are at a higher elevation, so high that it’s getting some kind of signal from elsewhere? Enlighten me.

And there we are. Happy tourists were we.

Have you been to the Blue Ridge Parkway? If not yet, then you must go.

About Lynndee

I consider myself a foodie and I love road trips. I currently reside in North Carolina with my husband and son. I hold a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a Major in Management from my Alma Mater, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in my hometown of GenSan, Philippines. I also love listening to music, singing, watching TV, reading and cooking.