What to see in the Appalachians
- Thread starter Keith V
- Start date
Shenandoah National Park is very nice. If you are into hiking, there are several nice hikes to do there. Also , at the Big Meadows Lodge, the restaurant is quite good. You HAVE to have a piece if the Blackberry Ice Cream Pie. There are several campgrounds, we've stayed at the Bug Meadows Campground. It is very nice.
If you are into Country music, Bristol VA/Tenn has a lot to offer as well. Both of these are along I-81. Jared Kohl can give you a LOT more ideas, since he and Stefanie live there.
If you are into Country music, Bristol VA/Tenn has a lot to offer as well. Both of these are along I-81. Jared Kohl can give you a LOT more ideas, since he and Stefanie live there.
To aid your planning, the Blueridge Parkway is the North Carolina road, and it is called Skyline Drive further north in Virginia where the road is inside Shenandoah National Park. That part you have to pay like a national park (passes work) but the southern parts are not toll roads. Big Meadows that Carl mentioned is where I grew up going, but it is a good 7 hours north of the rally. Not sure what your target area to cover is for "Appalachian". A few hours up from Asheville is a great collection of waterfall hikes you can google "best waterfall hikes near Asheville" or some such. Linville Falls we have been half a dozen times. Banner Elk, Boone, West Jefferson are interesting towns. Julian Price campground wins our simplicity vote with a little lake right on the Parkway (no hookups). Paid things are Biltmore, Tweetsie Railroad and Grandfather Mountain (Forrest Gump ran up that road) has a swinging bridge and a wildlife zoo thing. Over ten years, I have had my coach on nearly all of the Parkway/Skyline drive. It is challenging but doable, but very slow. If you get off on the wrong connector you may get quickly unhappy, and if you are towing...just remember this is mountains. I usually unhook and wife drives separate getting to elevation and on the parkway.
Last year, a route from Minnesota would take you interstate to Knoxville ish and then you could spend a few days in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains on the way. Helene tore up the interstate you would use for a semi direct route, but that area has lots to do on the Tennessee side. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are closer together than they sound, maybe 15 minutes by parkway. They are very touristy, but easy to get away from touristy also, but restaurants, zip lines, Dollywood, oddball museums in town, and of course hikes and nature in the parks.
I call PF "red neck Las Vegas." The place is ridiculous.
We were there about 20 years ago. It wasn't that bad back then, but I understand it has become a congested mess.
You've never met Barry Owen? Basically the only GMCer left rebuilding our engines and transmissions on the east coast?
He's setting up a great compound near his home for GMCers to be able to work on their coaches with or without his help. Complete with shower, kitchen facilities, indoor rally room etc.
