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Read Thread: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline

Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Oct 31, 2014 8:50am
Thread (disabled) Board
I'm reaching out to the really smart, experienced members of our hobby for assistance. ;-)

It looks like we're going to fulfill Robert's life-long dream of driving the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We'll be starting on the south end at Cherokee, NC, and end up at the end of Skyline in the Shenandoah Park in VA. Since I'm the planner in the family, and I have to find a few boxes to mark the event in any case, I'm starting early. LOL

I've begun researching the drive and find a LOT of conflicting information online. We aren't campers with our own equipment, and will be driving Robert's convertible for the scenic views, so we'll need to pick towns nearby that we can get off and find a hotel. If anyone has done this drive and could offer help, hints on must do stops, special boxes to grab, etc, I would really appreciate the help. We'll be staying for a few days at the end but will be with muggles, so I can't take up the whole time with letterboxing. Good planning on my part now will help me.

Your help would be much appreciated!

GreyCrazy
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874637 by GreyCrazy
Oct 31, 2014 9:42am
Thread (disabled) Board
Roanoke Virginia has the Roanoke Star/Mill Mountain area. There are a lot of boxes up there and along the parkway in that stretch that are do-able by car and slight walking. It wouldn't take long to pop on and off. Roanoke has pretty good food, lots of hotels and small B&Bs. It might be worth looking into AirBnB for your nights, since it tends to be pretty cheap and I've had good luck using it while letterboxing. If you want to get out at Roanoke, I can tell you which boxes I've found that are easy and which ones to avoid.

Cheers. This sounds pretty awesome.
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874637 by GreyCrazy
Oct 31, 2014 9:50am
Thread (disabled) Board
Pre-letterboxing my daughter and I drove from Pigeon Forge, up the Blue Ridge to the end of Skyline Drive. I LOVED every inch of the BR but SL not so much. I bought a book called Walking the Blue Ridge by Leonard M. Adkins and my daughter read while I drove. The BR is marked by mile markers and the book tells you what to do and/or see at every one so we picked the not to be missed spots. There's lots of information about all the hikes along with notes about views to be seen from the car. I envy you.
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874637 by GreyCrazy
Oct 31, 2014 10:29am
Thread (disabled) Board
I have two boxes planted with very short walks from a stopping point near Front Royal, VA. Nothing really special about either one (a donated moose and a South African Springbok). I interested the link is below:

http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?boxId=231035
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874637 by GreyCrazy
Oct 31, 2014 7:55pm
Thread (disabled) Board
You pansy! You're supposed to do the WHOLE trip, starting in Natchez, Mississippi, driving the entire length of the Natchez Trace, then skip over and do the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and then continue on for the entire length of the Skyline Drive.

BTW, I presume your plans are quite a ways in the future? Because IIRC the BRP closes around this time of year, not to reopen until spring.
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874723 by Kirbert
Nov 1, 2014 7:32am
Thread (disabled) Board
We almost never drive on the BRP without getting off in asheville to visit the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. A must stop for any chocolate lover!
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874637 by GreyCrazy
Nov 1, 2014 4:41pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I really enjoyed going down in a few of the caves like Lurray Caverns.
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874646 by PiggyJaunt
Nov 1, 2014 5:13pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Roanoke has pretty good food

And IF you like cupcakes Bubble Cakes are the best cupcakes ever. Oh and the Star is pretty cool too, make sure you see it both day and night for two amazing views.
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874723 by Kirbert
Nov 1, 2014 5:15pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Natchez, Mississippi, driving the entire length of the Natchez Trace

This is on my list of things to do one day... yep one day
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874758 by PHOTOBUG
Nov 1, 2014 5:16pm
Thread (disabled) Board
French Broad Chocolate Lounge.

Ah yes another wonderful place and a letterbox too.
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874807 by oceanwinds
Nov 1, 2014 7:26pm
Thread (disabled) Board
French Broad Chocolate Lounge.

Ah yes another wonderful place and a letterbox too.

help! someone please help! i NEED to find the link to this box! :)
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874637 by GreyCrazy
Nov 1, 2014 7:54pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I have a box at Rocky Knob, Rose in the Saddle
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874758 by PHOTOBUG
Nov 2, 2014 4:51am
Thread (disabled) Board
getting off in asheville to visit the French Broad Chocolate Lounge.

DO THIS!! O. M. G. YUUUMM!!!

and, there's a box there.

~tigs (who doesn't know about the chocolates, but the vegan liquid truffle with coconut milk is to die for)
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874815 by windsurfgator
Nov 2, 2014 4:53am
Thread (disabled) Board
Here ya go: decadence in a box

~tigs (i'm here to help)
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874806 by oceanwinds
Nov 2, 2014 9:27am
Thread (disabled) Board
The Natchez Trace is the same thing as the BRP only different. It's a long, skinny park with no trucks allowed and no billboards just like the BRP. However, it's dead flat, no hills to speak of, you can set the cruise control and forget it. While the BRP has zillions of pullouts for overlooks, the NT has stops for historical markers and nature trails.
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874849 by Kirbert
Nov 2, 2014 9:47am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thanks!
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874637 by GreyCrazy
Nov 2, 2014 11:34am
Thread (disabled) Board
When are you planning on making this trip? My class is in the process of creating an add-on website about the Parkway for the Driving Through Time BRP site.

http://www.atlasquest.com/boards/message.html?gMsgId=873420
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #874858 by koalacat
Nov 7, 2014 6:20am
Thread (disabled) Board
HOLY COW! You guys are AMAZING!

This trip won't be happening until April of next year, but I'm The Planner and I Must Plan. LOL Part of the joy in taking an adventure like this for me is looking ahead and getting the most I can out of the experience.

I'll look into NT! Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure if we can squeeze that into this trip because of time, but I've read all of Nevada Barr's books and been interested in the Trace for awhile. I'll do some further research on that.

I will absolutely buy the book you suggested. That's exactly the kind of thing I would do....read ahead as we drive, and be prepared as we travel to stop in the places written about. Thank you that's awesome. :-)

And thanks for the first suggestions on the boxes and stops! Robert has already decided that we have to do Wheels Through Time museum either right before we get on the BRP or get off at the exit and circle back on. If we're going to do it in two or three days there won't be time for much walking off-road for boxes, but I'll do the best I can to maximize the possible stops. And chocolate sounds goooooooood. LOL

GreyCrazy
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway...+ Chincoteague!
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #875424 by GreyCrazy
Jan 8, 2015 6:47am
Thread (disabled) Board
I'm thrilled to say that not only are our plans confirmed for this trip, but now we're going to be joining my parents on Chincoteague Island for four days instead of staying in Shenandoah. I've wanted to visit there all of my life and see the wild ponies!

Now that we're in official planning mode I started with boxes (of course!) and found that there are a list of them actually on Chincoteague. I'd be grateful for any suggestions on boxes or just plain traveling from the end of the Parkway east to Chincoteague and getting the most out of our short visit to the area. My father says if I could throw in some suggestions on getting some oysters he'd be a happy man. :-)

Can't wait to experience Virginia!
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway...+ Chincoteague!
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #883537 by GreyCrazy
Jan 8, 2015 6:24pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Was up there last year. I enjoyed boxing and saw the beautiful horses and birds. Check out:
Wading for Supper. Hallie Whealton Smith Dr, Chincoteague, VA
A Light Over the Cove. Chincoteague, VA
I'm a Little Crabby. Hallie Whealton Smith Dr, Chincoteague, VA
Crucified Crab. Kiptopeke, VA
Chincoteague Pony, Chincoteague Island, Chincoteague Island, VA
Re: Looking for help- Blue Ridge Parkway...+ Chincoteague!
Board: Region: Southeast
Reply to: #883684 by GA Candy Girl
Jan 8, 2015 8:10pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Wonderful, thank you! I think I've got all of those marked already but that gives me a place to start and make sure they aren't missed. I can't wait!