First class plane ride to Paris? $Thousands!!
A drive through Fall foliage with friends or family? $$Priceless.
This is your once in a lifetime chance to join the many 75th anniversary celebrations along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Literally. Unless of course, you've just gotten your driver's permit; are 15 years old; and live long enough and are able to drive the curvy mountainous highway to heaven when you're 90. If you're older than 15 however, there's still time to enjoy once, the exciting events that are planned along this scenic highway that harmoniously spans beautiful mountain ranges and weaves through the best of two states. Here, nature effortlessly lights up the natural view of the lodge at the Peaks of Otter in Virginia with bright Fall foliage. And this is only a preview of more beautiful and intriguing adventures along the Parkway.
During the Great Depression when it's plan was conceived, and in 1935 when work began, it offered jobs and hope to down trodden Americans when the Shenandoah in Virginia and the Great Smokies Parks in North Carolina were officially joined by this endeavor.
It's history is fraught with brutal controversy, and vicious politics ran rampant during the planning and on into it's early years. Tales of the winners, and the losers whose lives were forever altered by this seemingly simple, yet surprisingly significant roadway remain in the memories of those who lived along it's 469 meandering miles.
Just as diverse as it's history, is it's fragile biodiversity. Entire species have thrived. And some have even disappeared. Now, animals, and even the plants are protected and flourishing in this rare natural habitat, abundant with waterfalls, hiking trails, campgrounds, and picnic areas surrounded by lush flora and fauna. These are dwindling at an alarming rate in our quickly developing and expanding world.
Skyline Drive officially joins the Parkway in Virginia at Front Royal. Then, as you meander southerly, it's curvy and colorful pathway flits on the West Virginia and Tennessee lines, making quick excursions for intriguing interludes in these other two states not only simple but immensely rewarding. Your journey takes you up over 5000 feet, and down to 2000 feet above sea level as you climb prehistoric mountains which appear to have merely been shoved together in one quick cataclysmic moment. They look much like a thick cloth that's been pushed along and consequently wrinkled together, but in fact it took millions of years to merge and ripple these mountain ranges and grow the life forms that thrive on them today. The awe inspiring tour of the Appalachians and the Blue Ridge Mountains culminates at the famous Smokey Mountain Naitonal Park in North Carolina, just shy of the Tennessee border.
Whether you fancy yourself a leaf looker or a leaf peeper, a Fall day on the parkway will reward, soothe and excite even the most over worked and under loved soul. Simply google up "Blue Ridge Parkway" to access the many sites listing it's anniversary offerings of adventures in 2010, it's 75th year. Godspeed!