Hiking is a popular thing to do in the Smoky Mountains. The observation tower overlooks the park as well as several states on a clear day—said to be Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia; otherwise expect the signature blue haze of the Smokies, which is still beautiful.
Although the tower is open year-round, the road to it closes from December through March and during inclement weather. Scenic Byways: Appalachian Driving Experience. Consider the following scenic drives recommended by professional AAA travel editors. Ashley River Road Trip. Ironworks Scenic Road. Tune into the Music of the Appalachian Mountains. Inspired by African and European styles, including ballads and hymns, Appalachian music—a new musical genre—traveled orally from person to person before musical notations and recordings brought new listeners in the early 20th century.
Ranging from bluegrass to jazz and the blues, this lively style of music features banjos, fiddles and guitar. Or take a different kind of trip: Seek out kitschy roadside attractions and iconic sigts, like Dinosaur Land in White Post, Va.
For inspiration, road trip games and songs, look no further than our guide to planning the ultimate Appalachian Trail road trip. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline. Maine's Grafton Notch State Park is a major highlight of this section, and actually the perfect place to start your Appalachian Trail road trip, surrounded by beautiful waterfalls and gorges. After Grafton Notch, plan on driving the Mt Washington Auto Road in New Hampshire, which is a seasonal byway up the highest peak in the Northeast, along which you'll find mountain tours, a gift shop, a cafe, and ever-changing panoramic views.
It's especially gorgeous at sunrise Washington" bumper sticker! While in New Hampshire visit Story Land, a super quirky theme park that was founded by Bob and Ruth Morell after purchasing large, whimsical dolls from Germany. Their park is based on these massive storybook dolls, and has all kinds of rides and attractions, from swan boats to vintage cars to an antique carousel, and tons more.
Next up is Crawford Notch State Park. This 5,acre park has loads of hiking trails, a few waterfalls and some insanely gorgeous mountain views. There's also a campground onsite. And a little ways down the road is Gifford Woods State Forest Park, which also features Appalachian trail camping-- if you can't hike it, you can at least camp out the way a hiker would!
The New England portion of the Appalachian Trail offers plenty of delicious places to eat. There's Polly's Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill, NH, which is famous for its pancakes, obviously, but also its ambiance, as it's set in an early s building that provides fantastic mountain scenery. The resort is surrounded by the Green Mountains, and if you're visiting during winter for skiing, they provide free shuttle service to the slopes.
Or you could spend the night in luxury at the Four Chimney's Inn in Bennington, VT, which is housed in a beautiful mansion, on 11 acres, and is just a few minutes walk from The Bennington Museum and the Bennington Battle Monument. Lastly, the Maple Terrace Motel in Williamstown, MA will make you feel right at home with simple rooms decorated in a charming country theme.
Over in Hancock, MA is the historic Hancock Shaker Village, which was established in and has been turned into a living history museum where you can listen to interpretive talks on history, see demonstrations on how the Shakers farmed and danced, and even meet some cute baby animals. Before you leave Massachusetts, if you're hungry, there's East Side Cafe in Pittsfield, which has been a local favorite since the s. We're going to start near the southern end of the trail, in Blue Ridge, Georgia , and end in the same park as the trail ends — the Baxter State Park in Maine.
This road travels over the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive , two of the most beautiful drives in the country. Your mileage may vary, of course. It might take you even two weeks to finish this road trip, if you're stopping to take in all the sights or hanging out with some of the hikers at their resupply points. Just take it easy and enjoy the view! We're going to start, as we said, in Blue Ridge, Georgia. It isn't the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail , but it is close enough that you'll be able to see the same views and experience the same excitement as the hikers as they start out.
You might have heard of it, as it's one of America's most famous scenic drives. You'll skim the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park , which is a gorgeous display of trees and flowers that are unique to this area. From here, you'll follow it for the next miles as it winds through the Nantahala National Forest , over scenic pull-offs and views of the major peaks in the southern Appalachian range.
Your first major stop is Mount Pisgah , 46 miles away. It's part of the Pisgah National Forest , a smaller part of the Nantahala that extends up along the length of the Parkway. Another notable stop is Asheville, North Carolina , which is known for its various attractions, including Biltmore Estate , a gilded age mansion that you can tour.
There are so many places up through the Blue Ridge Parkway where you can stop and take in the sights. It's always less than miles from the Appalachian Trail , and close enough that you can take a detour to one of the many resupply points in North Carolina to meet with the hikers as they come through. You can acquire a full list of resupply points and stops along the Appalachian Trail at their official website!
The Trail crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Roanoke, Virginia and weaves through and over it for the remainder of your time on this particular road. This includes the path through George Washington National Forest.
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