Fitness
The One Spot Every Leaf Peeper Should See
It's a road trip you definitely don't want to miss!
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Some of my favorite trips don't require a plane ticket or a complicated itinerary. Give me a good simple road trip any day — especially in the fall, when the journey is every bit as rewarding as the destination. One of my favorite autumn adventures is practically in my backyard, and it's the one I recommend whenever friends ask where they should go to experience autumn: The Blue Ridge Parkway.
Known as "America's Favorite Drive," the 469-mile route winds along the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching from Rockfish Gap in Virginia to Cherokee, North Carolina, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's beautiful in every season, but in fall, it becomes something truly magical. Green summer hillsides seem to suddenly burst into layers of crimson, gold, orange and deep burgundy.
The best part? I never feel like I have to drive the whole Parkway. In fact, I think it's better when you don't. Carving out a long weekend to follow the color makes for a relaxing fall break. Because the leaves change gradually — often beginning at the highest elevations in late September before working their way down the mountains through late October and, in some lower elevations, into early November — there's a generous window to catch peak foliage somewhere along the route. That leaves plenty of time for wandering through small towns, attending a harvest festival, going apple picking, or simply discovering what's around the next bend.
Slow Down From the Start
One thing I've learned after traveling the Parkway over the years is that timing matters — but not in the way you might think. Yes, I pay attention to where the color is peaking, but I don't try to cram everything into one short visit.
I actually prefer weekday trips, especially Tuesday through Thursday. The overlooks are quieter, the Parkway is less crowded, and I can always find something to do. Weekends bring more activities, but the afternoons during peak foliage season can get surprisingly busy.
Once I’m on the Parkway, I don’t want to leave — and the best moments are often ones I couldn’t have planned. They're the scenic pull-offs where I lingered longer than expected and somehow took a hundred pictures of the light shifting in the trees or the roadside orchard where I stopped "just to look" and somehow left with warm apple cider doughnuts and a half-gallon of fresh cider. Bringing those flavors home has become part of the tradition, too — a little taste of the Parkway to remind me why I love it so.
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Virginia: Where My Road Trips Begin
Because I live just an hour east of Charlottesville, most of my Blue Ridge Parkway adventures begin at Rockfish Gap, where Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park meets the Blue Ridge Parkway. As an amateur birdwatcher, I keep an eye out for the many raptor species that migrate through Rockfish Gap, one of more than 200 hawk watch sites monitored by the Hawk Migration Association of North America.
Every time I turn onto the Parkway, the pace slows, the views open up and suddenly there's no hurry. I never set out with expectations of what I’m going to do. Instead, I head south and see where the day takes me. Sometimes that's an overlook with layers of blue ridges stretching to the horizon. Other times it's an apple orchard, a country store, or a scenic pull-off with a panoramic view of the mountains.
Abbott Lake, with Sharp Top Mountain towering above it, is not to be missed. The one-mile, mostly flat walk around the lake is proof that you don't have to tackle a strenuous hike to experience some of the Parkway's best scenery.
Farther south, the one-stoplight town of Floyd is just six miles off the Parkway and exactly the kind of mountain town I love. With local restaurants, live music at the Floyd Country Store, and independently owned shops, it's easy to lose an entire afternoon exploring.
Nearby, Mabry Mill is another stop that's worth lingering over. The historic mill, quiet pond and fiery fall foliage have made it one of the Parkway's most photographed spots — and once you're there, it's easy to see why.
North Carolina: Saving Something for Next Time
Unique viewpoint of the Linn Cove Viaduct at sunrise during autumn on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.
Pierre Leclerc Photography/Getty Images
One of the reasons I never feel pressured to drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway is that it gives me an excuse to come back. Every trip has a few places I finally get to see — and a few more I add to my list for next time.
At the top of that list is North Carolina's high country. The Linn Cove Viaduct — the last part of the Parkway to be completed in 1987 — curves around Grandfather Mountain. I'd also like to spend more time exploring Linville Falls, where a network of trails leads to overlooks of one of the region's most beautiful waterfalls.
Rather than trying to squeeze it all into a day, I'd make Blowing Rock or Boone my home base for a long weekend. While I love to be in nature, I'll admit camping is not my thing. Both towns have charming downtowns filled with shops, restaurants and galleries, along with cozy hotels and B&Bs — perfect for the adventurer in me who still appreciates a soft mattress and my own bathroom at the end of the day.
Leave Room for the Unexpected
One of the reasons I like stretching the trip over several days is that fall in the Blue Ridge isn't just about the leaves, it’s also festival season. Depending on when you visit, you might stumble across an apple festival, a craft fair, live bluegrass, or a farmers market overflowing with pumpkins and sunflowers.
I love having enough flexibility to follow a sign on a whim and linger in the moment instead of worrying about sticking to an itinerary. That's become my travel philosophy in general: Some of the best experiences happen when you aren't looking for them.
Where's YOUR favorite place to see fall foliage? Let us know in the comments below.
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