Blue Ridge Parkway

Decades ago, I resided in western North Carolina, and lived only a short 15–20 minute drive from one of the most astounding national parks ever created in the US: the Blue Ridge Parkway. Construction began in 1935 and was completed in 1966 except for one massive bridge: "The 7.7-mile (12.4 km) stretch including the Linn Cove Viaduct around Grandfather Mountain did not open until 1987." ^[1] I clearly remember when the Viaduct opened and what an exciting thing it was! Prior to that, we had to exit the parkway and detour down a stretch of state road for a few miles, then pickup the Parkway again on the other side of Linn Cove.

For the Golden Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, officials commissioned the Charleston Mint to produce a commemorative "coin" /token which would be made available to visitors as souvenirs. These medallions were struck in solid bronze and make nice collectibles, although not terribly valuable in their metallic content. I bought two of them at USD $2.00 in 1985 when they were issued and still have them both in my collection. They appear to have a "collector value" of USD $5–$15 currently.

The above photo shows the obverse (front) and the following photo shows the reverse (back) of the same medallion. The document that came with the medallion describes the iconography thusly:

On the front is the official Golden Anniversary logo which depicts a road through scenic mountains with a White Pine to represent the forests and wildlife. The reverse honors the states of North Carolina and Virginia, through which the Parkway passes and without whose help the Parkway would not be a reality. The cardinal is the state bird and the the dogwood is the state flower of Virginia and North Carolina.

Here is a detail of the reverse (back), zoomed-in a bit closer:

The document that accompanied the medallion also says:

^{image source: AllTrails.com}

The amazing nature of the Blue Ridge Parkway and its environs are many fold:

• For one thing, it is unique in being "America's longest linear park" and "runs for 469 miles (755 km) through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties." ^[1] This one point might be of interest to @xcountytravelers 😉
• The Appalachian Mountains are full of beauty. Miles and miles of gorgeous scenery abounds there. Since the Appalachians are one of the oldest mountain ranges on Earth, they have been worn-down by millennia of wind and rain, so are no longer as high as the Rockies, but they are no less beautiful! There are many "scenic overlooks" where motorists can stop to stretch their legs and take in the scenic vistas. One can look down into valleys below as well as coves, across to other mountains, and be fascinated by the ever-changing landscape at each point along the way.
• Besides the pretty landscapes, nature lovers will find a tremendous wealth of flora and fauna to watch. Although the Parkway passes close to several towns and cities, much of the land adjacent to the Parkway is rural, or is maintained by the National Forest Service. This allows for sightings of many species of animals if one is alert. I have seen deer, red fox, gray fox, a bobcat, muskrats, raccoons, opossums, striped skunks, spotted skunks, shrews, and probably more that my present memory is forgetting. I have also heard mountain lions howling from distant mountain peaks, although I've never seen one in the wild (thankfully!).
• Most of the wildlife I saw was while cruising the Parkway at night with friends. Many of us gathered at various places up there after dark for the star-gazing opportunities, Select locations are good for star-gazing at particular times of the year. Be sure to exercise caution if going there at night, so as not to injure wildlife that might dart across the road and to ensure that you stay on the roadway, as there are some very sheer drops if one veers too far off the pavement in places.
• Lovers of flowers won't be disappointed, either, as many species thrive on the Parkway and the adjacent lands. There are rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel, trillium, wild ginger, jack-in-the-pulpit, bloodroot, pitcher plants, milkweed, fleabane, asters, daisies, black-eyed susans, pipsissewa, and hundreds more... yes, hundreds of species, if not thousands! And that is not counting the trees: several species of oaks, elm, firs, balsam, birch, maple, sycamore, sassafras, poplar, locust, beech, ash, several species of pine, and many more, mostly in old-growth forests that stretch for miles and miles.
• Hundreds of miles of hiking trails abound — some short and easy, some long and strenuous — to suit the desires of any level of hiker. Dozens of waterfalls can be viewed in several areas adjacent to the Parkway. There are also camping facilities nearby, both primitive and modern, as well as numerous inns not far off the Parkway for those who do not wish to "rough it." There are dozens of short side-trips that can be taken to museums, shops that sell anything your heart can imagine from rustic crafts to expensive jewelry. There are also officially-designated wilderness areas, for the hardcore, which require registration and permits to access because of safety concerns. Whitewater rafting opportunities are also available nearby, as well as waters for canoeing and kayaking.
• Many cultural and historic sites and venues lie along the route, where one can learn about the life of the early settlers to the area as well as events that helped to shape the landscape and the people who lived there. This makes for a perfect educational experience, all while having fun in an hands-on manner!

As long as the Blue Ridge Parkway stretches and as many opportunities that exist along the way for recreation and sight-seeing, planning a trip can be difficult because of sheer overload of the possibilities. If your time visiting is limited, feel free to contact me for assistance is making a decision about which section of the Parkway might be best for you; although it has been twenty years or so since I lived there, I still remember enough that I might be able to help a little.