Visitor Center
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 316.3 – 317: Linville Falls Visitor Center and Park Store Trails near the Linville Falls Visitor Center lead to the breathtaking three-tiered Linville Falls over the Linville Gorge via both strenuous and moderate hikes. The steep-walled Gorge is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Southern… Read More
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 294: Flat Top Manor and Estate at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park This country estate was developed during the 1890s and early 1900s by Moses and Bertha Cone, the son and daughter of German and Jewish immigrants. Moses and his brother Caesar established one of North Carolina’s… Read More
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 331: Museum of North Carolina Minerals Visitor Center and Park Store The Museum of North Carolina Minerals is located in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, where the mountains are among the richest in gems and minerals in the state. Interactive displays present the significance of mining to the area’s… Read More
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Oconaluftee Visitor Center The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located in and managed by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but you’ll find it situated near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway when you exit or enter the Parkway in Cherokee, NC. Visitors marvel at spotting… Read More
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 85.6 – 90.9: Peaks of Otter With stunning views, natural beauty, and the surrounding Jefferson National Forest, it’s no wonder the Peaks of Otter area has attracted people to the region for more than 8,000 years. Native Americans passed through the area while hunting, and European… Read More
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 161.1 – 176.1: Mabry Mill, Rocky Knob Visitor Center and Campground, Rock Castle Gorge National Recreation Trail Spanning Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 167 – Milepost 174, Rocky Knob comprises 4,800 acres and 15 miles of hiking trails. The 3,500-acre Rock Castle Gorge is within Rocky Knob, with its Rock Castle Gorge… Read More
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 451.2: Waterrock Knob Visitor Center and Park Store An ideal spot for watching sunrise and sunsets across the rugged mountains, Waterrock Knob Visitor Center sits at almost 6,000 feet elevation. The nearly 360-degree view from Waterrock Knob stretches the eyes over the heart of the Southern Highlands –… Read More