Posts Tagged With: Blue Ridge Parkway

Maine or Bust 2022: The Virginias

Our perfect timing allowed us to spend Easter weekend with Chris and Gail in and around Charleston, West Virginia. We relaxed with dinner out Saturday night and spent Easter Sunday hanging around our campsite. After two games of croquet, where the guys fought for first place and Gail and I battled it out for last place, we rounded out the evening gathered around our cozy trailer dinette feasting on barbecued shish kebabs. And then it was time to say goodbye…

We’re settled in Virginia for close to a week in this hidden gem of an RV park.

We’re not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 469-mile national parkway that runs through Virginia and North Carolina. We drove a part of it on a trip 5 years ago, but the weather was so cold and foggy we deserted it after just a few miles. This time the weather was beautiful, but cold…36 degrees as we stopped at various viewpoints and took a quick look around the historical 1889 Brinegar cabin property. Returning by way of an alternate route, we saw acres of Christmas tree farms decorating the landscape.

A six-mile roundtrip walk along the New River Trail State Park, a 57-mile strip that follows the abandoned railroad right-of-way, got us out of the truck for some much needed exercise. With two more days to fill and temperatures promising to warm up into the 70s (F), we expect to explore more of this rail trail with our bikes.

Categories: Maine or Bust 2022 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Backroads Across America:  Blue Ridge Parkway Leads to Sierra Nevada

We awoke to gray skies and drizzle, so decided to take a sneak peek at the Blue Ridge Parkway this morning.  Our hope has been to drive a small part of the 469 mile scenic highway on our way to West Virginia.  Today was not the best day for views, but we definitely gained valuable perspective!

As we slowly crept around the twists and turns of the parkway, quickly climbing over 3,000 feet, we soon realized we had no business towing our trailer along this route, no matter how beautiful the scenery.  As we reached the 5,000 foot elevation, our scenery disappeared in the clouds, along with all signs of spring.   A side road took us back down to the lower elevations…for an afternoon in the Sierra Nevada (Brewery that is).

Sierra Nevada Brewery opened their Mills River, North Carolina facility in 2014.  As fans of the original Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, California, where our son works, we were curious and couldn’t resist a visit and tour during our stay in Asheville.  

What we found was amazing.  We expected the brew house, restaurant and gift shop, but around back we discovered an outdoor play land.  A massive fire pit, games, a stage for music, an organic garden, a children’s play area and seating everywhere. Unfortunately, today was a little wet to enjoy all that was offered.

If you visit be sure to reserve a tour and tasting. Both Chico and Mills River offer them and they book up quickly.  Our tour guide Sean was friendly, knowledgeable and encouraged questions.  We watched hundreds of bottles of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale traveling along a conveyer system towards packaging.  Fascinating!

Categories: Backroads Across America | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.

%d bloggers like this: