Continued from
A Spring Drive Through the American South – Part One
In a journey through some of the most romantic spots the South has to offer, start in Washington, DC, and head to Charlottesville, Virginia along the Skyline Drive.
When you’ve had your fill of Charlottesville, backtrack to the Blue Ridge Parkway and head straight into Asheville, North Carolina for forests, waterfalls, and a history of fortune.
From Charlottesville back to the Parkway: Take the 250W to the 29S to I-64W. Stay on I-64W for about 18 miles. Take Exit 99 for the 250 towards Waynesboro/Afton. Turn right at the 250, right at VA-610, and left toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The drive is about 4-5 hours. The soft, gentle mountain scenery along the Parkway is positively stunning, and if you’re here between May and June, you’ll catch one of the greatest rhododendron displays in the U.S.
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs almost directly into Asheville. Where the Parkway crosses Tunnel Road (US-70), take the 70W to the 25S to get downtown.
Spend 2-3 days in Asheville, NC:
- Stay at the Wright Inn in the Historic Montford District. While there, take a walk around the neighborhood to see truly gorgeous Victorian-era homes.
- Run, don’t walk to the Biltmore Estate (pictured above). The Vanderbilt family treasure is nestled into about a gajillion acres between the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. Take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour to see this mansion as its countless servants did, with then-cutting-edge technology like an intercom system and a kitchen vault for priceless china. Skip a visit to the awful winery included in your entrance fee and spend more time strolling the astonishing gardens; early April is all about tulips, while late April and May are heavy on azaleas.
- Visit fabulous craft art galleries in Biltmore Village (but be sure to skip Thomas Kinkade lest your eyes be forever wounded).
- Check out this list of romantic Asheville restaurants.
- Drive some of the Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway and stop to see Sliding Rock (which in summertime serves as a rocky version of a Slip ‘n’ Slide), the Cradle of Forestry and the sumptuous Pisgah Forest. We fell in love with the waterfalls here (see photo below), and the sun dappling through the tall trees. Far from overrun with tourists in Spring, you can often feel like the forests are yours to explore.
- Nearby, visit Chimney Rock Park and Grandfather Mountain to see this gorgeous, green part of the world from on high.
Consider taking an extra day to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 60 miles from Asheville. Take a hauntingly beautiful, often misty drive or two through the huge, rugged mountains and historic Appalachian homesteads here, enjoying the lighter crowds before the high July-October season.
Or, continue from Asheville to graceful Charleston, South Carolina.
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Continued in
A Spring Drive Through the American South – Part Three
I second staying at a B&B in Montford. The neighborhood is charming and really gorgeous this time of year with all the spring flowers in bloom. Its also not a long walk to downtown from here either.
If you walk (the other way) to the end of Pearson there is a large community vegetable/herb garden you can stroll.