Parkway Destinations LINN COVE VIADUCT You see it from afar as you approach it on the Parkway, and soon you’re gliding through the air as you cross this engineering marvel, built to protect the fragile slopes of Grandfather Mountain. It’s fun to drive across a number of times, and the views are awesome.
PRICE LAKE A 47-acre lake with lots of private fishing spots and campground on its shore, Price Lake offers canoe rentals and a 2.3-mile hike that hugs the shoreline. Rangers present programs in an amphitheater, and all its amenities make Price Lake a great place to spend a few hours.
PRICE PICNIC GROUNDS It’s one of the largest picnic areas on the Parkway, encompassing a beautiful valley with streams and open fields just begging to be played on. Four trails run through here. Bathrooms, ample parking, trash cans and grills are all available for free.
CONE MANOR
Photo by Tommy White
A stately manor will transport you back in time when a rich entrepreneur ruled this roost. The 23-room, more than 100-year-old summer palace is dazzling, and the 3,500acre Moses Cone Park has 25 miles of handbuilt carriage trails, one of which leads to the graveyard of its original owners.
BASS LAKE Not accessible by the Parkway but part of the Parkway, this is a locals’ favorite. Many walk their dogs on a trail that runs around the beautiful lake, and the spot offers great views of the Cone Manor and access to the trails leading up to it. Free parking and new toilet facilities are available. Bass Lake is off Highway 221, a short drive north from Main Street in Blowing Rock.
24
VISITOR’S GUIDE AUTUMN 2021
