Happy 75th
Blue Ridge Parkway
速
Bask in the
Blue Ridge
There’s a reason the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2010, is called America’s Favorite Drive. Actually, there are lots of reasons – glorious fall foliage, vibrant spring flowers, charming little towns, friendly mountain folks, rich Appalachian culture, dramatic vistas, quiet meadows, intriguing tunnels – the list goes on. But perhaps what folks love best about the Parkway is its uncanny ability to force travelers to slow down and enjoy the drive. “The Blue Ridge Parkway is timeless,” says Phil Francis, superintendent of the Parkway, which winds more than 250 miles through North Carolina. “It takes you to a completely different world and is a constant reminder of what an extraordinary place we live in.” Extraordinary, indeed. Work began on the Parkway in 1935, during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, and it took 52 years to complete, with the final stretch being laid in 1987. The Blue Ridge Parkway will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a series of events honoring its history, music and culture, culminating with an anniversary weekend celebration in September at Cumberland Knob, where the initial groundbreaking for the Parkway took place.
The scenic byway showcases jaw-dropping vistas you have to see to believe. You’re officially invited to special events celebrating this national treasure all year long. Come join in, won’t you?
see blueridgeparkway75.org for details.
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To watch videos about the Parkway, check out visitnc.com/2010/media-videos.