Autumn’s Blue Ridge Parkway

Autumn's Red, Yellow, & Orange Blue Ridge Parkway

WRITER/PHOTOS Dwaine Phifer

Geographically NC is distinctly unique. Using a major stretch of creative imagination, NC can be thought of as a rectangle blessed with uniquely geographic diversity. There is the roiling Atlantic Ocean on the eastern side and the rolling expanse of the western Blue Ridge Mountains. The Piedmont, like a good buddy, holds the two together in the middle.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, a major National Park, albeit a elongated one, begins at US 441 in western NC, near Cherokee, and ends 469 miles later as the Virginia Skyline Drive at US Hwy 250 in Rockfish Gap. The Parkway is also home to Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River. This long stretch of scenic highway is consistently rated the “most-visited park” by the US National Park Service.

The Parkway had its beginning in September, 1935, near Cumberland Knob. NC. With the advent of WWII, construction came to a complete stop. In the 1950s, due to National Park Service support, much of what is today's Blue Ridge Parkway came into being. By 1966, the Parkway was near completion. The major exception was a missing portion located near Grandfather Mountain. This break in what is now the continuous Parkway was corrected when the Linn Cove Viaduct opened in 1987. The seven-mile construction was designed and engineered to wrap around the mountain to ensure minimal environmental and structural damage occurred to the side of “the Grandfather.”

For a September-October family outing, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers many relaxing and colorful day-trip options. There are not only numerous roadside picnic areas, scenic overlooks, and a myriad of recreational offerings, there are some of the most spectacular panoramic vistas to be found anywhere. Great care has been given to preserving important historical features.

Numerous connecting highway entrance/exit points along the Parkway ensure visitors have options for how much time and distance they want to spend traveling the Parkway. Too, there are important historical sites and interesting recreational attractions to enjoy either scattered along the length of the Parkway or “down the mountain” in nearby towns.

For Parkway first-timers or those who have not visited the Parkway in awhile, doing research ahead of time is important—very, very important!

A few things to consider:

1) Fall clothing and sturdy, comfortable footwear are essential. It's more reassuring to take too much and not need it than regret not being prepared. When it is cold on the Parkway, it is COLD! Having a blanket or snugly throw could come in handy especially for small children. Cold rain, heavy fog, or even snow can occur any time from Fall to late Spring, especially at higher elevations. Parkway weather changes rapidly.

2) It is a good idea to have plenty of bottled water: Drink it, wash hands with it, or even clean a dirty windshield to improve the view. Small individual serving-size bags of favorite snack foods can be a delight, especially for kids.

3) Restroom “pit stops” can be few and far between depending on the time of the year and locations. Expect large numbers of travelers at rest-stop facilities during the fall leaf spectacular. While planning a Parkway trip, do the necessary homework and locate “facility” locations and decide where to take periodic rest breaks.

4) It is important to research current 2022 COVID information and plan proactively.

5) Pets should be on leashes when out of a vehicle. Such thoughtfulness is for the comfort of others as well as for responsible pet safety. A lost, frightened pet in an unfamiliar wilderness area with lots of traffic is a recipe for heartbreak.

For weekly Fall leaf color reports use highcountryhost.com/2022-Fall-Leaf-Color-NC-Mountains-Forecast-Report. This is an outstanding service provided by Appalachian State University’s Department of Biology.

Finally, before leaving home for a Parkway outing always check for construction/road repair or weather/storm related closures at nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm. Strong storm winds can fell trees and litter the Parkway with large, broken limbs any time of the year.

6) As of this writing, there are two major Parkway construction projects in progress; thus, Parkway travel includes a number of detour miles at each site. Again, careful planning and thinkingahead has to be a priority. Always check for closures!

7) Although September-October are still Daylight Saving Time months, dusk in the Fall comes quickly to the Parkway because of hulking mountain shadows and the Autumn sun's quick race toward the horizon.

8) Mornings and evenings are times wildlife is typically the most active. Because the Parkway meanders through open farmland, densely forested areas, and heavily shaded sections, deer, bears, wild turkeys, or an assortment of smaller animals may be on or near the roadway. The twilight hours of dawn or dusk are especially busy times for wildlife movement. Drivers should be constantly on the lookout for wildlife dashing onto the roadway. Too, it is also necessary to be on alert for hikers, photographers, and bicyclists throughout the day. Frequent stops at overlooks give drivers a chance to safely enjoy the scenery while ensuring traffic continues to move smoothly. It should go without saying that the average speed limit of 45mph is the law-- not a suggestion! The speed limit also drops in congested areas or when roadwork is taking place.

For a 2022 blaze of color, consider a Blue Ridge Parkway SeptemberOctober visit as a gift worth enjoying. Careful planning which includes Parkway rules and seasonal/emergency closures is mandatory. Having up-to-date weather information is a make-orbreak factor for a fun-filled, safe parkway visit. Always check weather reports in advance before heading to the Parkway. Recognize that weekends and holidays will tempt more visitors to travel the Parkway. Mondays through Thursdays usually afford more leisure driving and sightseeing.

Blue Ridge Parkway Snackin' Mix

The sour bear candies are a GREAT flavor surprise. by Dwaine Phifer

1 cup each of rice, corn and/or wheat waffle-type cereal squares* 1 cup bite-size cheese crackers 1 1/2 cups multicolored chocolate candy disks 1 cup large semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup small pretzel sticks or bite-size rounds 1 cup of raisins (dark, golden or a mix) 1 cup of raisin-like cranberries 1 cup mix of chopped dried fruits (For example, apples, apricots, peaches, pineapple, banana chips and/or dates depending on preference.) 1 cup of unsalted peanuts 1 cup of unsalted mixed nuts 1 cup of small mixed-flavors gummy candies 1 box of snack-size plastic zip-top bags

Directions: Pour ingredients, one at a time, into a very large slide-lock food storage bag and mix by rotating the bag several times after adding each ingredient. Ensure there is a fairly equal distribution of the ingredients. Hold the snack bags over the snack mixture bowl and fill with a large spoon, leaving enough room at the top to ensure the snack bags lock securely.

Given allergies and/or personal preferences, this mixture can be altered to suit everyone's taste preferences and/or dietary needs. Add in, leave out, or substitute ingredients. The idea is to have fun and create a bit of delightful indulgence for road trips. *A cereal mixture is tasty and fun; however, the goal is to have three cups total of dry cereal regardless of type.