Planning a day trip from Blowing Rock to Asheville

Laney Ruckstuhl

Autumn Adventure

At 3,892 feet elevation, the Black Mountains overlook is located at mile post 342.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Possible Detours

While I enjoyed my trip and was able to squeeze a lot into one day, there is a ton to do from Blowing Rock to Asheville and in-between. Here are some other attractions you can visit if you don’t like the ones I chose for my own adventure.

» Blowing Rock Art and History Museum — Located downtown, the museum has year-round exhibitions, art programs and more.

» Linville Falls — Near milepost 316.4, you can exit and see this gorgeous waterfall from five different outposts.

» Craggy Gardens — About 20 miles from Asheville are the Craggy Gardens. In the fall, they are filled with bouquets of the red berries of mountain ash.

» Rough Ridge — Just before the viaduct lies one of the parkway’s most popular hiking trails. If you can get a parking spot, you can climb five miles to the top for an awesome view.

» Tweetsie Railroad — If you’re travelling with young children, Tweetsie is a popular amusement park with a working train. In the fall, Tweetsie also has a haunted “Ghost Train” at night.

» Mt. Mitchell State Park — Just before Asheville, Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River, with an elevation of 6,684 feet.

» Folk Art Center — Right before exiting the parkway for I-40 is this museum and gallery of Appalachian arts and crafts — a great way to get a feel for mountain culture.

» N.C. Arboretum — This 434-acre garden is located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest in Asheville, accessible from milepost 393. It features diverse N.C. botany, from flowers to trees.

» Downtown Asheville — Asheville is filled with vibrant music, breweries and art. It’s a great place to enjoy if you feel like staying after dark.

Posted: Saturday, October 17, 2015 2:34 am
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Updated: 2:40 am, Sat Oct 17, 2015.

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Saturday, October 17, 2015 2:34 am.