Blue Ridge · National Parks Conservation Association

By A Mystery Man Writer

Extending more than 450 miles between Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a trip through the history of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the people who have lived here for hundreds of years. This meandering road ties together diverse landscapes and conserves architecture, industry and cultural traditions associated with the mountain communities of southern Appalachia. Visitors can while away an afternoon listening to traditional music at the Blue Ridge Music Center, learn about the life of early settlers at Mabry Mill, or peruse traditional arts and crafts at the Folk Art Center, among other adventures.