Bicycling the Blue Ridge: A Guide to the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway - Softcover

Skinner, Elizabeth; Skinner, Charlie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 089732093X ISBN 13: 9780897320931

Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press, Incorporated, 1990

Synopsis

The Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway are arguably the two most quintessential scenic roads east of the Mississippi. This 575-mile strip of continuous road flows between Front Royal, Virginia, and Cherokee, North Carolina, traverses the Shenandoah National Park, and connects to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains. Bicycling the Blue Ridge is the definitive guide to this ribbon of highway and is ready to help you plan the perfect trip. Open these pages and you will find detailed, mile-by-mile descriptions that provide information on restaurants, stores, lodging, and bike shops on or near these united roads, Newly designed maps and elevation profiles are also included. Whether your interest is recreational cycling, touring, or racing, or whether you are out for the day or a month, Bicycling the Blue Ridge is an indispensable tool for anyone interested in bicycling this incredible highway.

About this title

About the Author

Elizabeth and Charlie Skinner have spent the last 18 years bicycling, hiking, and exploring the Piedmont, foothills, and mountains of North Carolina. After a few years of awkward adventures with very young children, their two daughters, Caroline and Katie, can now cycle without training wheels. So, if readers are cycling on the Parkway and they see the Skinner caravan, they should say "Hello." The Skinners live in Pfafftown, North Carolina.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Craggy Gardens to Asheville
Get ready for some fun! You have a solid ten miles of spectacular downhill into Asheville. You'll gain it back if you are cycling on to Mt. Pisgah, but for now, enjoy. Pisgah National Forest spreads its lush blanket of green as far as the eye can see. The Swannanoa River Valley and the town of Black Mountain are to the east.

Known as "The Land of the Sky," Asheville is the quintessential city of the Blue Ridge. With a population of 160,000, it has become an urban center in its own right. Its burgeoning size warrants some careful directions on how to get around. We suggest you take one of two routes to reach the inner city. Town Mountain Road leads to downtown Asheville and two bike shops. The route through Biltmore Forest situates you best for the Biltmore Estate. A third route is best for reaching the airport. We outline each route below.

Of modern design in wood and stone, the Folk Art Center sits serenely in its mountain setting. If you appreciate fine handicrafts, you will want several hours to spend here. Bring your credit card, because the artsy jewelry, hand-loomed fabrics, and original pottery are expensive. The Folk Art Center also has an extensive selection of books on the southern highlands.

There are numerous tourist attractions in Asheville. The Biltmore Estate, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and home, and the seasonal festivals held in Asheville are all reasons to spend some time in the city. If you plan on touring Asheville, you may want to write the Asheville Travel and Tourism Office for detailed information.
Milepost
365.5 Craggy Flats Tunnel (400 ft.)
374.4 Tanbark Ridge Tunnel (780 ft.)
377.4 Craven Gap (elev. 3,132 ft.)

Edition details

• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press, Incorporated
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 089732093X
• ISBN 13: 9780897320931
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 173