The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina offers a multitude of day trip experiences. On this Fall day in Sept., we decided to set off for the top of Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php. When we left early that morning from our home in Dandridge, Tn., about 30 miles East of Knoxville, it was a beautiful Fall day. By the time we reached the summit of Mt. Mitchell, we felt like we were on the north face of Mt. Everest and very glad that we took our heavy coats, as you can see from the photos below. The temperature differential was over 30 degrees with Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi River, at an elevation of 6,684 ft. The mountain vistas were beautiful and we vowed to go back on a Spring or Summer day.
After leaving the summit, we were ready to sit down to a hot meal of some good ole comfort food. We found a restaurant, managed by the park, that had a great view overlooking the mountains, but lacking in food quality. I will say that the hot chocolate and coffee definately warmed us up and prepared us for our trip home.
We made one final stop on our return trip along the Parkway at the Folk Art Center http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/ which has very high quality arts and crafts. We've always loved arts and crafts especially those made by locals. It always gives one more appreciation for the people and their passions. The setting sun on our westward drive home concluded another memorable day in East Tennessee. No painting has, or ever will duplicate the real thing.
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