Related Web Sites / Information that will help you explore the region!
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a long, linear park with significant connections and important relationships with the communities through which it travels. Adjacent cities, tourism sites, U.S. Forest Service lands, and other national park sites provide ample opportunity for any visitor to leave the Parkway and explore the region for an hour, a day, or a week. Information on many of these sites can be found at the following web site addresses:
Virginia Tourism Commission - http://www.virginia.org/home.asp
North Carolina Tourism Commission - http://www.visitnc.com
Asheville, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce - http://www.exploreasheville.com
Roanoke, Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau - http://www.visitroanokeva.com
Boone, North Carolina - http://www.highcountryhost.com
Adjacent National Park Service areas...
Shenandoah National Park - http://www.nps.gov/shen
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - http://www.nps.gov/grsm
Booker T. Washington National Monument - http://www.nps.gov/bowa
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site - http://www.nps.gov/carl
U.S. Forest Service and other Federal Recreation Areas...
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests - http://www.fs.fed.us
Pisgah & Nantahala National Forests - http://www.fs.fed.us
W. Kerr Scott Resevoir, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers area near Wilkesboro, NC. Click Here
Philpott Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers area near Bassett, VA Click Here
Virginia and North Carolina State Parks or Recreation Areas...
Virginia State Parks - http://www.dcr.state.va.us/parks
North Carolina State Parks - http://www.ncsparks.net
For a link directly to Mount Mitchell State Park (Milepost 355.4) Click Here
For a link directly to Virginia's Explore Park (Milepost 115) Click Here
Organizations Helping Protect the Blue Ridge Parkway...
The Blue Ridge Parkway Association web site is an excellent source for regional information at http://www.blueridgeparkway.org.
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is a private, non-profit supporting foundation that helps fund specific programs and projects along the Parkway. Their web site at http://www.brpfoundation.org will let you know how you can help out!
Check out the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a non-profit organization whose members get involved in park projects and support the Parkway in a variety of ways throughout our region. Their web site is http://www.blueridgefriends.org.
Click here to view the "web cam" and air quality page at Shining Rock Wilderness