Culture in a Day on the Blue Ridge Parkway: Southern Virginia

Blue Ridge Parkway - (North Carolina, Virginia)

Departure:	Virginia's Explore Park, Virginia
Destination:	Blue Ridge Music Center, Virginia
Time to allow:	1 day

Spend a day on the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern Virginia and see four cultural and national treasures as well as 140 miles of mountain vistas and beautiful forests.

Day 1

• Start: Virginia's Explore Park

  

  Suggested time at this stop:	2 hours

  Bring your fishing pole along and fish on the Roanoke River, or loosen up your limbs with a brisk hike on the park's trails. You can also stop by the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center for more information about the parkway, or browse the gift shop.

• Stop 2: Rocky Knob Visitor Center

  

  From previous stop:	1 hour 30 minutes / 54 mi (86.4 km)
  Directions:	Travel the Parkway to milepost 169.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour

  Stop here for more information and another opportunity to take a hike! Stroll through wild apple orchards and see old stone chimneys and other fragments of the dwellings and structures built by mountain families who once made their home here. If you decide to stay longer, Rocky Knob is also known for great camping!

• Stop 3: Mabry Mill

  

  From previous stop:	15 minutes / 7 mi (11.2 km)
  Directions:	Travel the parkway to milepost 176.1.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour

  Enjoy a glimpse of early of pioneer life along the Parkway as you visit Mabry Mill and its sawmill, blacksmith shop and water-powered gristmill. The mill is not only historic, but scenic. The mill and its grounds are a beautiful place to picnic and enjoy the outdoors!

• End: Blue Ridge Music Center

  

  From previous stop:	1 hour 5 minutes / 37 mi (59.2 km)
  Directions:	Travel the Parkway to milepost 213.
  Suggested time at this stop:	2 hours

  Tap your fingers to the jaunty tunes of old-time and traditional mountain music at one of the many concerts held here in evenings and Sunday afternoons each summer. Also be sure to stop by the Roots of American Music exhibit and see how European and African music blended and influenced American music of today.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled:	98 miles / 156.8 km
Total Travel Time:	2 hours 50 minutes
Total Stopping Time:	6 hours