A serene passage that weaves through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is specifically designed for leisurely driving, so you can cruise along at your own pace and relish the astounding views of the Mountains year-round. Communities near the parkway embrace a more relaxed way of life--a characteristic you’ll find evident in their distinct homemade arts and crafts. As you shop for vintage trinkets, charismatic hand-made crafts, or whimsical artisan-styled furniture amidst the mystical Blue Ridge Mountains, you’re sure to take home a priceless lasting impression of “America’s Favorite Drive.”
Make your first stop in Cherokee, NC, near the west end of the byway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You’ll find many traditional handmade Cherokee crafts, such as baskets, beadwork, rugs, and blankets. Take home your own piece of culture with a bold, colorful headdress and some fine turquoise or sterling silver jewelry. Marvel at the intricately hand-stamped pottery and pick up an authentic stamped Cherokee Cooking Pot, recreated from pieces of pottery found at historical sites or a vase displaying the culture’s traditional ‘friendship’ pattern. If you’re a leather buff, you’re in luck. The Cherokee are very experienced in leather working, offering jackets, vests, wallets, belts, gun holsters, and chaps with their own personal touch of artful expertise. Some stores allow trading, so bring your dime-a-dozen souvenirs from past travels and trade them in favor of new, genuine treasures that will remind you of your trip for years to come!
Journey north along the byway and make your next stop in Asheville, NC, near milepost 382. Here, you’ll find The Folk Art Center, a favorite destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway that welcomes 250,000 visitors each year. Inside, you’ll find America’s oldest continuously operating craft shop, the Allanstand Craft Shop. Run by the Southern Highland Craft Guild, this shop carries numerous one-of-a-kind handmade crafts that exemplify the talents and skills of the Southern Appalachian people. Among the unique handcrafts, you’ll find hand-blown Blenko Glass, traditional Riverwood Pewter, elaborately designed multilayered wooden bowls, and graceful, fluid wooden furniture designed by a famous local artist. You’ll also find locally crafted jewelry and a large selection of cozy quilts. Peruse the aisles carefully and you just might find a timeless piece of fine art or an individualistic craft that suits you perfectly.
Follow the byway northeast about 50 miles from Asheville, then take NC-226 to the Spruce Pine, NC. Here you’ll find the Blue Ridge Soap Shed, which offers one of America’s largest selections of handmade soap. Be sure you set aside enough time to examine the immense selection of over 130 varieties of soap! Many of these soaps are functional, such as ‘Bug-Me-No-More’ insect repellent soap, or ‘Anise Vanishing Soap,’ which helps disguise human scent from wildlife. Some varieties make especially thoughtful gifts, such as soap for diabetic feet or gentle Castile Soap, which soothes sensitive skin. Perhaps a specialty bar of soap can help you enjoy your favorite hobbies again. Try ‘Grease Monkey Hand Soap for Mechanics’ after a day of working on the car, or ‘Basil Lime Gardener’s Hand Soap’ to deep-clean dirty hands whilst planting those petunias. For the chefs in the group, ‘Kitchen Cook Soap’ will remove cooking oils and food odors from hard-working hands. For a simple luxury, explore deliciously scented soap such as ‘Almond Biscotti’ or ‘Cobbler Spice Cream Goat Milk Soap.’ Pick up one of these indulgent bars or take home the scent of ‘Blue Ridge Wildflowers,’ ‘Carolina Kudzu,’ or ‘Appalachian Sunrise’ for a relaxing reminder of the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains every time you wash.
The Mast General Store, chosen by the National Register of Historic Places as one of the finest remaining examples of an old country general store, has been in business since 1883. Visit the original location in Valle Crucis, NC, by taking NC-181 north, about 19 miles past where you re-join the parkway from Spruce Pine. Still proving its reputation as "the store that has everything," the store offers modern and vintage goods galore. Remember Aunt Bee from The Andy Griffith Show? You’ll love her cookbook, ‘Aunt Bee’s Delightful Desserts.' Scattered throughout the book of mouthwatering recipes, you’ll find dialogue from the show, trivia quizzes, and photos, some of which have never been published before. Keep browsing and find that useful kitchen item you’ve been looking for, such as a brown sugar disc to keep your brown sugar soft. Discover the exceptional selection of classic children’s books, including Dick and Jane books and Little Golden Books. If you’re feeling especially nostalgic, investigate the store’s wide selection of old fashioned toys, such as a Gee-Haw Whimmydiddle, brightly colored accordions, the original metal Slinky, or a classic Cat & Canary Flute, which mimics the sounds of various birds. If you’re up for a brainteaser, try to figure out what makes the wooden weather stick point to the sky in fair weather, and to the ground in foul weather. Go ahead, admit your amazement at the vast selection of…well…almost everything and anything!
Reunite with the parkway by heading east on US-321 and US-421. Turn on the cruise control, and enjoy the views around each corner as the byway winds through the next 123 miles until you reach VA-8. Head north to the Carter Holliday Art Studio and Gallery in Floyd, VA. The artist combines pottery and woodworking to create diverse aesthetically pleasing pieces. Hand-carved painted ceramic art tile is complemented with American hardwood in captivating clocks, framed carved tiles, and mosaic-bordered mirrors. You’ll become entranced with these graceful works of art and just might begin to picture how that mission-style inspired cherry wood clock, with its carved ceramic face, would look above your fireplace mantle. Or perhaps you’ll pick that colorful mosaic-framed ‘Big Backyard Mirror’ to tie the front room together perfectly. Become inspired as you come to understand how the Virginian countryside has moved one artist to create art that vividly expresses his love and admiration for Mother Nature.
For some of the most unusual furniture you’ll find anywhere, head back to the byway and drive over 50 miles until you reach Roanoke, VA. From Roanoke, head north on US Route 220 to a historic house in Fincastle, VA, where you’ll find Jake Cress’ gallery of unusual yet graceful 18th-century hand-made wooden furniture. Even if you’re not looking to purchase any new pieces, you’ll find this unforgettable experience to be well worth the trip. The artist’s sense of humor shows through many of his pieces, such as the "Hickory Dickory Clock," a grandfather clock that has been brought to life with its exaggerated curves, personified “face,” and its pendulum, which is bent to pin a mouse attempting to run up its side. The “Crippled Table” is a simple, yet elegant table with only three legs…and a crutch for the fourth! Seeing is believing with these stylized pieces, because words simply don’t do them justice. If you’re traditionally minded, you can find more conventional items to suit your tastes. Discover intricately carved 18th century-style mahogany tea tables or jewelry boxes, a charming walnut hutch with glass pane doors, or a functional, yet elegant “American Tycoon” desk. Or, if you have something particular in mind, place a special order and the artist will custom-make a piece that fits your exact specifications. Whatever you’re searching for, you’ll certainly find whimsical adventure at Jake Cress’ gallery.
So fill up your gas tank, turn on the radio, and savor magnificent scenery as you shop the leisurely Blue Ridge Parkway. Take home a piece of the byway’s uplifting atmosphere with a Mother Nature-inspired artwork, a lusciously scented soap, or an elegant, amusing piece of furniture. However you choose to mark your journey, your love for the relaxed way of life in the Blue Ridge Mountains will grow—who knows; your shopping experience may just turn into a permanent vacation!
Disclaimer: this story does not serve as an endorsement of any private interest by the Federal Highway Administration.
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