The Blue Ridge Mountain area is such a beautiful part of America. Thank you Randy for all your videos. It's always fun seeing Julie with you. She really is, "the icing on the cake" !! ... Robin :-)
What a great drive through the blueridge area! The hikes looked nice also. Love the old hickory cabins. I always think that might have been a nice life. That lift loc was neat! And the lake views! Wow! What a perfect day!
Really liked the way you edited this beautiful video, Pastor Randy! And, Julie did an excellent job sharing the narration with you! Looking forward to the blessing of your next installment...
Absolutely beautiful. You always present these wonderful places in such a way that vaults them to the top of anyone's list of places to visit :) Looking at a list of NP sites one might see Blue Ridge Parkway and say "Meh", but after watching this "WOW". On our list in part due to your videos but also a dear friend of ours just got a position as a Ranger there
Perfect timing for the videos. I'll be in Asheville in 2 weeks on the BRP. These dates will line up with your video release for those mile markers on RU-vid too I think!
I was wondering if you were going to do a better more detailed video of the BRP than your quicky back in Sept. You could take an entire month traveling the parkway and hiking the trails. Glad you actually enjoyed it more fully. But I understand those videos have to get out...LOL
Thank you, sir! Yeah, the "preview" was just a "teaser." Was backlogged, so looking forward to finally getting these up and running in full length. Take care!
Howdy Rick. Any chance of you making a Skyline Drive and BRP playlist? We're planning a Front Royal to Cherokee trip this fall and you seem to know all the best camping spots.
My dad and I did this trip 2 weeks after you guys. We started in front Royal Virginia at the beginning of the skyline Drive and continued through the Blue ridge and finished through the Smoky mountains at the end to Gatlinburg.
Me and Rachel are definitely going to be driving the Blue Ridge Parkway in one day in its entirety. I'd love to do it in peak season. Thanks for sharing 👍
I live there and fortunately have been to all the places you mentioned and then some. Well if you were at the Yankee Railroad you should have walked a hundred yards to Wigwam Falls. Also at the James River Crossing, Otter Lake has Otter Creek Falls right on the road. And personally I would have taken the sharp Top Trail instead of the Johnson Farm tour. Maybe next time. A sunrise or sunset from Sharp tops summit is something the both of you could appreciate
Hey Jeff, really appreciate the recommendations. This was such a fantastic trip - hope to get back again - made a note of your fine suggestions. Looking to upload Day #2 today. Always open to your thoughts from experience.
Hi! I am planning to go in November and have NO idea where to start or where to stay. I only have one day Saturday and not sure if to stay in Tenneessee or Ashville North Carolina, will probably be flying there and renting a car and staying in a cabin, planning from friday afternoon to sunday any tips?
Hi Rachel, if you haven't done so, check our our 4-day itinerary that I listed in the video description. Those were four, one-day segments. All were good, really no preference between them. I also made a video from each day. Maybe something will jump out at you regarding an interest. Have a great time!
Don't recall having any cell phone issues. Only way off the highway are the exits into the towns. No gas stations that I can remember on the highway itself.
Fantastic Video Pastor Randy..wanted to also thank Julie, for her informative insight. Nice touch adding the banjo. Banjo playing makes every video better..lol..🎸🎸🎸..have an Awesome day!
Great job on explaining all the details of this Scenic Parkway. I remember I enjoyed your original video that you did of this drive. I didn't realize you had a whole bunch of extra footage from this that you still needed to show. Cool video Randy and I look forward to seeing the other 3 parts.
Thank you, Eric! The first video was just a preview (kind of the highlights/greatest hits). Now these are a more detailed presentation of each individual day.
Welcome to my personal "home" park here in Asheville, North Carolina. I caught a couple of your videos last December when I was stuck home with COVID. You and I have a lot in common. We both love Jesus, our families and our national parks. When I realized that, I had to go back and watch every one of your videos from the very beginning and work up to this point. It's amazing that I'm almost completely caught up and am happy to hear you have learned how to properly pronounce "Appalachian!" Last summer, I took my wife, daughter and twin sons on an epic road trip to Gateway Arch, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Rocky Mountain National Parks. After watching your videos, I am inspired to take my kids on a father-child trip. I have planned my first one for late June as I'll be taking my daughter to Zion, hoping to hike Scout Lookout (I'm not taking her on the chains) and the Narrows. Gotta plan the boys next. If these short trips go well, maybe we'll try the long, crazy ones. Thanks for sharing, the Lord is using you well.
Hey Peter, that was truly a blessing to read! Edified by your love for the Lord and passion to build solid relationships with your children. Mine are getting older and the trips are becoming more difficult with their schedules, but I'll never regret the time and money I have invested in their lives. Thank God, they are on the right path... now I get to "catch-up" with time alone with my wife! All the best to you, brother! Keep fighting the good fight!
Thanks, Frank! Learned that when we drove the full Blue Ridge Parkway in 2020. Made the correction in those videos. Growing up in the north and using the word frequently - never dawned on me there was another pronunciation! :)
You, guys, have Different types of parks in USA : NP, state parks,national recreation area, national monuments, national historic sites...is there a big difference between all that categories? Is it about the size, the way to preserve the area..? I have heard that your government wanted to reduce the size of Grand staircase Escalante NM...is it done? Great video again😍🤩❤️.Thank you Randy.
Much of the classification is based on the "value" of the park. The federal government definitely oversees the "bigger" ones... and down the line (state, county, etc). After than, the federal parks are categorized by category in the National Park Service.
Very appreciative that you are doing this series. I have a lot of memories of the Blue Ridge Parkway. As a kid in Indiana it was my first experience with mountains. I did the full length with my Minnesota wife during the summer when the azaleas and rhododendrons were blooming! Right out of college I was working in eastern Arkansas and made 2 or 3 trips across Tennessee, for quick sampler trips, in the fall and early winter. It was hard not to stop at every overlook. Didn't want to miss something special.
You don't mention where you're staying at night. It appears you are not traveling with an RV. Any suggestions to those who are driving a vehicle without RV and are making it a 4-5 day trip?
Yeah, we normally tent camp. With the wife, so we went with the hotels this time. They are all listed in our 4-day itinerary in the description (have a video uploaded for each of the 4 days). To extend the trip, possibly do our itinerary and slow it down a bit. We were moving pretty quick.
Such a great episode and can't wait to see the whole series! We may get up to Virginia in October, not for sure yet, but will be checking these stops out!! Great series to put together guys, love it!
Great video Randy! I live in the Roanoke area and we are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful region of the country. Some of my fondest memories involve cycling along the Blue Ridge Parkway with my grandfather who still does it at the age of 78. As you can imagine, that is a very tough stretch to climb from the lowest point at the James River up to highest point near the Peaks of Otter.
We encountered some people bicycling when we drove the Blue Ridge Parkway. That seems so dangerous! It's so narrow and winding in some areas and not everyone does the speed limit.
October 2020, man you must be behind with your uploads 😂. Loved that Fall colour mind, absolutely gorgeous colour in the trees and what a place to spend 4 days. If you can do the climbs, I can see why the locals love it there, amazing panoramic views. It's the same in the UK with closed toilets, which I can understand but (imo) counter productive, as people do need to use them. The seats next to the Abbot Lake would have been Mrs Metalman's favourite, she likes nothing better that a seat with a view and that sure had it. Got to say, if that was purgatory, give me more of it! A very Happy and Peaceful Easter to you all, cheers Alan
Thank you, Alan! Yeah, was holding off on uploading this footage. :) It was a great trip - some say among the best drives in the US. Hope you had a super Easter weekend!
Awesome. full of info and tons of great views, looking forward to the rest of the series!! we were just finishing up our last DV trip when you started this
There are so many more stops there than I realized. I am going to have to go back and do that again! This time I'll have to dedicate the time to do some of the hikes and not just drive!
This is without a doubt on my list someday. Really enjoyed the clip you did that was kind of a preview of this adventure. Glad you decided to do each individual day as well. What a nice trip that must have been! I just uploaded a clip last Monda and still waiting for a comment! You must be on the road again right? Well, whatever you are doing i hope all is well and stay safe.
Randy, Excellent video, and we are already looking forward to days 2 through 4! Hats-off to Julie on great commentary. I like scenery, but that mountain farm trail looks very interesting - nice to have the information plaques. Weather looked fantastic on your day 1. THANKS FOR LETTING US JOIN YOU TODAY AND SHOWING US TEH OVERLOOKS, . . . Mike
What a wonderfully helpful video! As a child, our family would drive to and from New England through the U.S. I grew up in Virginia Beach, so we usually skirted the coast. However, on some occasions, we would drive down through this area. It was always so beautiful! While we would stop at some nice spots, we missed so much of it. One day, I'd like to drive that way myself and stop at some of these fantastic spots.
Hey y'all, we are Shion and Matthew and just came across your channel! We love the Smokey Mountains and can't wait to explore more and to see the Blue Ridge Parkway! We are looking forward to seeing more! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the video. My wife and I took our 24ft class c towing our Prius on the dolly from Front Royal to Smokey Mountain N P last September. The Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge can be somewhat challenging in a motorhome bit we made it safe and sound. Praise God. It was a beautiful trip. Spent 4 nights each in Shenandoah N P and Smokey Mountain N P. Beautiful creation by our God. It was kind of a warm up for our western trip which starts soon. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us and happy Easter. He is risen. 🙏🙏👫💕
Great job on this one. You always capture great footage but this one had a really nice balance between the narration on the history and sights of the area and just letting the scenery do the work. I also always like when I have been to the NPS unit so I can see someone else’s take on it or find points of interest I may have overlooked. We have done this stretch of the BRP and have hit a few of the places you highlighted. I am pretty partial to the BRP as we frequent it a few times a year since it is only about 3-4 hours away. If you get back, Sharp Top is indeed a great hike with unobstructed views at the top. I also recommend Crabtree Falls (yup one in VA as well) and Devil’s Marbleyard. These are not on the parkway but are less than 30 minutes off of it in the adjacent National Forest for this particular stretch you covered.
Pisgah Inn is the best place on the lower part of the parkway. The views from rooms looking out off the back is amazing and so is the view from the restaurant. Huge glass windows.
I have a friend who lives in NC (while I live in AZ) and have been thinking about something like this for us to get together post-COVID for the past year. When I saw these videos in my sub box, it could not have been more perfect timing. This is exact what we need to plan! Thank you so much for these videos, they are such a wonderful guide while dreaming and planning future adventures. Hope you and your family are well, thank you for being so generous in sharing your trips & experiences.
What a great guide to the Parkway! Can't wait for the other installments. Not going to lie, it really makes we want to get out on the road to see some country. That season will be upon us real soon. Wishing you and your family a blessed Resurrection Sunday coming up this week!
My wife and I tried to get a sunrise at Afton Overlook in July 2019 but the fog was so thick we couldn't see anything. Fog eventually lifted around 10am as we continued south.