The Blue Ridge Mountains stretch from Pennsylvania down to the northern area of Georgia, just a small section of the Appalachian Mountains. If you’ve ever traveled through the area, you may or may not have been able to see them behind the dense fogbanks and tree cover. Let’s take a 360-degree view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The mountains get their name—and their trademark blue hue—from a chemical found in the plants of the region. Regardless of the science, though, traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains lets you explore mountain towns you may have previously only heard of, such as Asheville, Knoxville, Charlottesville, and Morgantown. If you’re up for adventure, this is the outdoorsy person’s dream vacation. And if you’re a foodie, the sheer number of dining establishments is astounding.
Some of the most don’t-miss things in the area include:
- Taking a road trip along the Parkway—all 469 miles of it
- Hang gliding in Virginia at Raven’s Roost
- Climbing Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in the entire Appalachian range
- Stepping back in history at Mabry Mill and learning how blacksmiths used to work hundreds of years ago
- Visiting an arts or crafts festival in Berea
- Soaking your cares away in the natural hot springs in North Carolina
- Checking out all the local breweries in Asheville
- Learning about mountain music history at the Blue Ridge Music Center
- Camping in Shenandoah or Great Smoky Mountains National Parks
- Hiking at Humpback Rock
The best time to visit the Blue Ridge really depends on the activities you want to pursue. The elevation changes are pretty varied, so weather is different depending on where you are exactly. That said, one thing you won’t find here are winter sports—these mountains don’t get the type of snow other mountain regions do. In fact, some winters there’s no snow at all. If you want to see the flora at its most vibrant, summer and autumn are perfect—just make sure to dress in layers during the fall, and to have a raincoat in case you catch some of the year-round precipitation.
To truly experience a 360-degree view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you first have to go visit. Once you do, we hope you enjoy the view.
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