Blue Ridge Parkway Suggestions Wanted - We're Baaaaack

[Orange Crush/GJC]

Next Saturday I will depart at about o dark thirty for a quick ride up to Washington-Dulles airport where I will pick up my lovely bride for a short ride back to Front Royal, VA for the night. Sunday morning we will then begin riding Skyline Drive then the BRP. We plan to take our time and venture off the parkway for some other sightseeing finding cheap hotels as needed. I'm guessing we will take at lest 4-5 days. We will concentrate on the northern end since we could easily get to (and finish if need be) the southern end another time.

My questions for you:
Are there any hotels that you do or don't recommend?
Any must see tourist traps that are worth the diversion and cost?
Any great meals along the way?
Any particularly interesting/charming small towns to wander around in for an hour or to spend the night in?
Finally, Any off-parkway roads that we would want to ride a loop on?

[Blackwing]

OC there are alot of roads off the Parway that are fun to ride and great views.. I my self dont know them by name.. but Trixie does and Im sure she'll chime in on this soon.. Enjoy your ride

[GTvtx]

OC

We stayed in Front Royal a couple years agon on a M/C trip and rode south on the Skyline Drive.

The Shanadoah Valley views are real nice. Much more 'big sky' look than the southern end of the BRP.

There is a place called Natural Bridge that looked interesting for a side trip. I think is on down the BRP a little. Maybe near Roanoke VA.

We didn't stop. Guys on bikes don't stop for anything but gas and eats.

GT

[GAgirlTRIXIE]

I grew up in VA, OJ. Skyline Drive is nice, but slow (speed limit=35 mph). BRP is 45 mph. Great place to see is Crabtree Falls in Piney River area, VA. Some great cabins and campgrounds in that area, all nice. Otter Creek wayside on the BRP has a nice little sandwich shop type restaurant (just south of Buena Vista, VA), nice little hike along the the creek for a short stop. Peaks of Otter Lodge is right on the Parkway (near Bedford, VA), nice setting, great Friday night buffet. Lexington, VA is a nice town to wander through. Natural Bridge is near there. Marty & I stayed at the hotel there. Nice hotel, beautiful setting. Rt 340 and 56 parallel the Parkway and are fun roads, through some beautiful small towns. Roanoke is a nice, midsized city to amuse yourself in, City Market has a lot of cool shops and restaurants.

[HotFix]

Don't speed. :oops:

[Orange Crush/GJC]

:bump: Last few hours to offer your advice.

[Motorcycle Mike]

Traffic in Blowing Rock/Boone sucks. Do the Snake while youre up there. Have fun.

[littleJohnnyfromNJ]

we're not good enough to hear the update and see the pics??? <<sniffle, sniffle>> johnny wonders to himself, why doesn't OC care enough to post about his trip, and why did Trixie call him OJ? and if a biker farts in the woods and nobody hears him.... oh look! a butterfly! :shock:

[Orange Crush/GJC]

We finished up the BRP early this afternoon, had lunch in Cherokee and headed for home. I've been gone for 7 days and 15 hours. Time for a good night's sleep in my own bed tonight. Ride report and pics to follow...

BTW LJ - I don't have a phone quite so fancy as yours, so I couldn't give a play by play.

[littleJohnnyfromNJ]

We finished up the BRP early this afternoon, had lunch in Cherokee and headed for home. I've been gone for 7 days and 15 hours. Time for a good night's sleep in my own bed tonight. Ride report and pics to follow...

BTW LJ - I don't have a phone quite so fancy as yours, so I couldn't give a play by play.

there is a Verizon Wireless Store on every corner these days!!! :wink:

glad to hear you made it back without a hitch... looking forward to the updates!

[backwoods]

Welcome back! I look forward to the report.

[Kavman]

We finished up the BRP early this afternoon, had lunch in Cherokee and headed for home. I've been gone for 7 days and 15 hours. Time for a good night's sleep in my own bed tonight. Ride report and pics to follow...

BTW LJ - I don't have a phone quite so fancy as yours, so I couldn't give a play by play.

there is a Verizon Wireless Store on every corner these days!!! :wink:

glad to hear you made it back without a hitch... looking forward to the updates!

Well, OJ has been home now for about 1 1/2 days and still no ride report w/pics.

[littleJohnnyfromNJ]

We finished up the BRP early this afternoon, had lunch in Cherokee and headed for home. I've been gone for 7 days and 15 hours. Time for a good night's sleep in my own bed tonight. Ride report and pics to follow...

BTW LJ - I don't have a phone quite so fancy as yours, so I couldn't give a play by play.

there is a Verizon Wireless Store on every corner these days!!! :wink:

glad to hear you made it back without a hitch... looking forward to the updates!

Well, OJ has been home now for about 1 1/2 days and still no ride report w/pics.

it might be a while... he has one of those disposable cameras he has to send in to get developed... that takes a few days... :wink:

[Orange Crush/GJC]

We finished up the BRP early this afternoon, had lunch in Cherokee and headed for home. I've been gone for 7 days and 15 hours. Time for a good night's sleep in my own bed tonight. Ride report and pics to follow...

BTW LJ - I don't have a phone quite so fancy as yours, so I couldn't give a play by play.

there is a Verizon Wireless Store on every corner these days!!! :wink:

glad to hear you made it back without a hitch... looking forward to the updates!

Well, OJ has been home now for about 1 1/2 days and still no ride report w/pics.

it might be a while... he has one of those disposable cameras he has to send in to get developed... that takes a few days... :wink:
Actually it's quite the opposite this time...we borrowed my daughter's digital camera and we are trying to parse through the 800 pictures she took. I am working on the ride report - maybe tomorrow. It might be a bit wordy.

[Orange Crush/GJC]

We finished up the BRP early this afternoon, had lunch in Cherokee and headed for home. I've been gone for 7 days and 15 hours. Time for a good night's sleep in my own bed tonight. Ride report and pics to follow...

BTW LJ - I don't have a phone quite so fancy as yours, so I couldn't give a play by play.

there is a Verizon Wireless Store on every corner these days!!! :wink:

glad to hear you made it back without a hitch... looking forward to the updates!

Well, OJ has been home now for about 1 1/2 days and still no ride report w/pics.

it might be a while... he has one of those disposable cameras he has to send in to get developed... that takes a few days... :wink:
Actually it's quite the opposite this time...we borrowed my daughter's digital camera and we are trying to parse through the 800 pictures Terie took. I am working on the ride report - maybe tomorrow. It might be a bit wordy.

[littleJohnnyfromNJ]

I make a motion that OC is banned from further posting until he provides a full and detailed report with pictures... all in favor say "AAAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!""""