Blue Ridge Parkway

National Park Lodges That Vanished

Lodging can be hard to come by in the National Park System depending on the season you want to book a room for. It's also a little harder because some lodges have disappeared from the parks down through the decades. Do you remember the Echo Bay Resort? David and Kay Scott take a look back at some of those places.

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February 10th, 2019

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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Funding Temporary Reopening Of Parkway Visitor Center

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is paying for National Park Service staff members to reopen the Visitor Center in Asheville, North Carolina, at milepost 384 on the Parkway for three weekends. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend and then Friday through Sunday, February 1-3, and again February 8-10.

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January 25th, 2019

Navigating The Blue Ridge Parkway During The Shutdown

As the government shutdown continues, we want to share information about the impact on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here are answers to some of the questions we've heard most frequently from our Community of Stewards.

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January 11th, 2019

Renewing The Views On The Blue Ridge Parkway

The designers of the Blue Ridge Parkway created 216 overlooks to offer astonishing views of rippling mountain peaks and lush valleys. Over time, vegetation has grown and obscured many of those vistas. Earlier this year, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation provided funding to clear these overlooks through its Renew the Views program.

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December 5th, 2018

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Ceiling Failure Closes Tanbark Tunnel Along Blue Ridge Parkway

In the midst of multiple weather-related closures at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service officials announce that Tanbark Tunnel at Milepost 374.4 is closed to all uses until further notice due to a piece of the tunnel’s natural rock ceiling coming loose.

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November 14th, 2018

Pruning Vegetation Will Create Temporary Closures Along Blue Ridge Parkway

The need to trim back vegetation along the Blue Ridge Parkway will lead to intermittent and temporary road closures through the end of the year.

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November 9th, 2018

New Roof Added To Bluffs Coffee Shop, Donations Sought To Finish The Rehab Work

Progress is being made towards reopening the Bluffs Coffee Shop, a popular way station on the Blue Ridge Parkway that has been closed for years.

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October 22nd, 2018

Kids In Parks Blazes A Path In The Park Rx Movement

More and more doctors are turning to an innovative tool to help children feel their best: nature. Through a growing movement called Park Rx (or Park Prescriptions), physicians are prescribing excursions in the outdoors for the health benefits.

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October 2nd, 2018

Fall Color Without the Crowds at the Great Smoky Mountains or the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are justly famous for their fall color—and a flood of mid-October visitors. Can you avoid the heavy traffic and still enjoy some autumn foliage by timing your visit a bit earlier? Here's a Traveler trip report.

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September 28th, 2018

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Fall Spectacular: What's That Sound? Where To Listen To -- And Look For -- Wildlife In The National Parks

In the fall, animals and birds prepare for winter. Bears eat constantly to fatten up before they slow down. Many birds are already on their migration path. Elk and other ungulates are preparing for the mating ritual, the rut. Take a look -- or stop and listen -- in many national parks this fall and you'll catch a glimpse of this autumnal spectacular.

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September 13th, 2018

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

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The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Blue Ridge Parkway

National parks and their natural resources belong to you. The National Parks Traveler works to ensure you know how these essential places are being cared for.

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