It's the Summer of COVID-19. The summer of road tips. Because who is crazy enough to get on a plane in the middle of a pandemic? So somewhat spontaneously (we had a week or so to plan), Bob and I packed up our car and headed northeast. We had two weeks in June to see as much as we possible could. Tent camping the whole way. What better way to social distance!
As a family, we love the National Park System, and there's so much in this beautiful country we haven't yet seen. Because of the virus, campgrounds and amenities were basically closed within the National Parks, so we were relegated to state and private campgrounds for accommodations. While it wasn't always easy to reserve campsites, we made a gazillion phone calls and made it work.
Our first stop was the lovely Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia but near Chattanooga, TN. We had a private walk-in site and felt like we had the whole woods to ourselves. (See photo above.) It rained that night but not before we got our tent set up and dinner finished. And s'mores. So we were fine.
The next day, we briefly explored Chattanooga. It's rather touristy in the ways they capitalize on the surrounding natural beauty, but we went to Rock City anyway.
When we tired of the cheesiness, we headed for Cherokee, NC at the southern base of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We stayed at a private campground called River Valley, geared primarily to RV campers, but there were a few tent sites and we had a nice time there. Very clean, mostly nice campers.
First stop, Mingo Falls. And we couldn't wait to see what came next.
The Park offered one stunning vista after another. We couldn't get enough of it.
After two days exploring this national treasure, we hopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove (and drove and drove), twisting and turning, oohing and aahing at every overlook. The Parkway is part of the National Park Service.
We timed the trip right to see plenty of wildflowers. Mountain laurel was the most prevalent, but we also saw flaming orange azaleas and the stunning rhododendron (below).
That night, we stayed at Stone Mountain State Park near Roaring Gap, NC. We arrived late in the evening and left early the next morning. So I can't say much about it, other than a symphony of cicadas serenaded us all night long.
The next day, we needed to complete our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) and make our way to the northern end of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Long day of driving. But more natural beauty. This popular stop along the way, Mabry Mill, is the most photographed spot along the BRP.
We stayed two nights at Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia and spent one whole day exploring Shenandoah.
The hills are smaller on this end, more vistas of farmland.
My hometown, Connellsville, Pennsylvania was the northern terminus of our road trip. After a few wonderful days of visiting family, we headed back south. First stop was New River Gorge, West Virginia, a National River and of course, part of the Park System. Despite overcast skies and terribly hard rain during our second night there, we loved this area!
The Gorge is best known for this impressive bridge -- the longest steel span in the western hemisphere and the third highest in the United States.
We hiked a lot, in the valleys and along the ridges. It was all breathtaking. I love being in the woods; lush green and cool, water rushing everywhere.
Next stop, another pleasant, quiet state park -- Foster Falls, TN.
To navigate through the northwest corner of Alabama and much of Mississippi, on the advice of several friends, we opted to traverse the Natchez Trace, another National Parkway. We had heard this road was a pretty drive, but did not realize until we got there that it's a road like the BRP. What a pleasant way to travel! Quiet easy driving, no trucks, no traffic. And scenic. Apparently, I was done taking photos by this point, as I have none of Natchez Trace. Or maybe after the peaks of the Appalachians, comparatively flat Mississippi doesn't thrill quite the same way. But if you're ever headed that way, we highly recommend the Trace.
The last night of our road trip was a huge disappointment. Mississippi was shut down due to the virus more than any other state we were in, and even their state parks were closed. Our only option seemed to be a Yogi Bear Campground. (In hindsight, a hotel would have been more peaceful and less expensive.) Now, I understand Bob and I are not their target demographic, but Yogi Bear was a nightmare. Crowded, noisy, not well-maintained, and zero social distancing. That is all I can say about that.
But we didn't allow that one night to detract from an otherwise fantastic vacation!
As a family, we love the National Park System, and there's so much in this beautiful country we haven't yet seen. Because of the virus, campgrounds and amenities were basically closed within the National Parks, so we were relegated to state and private campgrounds for accommodations. While it wasn't always easy to reserve campsites, we made a gazillion phone calls and made it work.
Our first stop was the lovely Cloudland Canyon State Park in Georgia but near Chattanooga, TN. We had a private walk-in site and felt like we had the whole woods to ourselves. (See photo above.) It rained that night but not before we got our tent set up and dinner finished. And s'mores. So we were fine.
The next day, we briefly explored Chattanooga. It's rather touristy in the ways they capitalize on the surrounding natural beauty, but we went to Rock City anyway.
Man-made waterfall
Garden Gnomes are cute.
When we tired of the cheesiness, we headed for Cherokee, NC at the southern base of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
We stayed at a private campground called River Valley, geared primarily to RV campers, but there were a few tent sites and we had a nice time there. Very clean, mostly nice campers.
First stop, Mingo Falls. And we couldn't wait to see what came next.
The Park offered one stunning vista after another. We couldn't get enough of it.
Bucket list, even though the hike was short.
Lunch break in a picnic area
After two days exploring this national treasure, we hopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove (and drove and drove), twisting and turning, oohing and aahing at every overlook. The Parkway is part of the National Park Service.
We timed the trip right to see plenty of wildflowers. Mountain laurel was the most prevalent, but we also saw flaming orange azaleas and the stunning rhododendron (below).
That night, we stayed at Stone Mountain State Park near Roaring Gap, NC. We arrived late in the evening and left early the next morning. So I can't say much about it, other than a symphony of cicadas serenaded us all night long.
The next day, we needed to complete our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) and make our way to the northern end of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Long day of driving. But more natural beauty. This popular stop along the way, Mabry Mill, is the most photographed spot along the BRP.
Trickling streams are everywhere in the mountains.
We stayed two nights at Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia and spent one whole day exploring Shenandoah.
The hills are smaller on this end, more vistas of farmland.
My hometown, Connellsville, Pennsylvania was the northern terminus of our road trip. After a few wonderful days of visiting family, we headed back south. First stop was New River Gorge, West Virginia, a National River and of course, part of the Park System. Despite overcast skies and terribly hard rain during our second night there, we loved this area!
The Gorge is best known for this impressive bridge -- the longest steel span in the western hemisphere and the third highest in the United States.
We hiked a lot, in the valleys and along the ridges. It was all breathtaking. I love being in the woods; lush green and cool, water rushing everywhere.
Me in my happy place.
Hiking Endless Wall Trail
Next stop, another pleasant, quiet state park -- Foster Falls, TN.
It was a week of waterfalls!
He makes the best campfires.
To navigate through the northwest corner of Alabama and much of Mississippi, on the advice of several friends, we opted to traverse the Natchez Trace, another National Parkway. We had heard this road was a pretty drive, but did not realize until we got there that it's a road like the BRP. What a pleasant way to travel! Quiet easy driving, no trucks, no traffic. And scenic. Apparently, I was done taking photos by this point, as I have none of Natchez Trace. Or maybe after the peaks of the Appalachians, comparatively flat Mississippi doesn't thrill quite the same way. But if you're ever headed that way, we highly recommend the Trace.
The last night of our road trip was a huge disappointment. Mississippi was shut down due to the virus more than any other state we were in, and even their state parks were closed. Our only option seemed to be a Yogi Bear Campground. (In hindsight, a hotel would have been more peaceful and less expensive.) Now, I understand Bob and I are not their target demographic, but Yogi Bear was a nightmare. Crowded, noisy, not well-maintained, and zero social distancing. That is all I can say about that.
But we didn't allow that one night to detract from an otherwise fantastic vacation!
Posts
