Blue Ridge Parkway

We began the day intending to tour historic Charlottesville and in particular the Rotunda at the University of Virginia. What we hadn't counted on was a home football game that had traffic in a snarl and parking non-existent. Then when we were finally able to drive past the rotunda at the center of the University, we found it surrounded by scaffolding for a major rehabilitation project. Given the traffic, lack of convenient parking and all the scaffolding, we didn't even feel it was worth stopping for a picture even if it had been possible. We decided instead to head for destination number two, the north end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

We drove from the point where the Blue Ridge Parkway begins southward to State Highway 56, a distance of about 27 miles. Along the way, we stopped at countless overlooks to get pictures of the breath-taking scenery. At two miles, we stopped at the Rock Fish Valley scenic overlook and enjoyed the picnic lunch we'd brought.

Then we stopped at the Hump Back Rocks Visitor Center and Farm Museum which was another three miles south.  After a short walking tour of the farm museum, we got back on the road heading south checking out the fantastic scenery as we went. 

We exited at State Highway 56 because we wanted to go see Crab Tree Falls which was only a few miles away.  We had read that these falls were supposed to be the most beautiful set of waterfalls in Virginia. From the description of its location, we thought they were adjacent to Highway.   However, it turned out that it was a five mile strenuous hike over a very rocky trail so we didn't see the falls.  

We had dinner at Wendy's at I-81 in Raphine and then headed back to the campground.