Blue Ridge Parkway Weekend Road Trip
Blue Ridge Parkway - Weekend Road Trip Road Trips
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Explore the Hills of Virginia
Take the Crooked Road and cruise your way through American-music history
rabh images / Alamy Stock Photo The Blue Ridge Music Center is one stop along the zigzagging byways that are Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.Day 1 Rocky Mount to Floyd 40 miles
Head out from Rocky Mount, where offers one-stop shopping for regional crafts. Cruise to tiny Floyd at Milepost 213 on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, where the hosts free afternoon concerts from May through October and a “Roots of American Music” exhibit. The iconic s Friday Night Jamboree is a magnet for lovers of bluegrass, mountain and gospel music. Enjoy homemade soup and hand-dipped ice cream at the lunch counter, or get footloose on the dance floor. Where to stay: The rustic , a restored 200-year-old farmhouse, is about three miles from Floyd. NSADCO Photography / Alamy Stock Photo Catch a performance at one of the many music venues along the Crooked Road.Day 2 Floyd to Nickelsville 167 miles
If it's a Saturday, you may want to stay for the Floyd Country Store's Americana music jam at noon. Allow 2.5 hours to reach the small community of Hiltons (maybe stop for delicious barbecue in Galax at the ) for the Saturday-night show the , which is part of the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, a nonprofit performance and preservation center for traditional music. Music icons Maybelle Carter and daughter June, talented wife of Johnny Cash, have passed on, but other family members host the 7:30 p.m. weekly performances of old-time mountain music in a large rustic wooden shed. Alcohol and electronic instruments aren’t allowed, but Appalachian clogging is. Before the show, tour the Carter Family Museum. Where to stay: , a B&B a half hour from the Carter Family Fold, is in the tiny town of Nickelsville Alamy Stock Photo Wind through country roads before enjoying a wine tasting or trail walk.Day 3 Nickelsville to Abingdon 34 miles
Enjoy back-road scenery — ambling cows, ancient barns — on your way to Abingdon. Allow time to inspect local crafts, quilts, jams and art at the , a cultural center with information on regional history and arts that also hosts a bountiful Sunday brunch. Visit the for a tasting, or walk or bike a segment of the 34.3 mile . Catch a musical act or a play at the historic in Abington, where cash-strapped patrons once paid for their tickets with produce. Where to stay: The , one of America’s classic grande-dame establishments, is where you can end your day in a white wicker chair on the sweeping porch. John Cornelius / Alamy Stock Photo The Birthplace of Country Music Museum dives into the region's rich musical traditions.Day 4 Abingdon to Bristol 16 miles
Congress proclaimed Bristol the birthplace of country music, citing 1,927 recording sessions involving the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and others. tells that story and includes fascinating exhibits. You'll also hear tunes spilling from clubs along State Street (one side is in Virginia; the other, in Tennessee). Thousands flock to September’s three-day music festival in Bristol, , with performances on multiple outdoor stages — hog heaven for music lovers.Plan Your Trip
Colorado: Louisiana:Oregon: AARP Travel Center Call: 1.800.675.4318 Search Flights Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Flight 2 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 3 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 4 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 5 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Add Another Flight search Search Hotels Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Room 5 Room 6 Room 7 Room 8 search Search Packages Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date You didn't specify child's age Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Room 1 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 2 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 3 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 4 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 5 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age You have more than 6 people total Please select a trip duration less than 28 days search Search Cars Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search Search Cruises Select a valid location Select a month search Search Things to Do Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search × Let's Go Reset Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Car Rentals offers > See more Travel offers > See more Hotels & Resorts offers > See more Gas & Auto Services offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures