The Blue Ridge Parkway is known as “America’s Favorite Drive.” The parkway connects two National Parks – The Great Smoky Mountain National Park at the southern terminus and the Shenandoah National Park at the northern terminus. In between the parks, 469 miles of scenic highway unroll to expose incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountain chain of the Appalachian Mountains. If you have an opportunity to take this drive, or at least a section of it, take it slow because there is much to see and do. We recently visited Floyd, VA, a small mountain town just off the parkway at milepost 160. Floyd is a quintessential town of the Blue Ridge Mountains, known for its ties to bluegrass and old-time music.
Activities to Explore:
Music
The Floyd Country Store is located in the heart of the town and hosts a regular Friday Night Jamboree. Appalachian music fans will find this location a favorite stop along South West Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.
Hiking
There are countless trails in the area with beautiful mountain views. We had the good fortune to visit in the late spring when the flowers along the trails were in full bloom. One of our favorite hikes was the Smart View Overlook loop trail near milepost 154.1. We especially enjoyed the views and exploring Trail’s Cabin, a historic cabin located on the loop trail and accessible from a parking area.
Eat and Stay:
Coffee
Coffee lovers will be delighted to know Floyd is the location for stocking up on outstanding freshly roasted coffee beans! The Red Rooster Coffee Roaster and Cafe is an award-winning roaster that roasts beans in Floyd and will ship to you. The Red Rooster Cafe is a great place to stop for your favorite coffee drink paired with an item from the tasty cafe menu.
Floyd Family Campground
Looking for a campground? Check out Floyd Family Campground. The campground is just a few minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Every camping experience is possible, from tent camping in the woods to full hookups for the largest RVs. We chose to stay at site #29, named the “Chateau Plateau,” and highly recommend it for the expansive views. The campground has a bonus – acres and acres of hiking trails! You can hike all over the property and enjoy views and the forest. We will definitely return to the Floyd Family Campground as we explore more of “America’s Favorite Drive” on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
