The Blue Ridge Parkway's main visitor center is located in Asheville, North Carolina, but boasts 12 other visitor centers, of various sizes, throughout its length. In general, most facility seasons start in April, but don't reach full-time schedules until late May. Most facilities close in late October/very early November.
Facilities schedules are announced annually, based on weekend calendar dates in the early and late season, and occasionally around road closures. To be certain, visit the park's website (or call 828-298-0398).
Fisher Peak Music Center explores Appalachia's early ballad-based music that "helped shape American country music, making Southwestern Virginia's musical heritage the nation's musical heritage." Great exhibits trace those traditions from the 1700s through the early 20th-century emergence of "hillbilly music," then Bluegrass, and today's commercial country music. In summer, musicians appear daily and there's a Saturday night concert series from June to autumn in an impressive outdoor amphitheater. The National Council for the Traditional Arts organizes the series.
This gallery near Jefferson, North Carolina offers some of the Parkway's best craft shopping.
This late-1800s mountaintop mansion was home to an early denim manufacturer whose surrounding land became Parkway property. The striking structure houses an outlet for the Southern Highland Craft Guild where artisans demonstrate crafts throughout the summer. There's a Parkway information desk and a book/gift shop. Weekend tours explore the once-off-limits upstairs quarters of Moses and Bertha Cone. The easy Figure-Eight interpretive trail is just outside.
This small visitor center has exhibits on one of the Parkway's most stunning structures, the Linn Cove Viaduct that arcs around Grandfather Mountain. There's also a book/gift shop and restrooms. The partially handicapped accessible Tanawha Trail leads to views under the span.
A small visitor center beside the Linville River with restrooms and a book/gift shop. Trails lead to popular views of Linville Falls.
Open year-round. This larger center offers extensive exhibits on Blue Ridge geology, restrooms, a book/gift shop, and a local tourism office for the Spruce Pine/Burnsville area.
Craggy Garden Overlook A small center at the start of the Craggy Gardens Self-Guiding Trail has spectacular views, a few exhibits, a book/gift shop, and restrooms.
This is the premier Parkway attraction for anyone interested in crafts. The Center features stunning handcrafted objects, contemporary fine art, and permanent exhibits on the long Southern Appalachian tradition of hand craftsmanship. There are frequent programs and crafts demonstrations by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild whose work is for sale on-site.
The Parkway's newest visitor center and the greenest building has a meadow-covered roof and active and passive heating and cooling. The main floor has bold graphics and interactive exhibits that present the Parkway's vistas, history, geology, and culture. A startling, interactive wall map covers the entire journey. Parkway-wide travel information is dispensed by representatives of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, a Congressional designation that identifies and preserves the nation's distinctive landscapes and cultural traditions. There is a large bookstore, theater, and restrooms.
The Parkway preserves some of America's early log structures. In the Boone area, Brinegar Cabin at Doughton Park (Milepost 238.5) is one of the best, and it's the only Parkway log cabin listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. This and adjoining structures are the real things: an original cabin built circa 1880 by Martin Brinegar at a lofty 3,500 feet. In summer there's a small garden behind the structure. Carolyn Brinegar's original loom is inside and there are summer demonstrations. Also in Doughton Park, Caudill Cabin (Milepost 241) is visible far below a dramatic drop from Wildcat Rocks in the Basin Cove backcountry. The cabin has a fascinating history (view a video). A visit makes a great day hike.
Near US 421 east of Boone, pull into the Tompkins Knob Overlook and a short walk leads to Jesse Brown Cabin (pictured above), a fascinating log springhouse, and the Cool Spring Baptist Church, a log structure that sheltered worshippers when a circuit-riding preacher stopped by.
If you love log cabins, don't miss the collection of historic structures at Hickory Ridge History Museum on the grounds of the must-see Horn in the West outdoor drama in Boone.