Explore the area around Asheville, NC, on exciting day trips in a Ford Escape, Bronco, or Maverick. Drive down the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, discover the breathtaking rhododendron tunnels, hike up to the highest point east of the Mississippi, and pull over at quaint roadside attractions along the way.
1. Craggy Gardens
Head down the curvy and scenic Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville, a breathtaking stretch of road that winds high up into the Blue Ridge Mountains, and pull over at the Visitor Center at milepost 364. Follow the Craggy Pinnacle Trail to admire a spectacular floral display when these high slopes are carpeted with wildflowers in summer, and the may-apples, violets, and blackberries burst into color.
In the spring, you’ll be surrounded by pink and purple blossoms when hundreds of indigenous Catawba rhododendron blossom. Walk through the gnarled tickets of tall rhododendron, creating winding tunnels up to the mountain’s summit, offering far-flung views over the Southern Appalachians.
2. Mount Mitchell
Travel 30 miles down the Blue Ridge Parkway to milepost 355 to stand atop the highest point east of the Mississippi in Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina’s first state park, where Mount Mitchell’s summit towers an impressive 6,684 feet above sea level.
Hike up the Mount Mitchell Summit Trail through the spruce-fir forest, an ecosystem found only in a handful of locations around the world. Once you reach the observation deck, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views that will take your breath away.
3. The American Museum of the House Cat
Take a 47-mile drive to Sylva to learn more about the long and fascinating history of human and cat interactions at the American Museum of the House Cat at 5063 US Highway 441 South. The unique museum was created by Dr. Harold W. Sims, a retired professor of biology, and is one of only two of its kind in the country and nine worldwide.
The museum’s exhibits showcase over ten thousand items centered around the housecat as a domestic pet. The vast collection includes a hand-carved kitty carousel, antique cat toys, a mummified cat from 31 B.C. Egypt, and a rare book library.
4. Grimshaw’s Post Office
The smallest U.S. post office in its day, Grimshaw’s Post Office, perched on Whiteside Cove Road in Cashiers, 62 miles from Asheville. The tiny five-by-six-foot wooden structure next to an American flag proudly displays its name in bright yellow letters. Despite its small size, the post office, named after one of its postmasters, dutifully took care of the town’s mail from 1878 to 1953.
Go on an adventure down the road behind the wheel of a Ford and enjoy every moment behind the wheel. Before you hit the road to go on a trip, call Asheville Ford today to schedule a maintenance appointment and ensure you get to your destination safely.
Image via Pixabay
Connect with us
