Our spring 2021 trip included visits to North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. We took off on April 16th for what we hoped would be a 49 day adventure. Seems we have not been able to complete many trips lately with the virus and other problems.
We spent the first two nights at Shaefer Heard campground near West Point Georgia just to break up the drive to north Georgia. We have stayed there before and it is a great COE campground on a huge lake.
My goal was to drive through Atlanta on Sunday morning since that is the slowest traffic day and all went off as planned as we traveled to Don Carter State Park. Once there we had a nice visit from Michael and the boys on Sunday afternoon and made the trip over to Jasper to visit with Chris and his family on Monday.
On Tuesday we took off for Franklin NC and the mountains. Our arrival signaled the last cold spell of the season as the weather turned colder and actually got near freezing. We were able to take in a little sightseeing and see a few waterfalls in the area.
After a few nights at campground across North Carolina we visited the town of Mt. Airy. We stayed at the Mayberry campground near town and loved the area. It is most famous for being the hometown of Andy Griffith and the town has done a wonderful job of recreating Mayberry as best they could. From Floyd’s barber shop to Wally’s gas station the town takes you back in time to Mayberry circa 1960.
The highlight of our visit here had to be the Andy Griffith Museum. What a great place to view all the history of such a great actor and true southern gentleman. The campground was great also set on a terraced hillside with views of the surrounding mountains.
Another week of camping at Goose Point COE Campground and Smith Mountain Lake State Park brought us to Natural Bridge State Park in Lexington Virginia. A hike down the over 100 steps took us along a creek and the beauty of one of the best Natural Wonders in the Eastern United States.
We did not take the RV onto the Blue Ridge Parkway but traveled most of it in the Jeep after setting up camp each day. It is much better by Jeep since we are able to stop anywhere and enjoy the scenery.
Our next stop was the most anticipated as we wanted to visit Monticello. We camped at Sherando Lake Recreation Area which was very enjoyable but without many services like TV or wifi. The home of Thomas Jefferson did not disappoint at it was very informative and well preserved.
Arguably our greatest president he was a very active person involved in so many adventures in the early stages of our country. The home and ground are almost exactly as they were when he resided these over 250 years ago. If you appreciate history this is a must for any traveler.
Our very next stay in Luray VA allowed for a side trip in the jeep to Harpers Ferry VA. What a great day exploring the area and learning about John Brown and his misadventures at the beginning of the civil war. Just a lovely town set along the Potomac River. Since the Appalachian Trail passes through town we actually walk some of it to get a feel for an adventure we are likely to never take.
We drove back through the Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive to Luray. Another scenic drive through the mountains.
Next we took our adventures to a never before explored state in West Virginia. As John Denver wrote it is almost heaven. Such a beautiful state with so much to explore. Our favorite stay had to be four nights in Summersville. The extended stay allowed us time to really get out and see some of the extraordinary sites in the state.
Waterfalls, river gorges and tree covered mountains were the highlights of the state. We finished our adventures in West Virginia at Natural Tunnel State Park. A unique experience where a train track goes through a natural tunnel carved out by a river over many centuries.
Our journey wound down with a visit to one of our favorite places in Townsend TN near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A drive through Cades Cove is always a must and along the Foothills Parkway which has been extended to near Pigeon Forge since we were last in the area.
Our last stop was just south of Chattanooga at Cloudland State Park in Georgia. Another lovely park set in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The park has some great hiking trails along the canyon near the campground. A short visit to the top of Lookout Mountain was also a nice afternoon.
Sadly our trip ended back at the home place after 49 days. Time to plan our next adventure!