Submitted by Bob Rodwell
It’s mid-October in Raleigh. The State Fair is in full swing, college football every Saturday, Hurricanes hockey, the kids are in school, Halloween approaches – there is just so much to do here. But my mind, of course, turns to ROAD TRIP! Mid-October means the mountains to me, such a fabulous time to get outside and see the best show around. And that reminds me of one of the many reasons I enjoy living in Raleigh – it is just a short drive from so many great other places to visit. Obviously the beaches, from Virginia to South Carolina with lots of choices in between, are close. So are major cities like Washington and Atlanta, with other prime selections like Charlotte, Columbia, and Charlottesville all within just a few hours. But this time of year we have to think mountains. We’ve spent quality October days and nights in years past in several great spots, and I’ll give you my top three right now. They each offer very different treats, but all offer superb scenery, fine people, good eats, and reasonable drive time to and from Raleigh. And each offers fun side trip possibilities. Try them all and others!
#3 – Lake Chatuge, GA – just across the NC state line (actually, some of the lake is in NC), where the Blue Ridge Mountains are a little lower but still gorgeous, and the lake is clear and clean and offers a wide variety of activities while it is still warm enough to get out on the water. All the websites I looked at promote a specific place to stay or play, so I won’t promote one here, but I will say that we stayed in Hiawassee and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Lots of outdoor activities, but for the shoppers in your crowd, it’s a short drive to Highlands and Cashiers, or just 2 hours to Atlanta.
#2 – Asheville, NC – so much to see and do it deserves multiple visits, and not just for the fabulous Biltmore house, where I love the grounds even more than the house. Learn more about Asheville happenings at www.exploreasheville.com. But the Asheville area offers one of my favorite things – a two-fer-one – because it is a very short trip to Hendersonville, NC – just south of Asheville, this laid back town offers apple festivals and an active downtown nightlife, with lots of B&B’s, and of course has historical appeal, as detailed in www.historichendersonville.org.
#1 – anywhere from the middle to the north end of the Shenandoah Valley in western VA – Lexington, Staunton, Harrisonburg, and Strasburg are all great. A short drive, incredible views, so much historical interest, deer, waterfalls, hiking trails, antiques, … check out www.visitshenandoah.org and www.nps.gov/shen. Massanutten Resort outside Harrisonburg has a lot to offer, including an indoor waterpark for the kids. Did I mention good eats? Check out the Hotel Strasburg, in (surprise) Strasburg. Trust me. Another reason we like Strasburg is it is a great jumping-off point for half-day or all day visits to Harpers Ferry, Antietam, caverns (lots of them), and my absolute favorite drive – the Skyline Drive. We’ve viewed a Civil War battle re-enactment just outside Strasburg that rivaled the State Fair for entertainment. Another fun drive is 340 as it meanders down the valley near the Shenandoah River – truly peaceful. We drove from Luray to Elkton one rainy afternoon and counted 10 distinct rainbows – so even a rainy day drive can be fun!
There are so many great places to see and things to do in our Blue Ridge Mountains or in the Shenandoah Valley in the Fall. And then you can come back home to Raleigh - a great place to live, work, and raise a family, and just another ROAD TRIP from …
