I have fond memories of Skyline Drive -- my folks took us on a number of day trips to different parts of the road when I was a kid. I'd love to take my wife down that way for a summer trip. Any recommendations on accommodations or particular things to spend time seeing? I figure since airfares to Germany are high right now, this might have to suffice for our summer vacation. Could be worse, I suppose!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Depending on the time of year, plan on putting down the parkway at 35 or less MPH along with the constant stopping of sightseers. You can't be in a hurry, it's 2 lanes and not many places to get off of it.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Pisgah Inn Restaurant is just South / West of Asheville, NC. It has a variety of food from meatloaf to fresh mountain trout with tropical salsa. It sits on a hillside with windows all around looking out at the mountains. Google them and find the mile marker on the parkway.

Skyline Drive in San Francisco isn't bad either.

Pisgah looks neat -- thanks for the advice. Keep it coming!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Wait till the fall you'll appreciate it more.

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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I know... wish we could. When I was a kid we drove it in the fall, but my wife is a teacher, so taking time off in the fall is very difficult.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Well, where do you start and end? Skyline Drive around the D.C./Northen VA area has some extremely beautiful scenery, including the Great Falls. If you are in the NoVA area, there are literally tons of places to stay and eat, just right off the Drive. So many so I cannot even tell you. In addition, you can take advantage to visit D.C. as a side trip if you haven't done so in years.

If you are heading south from SLD, you drive right into Roanoke (where I originally from) where you can spend a night at Hotel Roanoke; an historic icon where you have to try their peanut soup with dinner.

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95 R129
04 Infiniti G35.5 BS
10 X204

Start/end is up for debate. We might drive to the Gatlinburg area and wind our way north; just depends on what our schedule winds up looking like. Sometimes it's more fun to wing it anyway, with no set finishing point. I'd certainly like to see NW Virginia again, though; I recall it being absolutely beautiful!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Remember that the purpose of a trip on Skyline Drive is not rapid travel. It is a scenic road. Treat it, and your fellow drivers that way, and you'll be happier. Use the Interstates to go fast,
Skyline Drive is beautiful in the fall, but its also nice anytime.
You have to do Luray Caverns and the auto museum.
A side trip to Cumberland, MD and a ride on the Western Maryland Scenic RR is worthwhile.
For civil wars fans, try the Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, MD. Also Sharpsburg /Antietam, Gettysburg are close as is the Fredericksburg, VA area--lots of history there.
Going a little south of Skyline Drive into the Great Smokies revels some really spectacular scenery.. Klingmans Dome or Clingman's Dome is worth the drive. I was there years ago, drove up thru the clouds, bright sunlight above, heavy clouds below. Then a noise of jet fighters--2 jets broke thru the clouds below us and streaked overhead.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Mt. Mitchell, NC is the highest point east of the Mississippi, and well worth the visit. You can (sadly) drive most of the way to the summit. There is a restaurant on the road to the summit, and some tent pads for camping with a decent view. I spent memorial day weekend there in 1998- loved it. Uncrowded, gorgeous weather. It does, however, sit in a dry county... so finding after-hiking beer was a challenge!

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

At this point in time part of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed for construction. The area is around Asheville, N.C.

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Had I known I Would Have Lived This Long, I Would Have Taken Better Care of Myself----Don

We are going to be making this drive (at least the northern part) week after next. I was there about 10 years ago- its pretty spectacular, especially considering its proximity to D.C.
We are booking a cabin in Skyland one night. I thought that was worth doing last time...we shall see.

Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

ttt

Any further advice? Thanks!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Pack bug spray !

http://budgettravel.about.com/cs/planningyourtrip/a/sky_splendor.htm

Enjoy the trip.