We visited Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Theme park map; click or tap to view on their site:
An interactive map:
exploring
Attractions and other places we visit.
Blue Ridge Parkway south end
South of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This park, barely wider than the highway, is 469 miles long, between Shenandoah National Park in Virginia at the north end and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina at the south end. We visited the northern end a few weeks ago.
Entering the southern end of the parkway:
There were several tunnels:
Views:
Fire lookout:
Visitor center:
Elevation 5,820 feet:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina over several days, starting with a long drive from Pigeon Forge, north of the park, to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at the southern side of the park (plus a bit further to the southernmost visitor center of the Blue Ridge Parkway; see a separate post about that).
The NPS map; click or tap to interact:
An interactive map of our route:
Parking tag required:
Elk were re-introduced to the park in 2001:
Oconaluftee Visitor Center:
Farm exhibits:
Elk in front of elk sign:
An interactive map of our route for our second visit, to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Clingmans Dome:
Sugarlands Visitor Center:
Clingmans Dome:
Passport stamp:
Split rock:
Path to the lookout; we decided not to go up there:
View:
An interactive map of our route for our third visit, to Cades Cove:
Horses:
Old church:
View:
Visitor Center:
Old farm buildings:
New River Gorge National Park: Thurmond and waterfalls
We visited the Thurmond area of New River Gorge National Park, plus a scenic drive to a couple more waterfalls.
The NPS map of the whole park; click or tap to interact on their site:
An interactive map of our route for visiting Thurmond and the waterfalls:
Waterfall on the way to Thurmond:
One-way car and rail bridge to Thurmond:
Thurmond:
Train engine:
Passport stamps:
Visitor center:
Train engine:
Historic Thurmond:
Back over the one-way bridge:
Glen Ferris falls:
New River Gorge National Park: Canyon Rim and Bridge
We visited the Canyon Rim area of New River Gorge National Park, the newest full National Park in the US. The Canyon Rim section has a visitor center that overlooks the iconic New River Gorge bridge, plus has a winding scenic drive down into the canyon, that passes under the bridge three times.
The NPS map of the whole park; click or tap to interact on their site:
An interactive map of our route for visiting Canyon Rim etc:
Going over the New River Gorge Bridge:
Visitor center:
Gorge viewpoint:
Bridge viewpoint:
We did the scenic Fayette Station Road driving tour, that goes down into the gorge:
One way bridge:
A view of the New River Gorge Bridge from the one-way bridge:
New River Gorge National Park: Sandstone Falls
We visited the Sandstone Falls area of New River Gorge National Park, the newest full National Park in the US. The Sandstone Falls section features a 1500 feet wide waterfall on the New River.
The NPS map of the whole park; click or tap to interact on their site:
An interactive map of our route for visiting Sandstone Falls:
“Masks are optional”; haven’t seen any mention of COVID-19 for a while:
Visitor center exhibits:
Viewpoint overlooking Sandstone Falls:
Sandstone Falls boardwalk:
New River Gorge National Park: Grandview
We visited the Grandview area of New River Gorge National Park, the newest full National Park in the US. The Grandview section overlooks a bend in the New River.
The NPS map of the whole park; click or tap to interact on their site:
An interactive map of our route for visiting Grandview:
A small visitor center:
Grand Canyon of the East:
Path to the main viewpoint:
Road to the Turkey Spur Overlook:
View:
Path with 150 steps to upper viewpoints:
Train:
Antietam National Battlefield
We visited Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland, where “23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862”.
Visitor Center:
Old church:
Cannons:
Stone bridge:
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
We visited Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia.
Relief map:
Bus from the visitor center to the town:
Exploring the old town of Harpers Ferry:
Baseball: Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins
The second baseball game we attended while in the DC area was the Miami Marlins playing at the Washington Nationals stadium, Nationals Park:
We got there shortly before the gates opened:
Baseball art:
Team store:
More art:
Cutwater Spirits:
We got some tasty beverages in interesting containers:
Fritos tacos:
Mascots:
View of the ballpark from our seats:
Mascot:
WSH:
Cheerleaders:
Selfie:
See You Tater:
Tater tots with mac & cheese and pulled pork:
Mascots:
Cart:
Dippin’ Dots for dessert:
Nats win:
