1. Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 550+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Blue Ridge Parkway in 5+ hours. Once downloaded, your tour can begin at any of the following locations: Cherokee, NC; Asheville, NC; Roanoke, VA; Afton, VA. From there, you can drive in either direction. If you want to see the whole parkway, from Great Smoky Mountains National Park all the way to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, you can do so! But if you’d rather break your trip up into smaller pieces and explore at different times, that’s also absolutely an option. Once you buy this tour, it’s yours for life, so you can explore the Blue Ridge Parkway entirely on your own schedule. While driving, you’ll have the opportunity to stop at countless jaw-dropping overlooks revealing the majesty and beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Some of these also feature incredible hiking trails for travelers looking to stretch their legs and get up close and personal with this lush wilderness landscape. Along these trails, you’ll find mountain views, waterfalls, plentiful wildlife, and more scenery than you can shake a stick at. As you drive, you’ll also get acquainted with the Native tribes of the region, such as the Cherokee. You’ll hear plenty of history and legends belonging to these people and revisit dark yet important periods of time like the infamous Trail of Tears. Along the way, get ready to pass plenty of small, historic towns as well. Looking out across those distant villages, you’ll learn about the history of industry in the Appalachians—the rise, the fall, and the persistence of the hardy residents of these towns. Whether you’re looking to enhance a scenic drive or really dive into the weeds and explore, this tour gives you the tools to do it. So what are you waiting for? Buckle up and hit the road!