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Smokey Mountains/Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip in May?
Posted on 4/26/20 at 6:42 pm
Posted on 4/26/20 at 6:42 pm
Like many of you I'm starting to go stir crazy. Done as much binge watching as I possibly can, lol. Anyone else thinking of doing a random road trip during this time?
I know many people would say "this is not a vacation, this is a pandemic" but part of me hates the idea of not utilizing this time for a trip. I mean when are we every going to get this amount of time off again? For most of us the answer is not until retirement when we might be too old or have too many medical issues to travel.
Obviously international travel and even most U.S. cities would be out. Most things would still be closed so there wouldn't be much of a point. But what about a road trip up to the Smokey Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway? I love being up in the mountains but I haven't been up to that area in years.
Tennessee and North Carolina seem to be some of the states on the list for opening up soon. Are there hotels in Gatlinburg or Cherokee open? Is the Blue Ridge Parkway itself open? I live in Florida, do you think it might be worth it to drive up sometime mid May?
I know many people would say "this is not a vacation, this is a pandemic" but part of me hates the idea of not utilizing this time for a trip. I mean when are we every going to get this amount of time off again? For most of us the answer is not until retirement when we might be too old or have too many medical issues to travel.
Obviously international travel and even most U.S. cities would be out. Most things would still be closed so there wouldn't be much of a point. But what about a road trip up to the Smokey Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway? I love being up in the mountains but I haven't been up to that area in years.
Tennessee and North Carolina seem to be some of the states on the list for opening up soon. Are there hotels in Gatlinburg or Cherokee open? Is the Blue Ridge Parkway itself open? I live in Florida, do you think it might be worth it to drive up sometime mid May?
This post was edited on 4/26/20 at 6:44 pm
6
Posted on 4/26/20 at 6:49 pm to OrlandeauxSaint83
The BR Parkway is closed down in spots. I’d think it’ll be open after the first week of May, when NC starts to open back up. The good thing about your idea is you can kind of wait until the last minute.
Posted on 4/26/20 at 7:32 pm to OrlandeauxSaint83
quote:
I know many people would say "this is not a vacation, this is a pandemic" but part of me hates the idea of not utilizing this time for a trip. I mean when are we every going to get this amount of time off again? For most of us the answer is not until retirement when we might be too old or have too many medical issues to travel.
Are you unemployed? Cause many of us absolutely are still working. We are not on vacation, we are doing our usual jobs, just at home. In some workplaces, the workload has actually increased.
And it’s entirely within your control to determine how much time off you have. Very much a false statement that you’ll “never have this much time off again until retirement” is more about your personal priorities and time allocation than it is about the pandemic.
Posted on 4/26/20 at 10:50 pm to hungryone
quote:
Are you unemployed? Cause many of us absolutely are still working. We are not on vacation, we are doing our usual jobs, just at home. In some workplaces, the workload has actually increased.
And it’s entirely within your control to determine how much time off you have. Very much a false statement that you’ll “never have this much time off again until retirement” is more about your personal priorities and time allocation than it is about the pandemic.
Your comments are not related to the topic but I'll reply. Currently I am furloughed/unemployed. I am still employed by my employer with all benefits but I am not scheduled for any work for the foreseeable future or being paid by my employer. You might still be working, but the reality is a lot of us in this country have been furloughed/unemployed.
And with all due respect I disagree with your statement. Time allocation has nothing to do with it. Most of us can't afford to take anything more than maybe a few weeks of unpaid time off. I typically get 4 weeks of vacation in an average year, so even if I included all 4 weeks of vacation and say 30 days on a personal leave of absence you're talking about 2 months. I probably won't be back to work for another 2 months and have already been off since March 20th.
So yes I do believe I am being accurate when I say that outside of retirement (which for me being 36 is probably at least 30 years away outside of a medical issue forcing retirement) or being fired/laid off (at which point a vacation is probably not a high priority) the vast majority of Americans will never have this amount of time off at once again.
This post was edited on 4/26/20 at 10:53 pm
Posted on 4/27/20 at 6:39 am to OrlandeauxSaint83
Obviously look ahead to see if things are open. Mid May is discussed by some locations I've seen but that of course could be doubtful.
For the latest updates!
BUT..
Took my daughter on a trip a couple of years ago. We stayed in Asheville for a few days. Loved it. Great food scene. Eclectic place fer sure!
If you go by there, we actually loved and found great value at the Sleep Inn! Clean. Great breakfast. Cheap in an area that's very expensive. Curate is an amazing tapas restaurant.
We spent a few days at the Pisgah Inn. Beautiful view. Right on the BRP. Amazing restaurant.
Not far away is one of my favorite places in the country:
Sliding Rock! One of the coolest things you'd ever do.
For the latest updates!
BUT..
Took my daughter on a trip a couple of years ago. We stayed in Asheville for a few days. Loved it. Great food scene. Eclectic place fer sure!
If you go by there, we actually loved and found great value at the Sleep Inn! Clean. Great breakfast. Cheap in an area that's very expensive. Curate is an amazing tapas restaurant.
We spent a few days at the Pisgah Inn. Beautiful view. Right on the BRP. Amazing restaurant.
Not far away is one of my favorite places in the country:
Sliding Rock! One of the coolest things you'd ever do.
This post was edited on 4/27/20 at 9:00 am
Posted on 4/27/20 at 7:16 am to OrlandeauxSaint83
quote:
Tennessee and North Carolina seem to be some of the states on the list for opening up soon.
The NC Governor has pushed back the opening until May 8th or 9th, forget, and he has 7 criteria for opening or beginning to reopen. Things like more test, reduced # of positive test, etc. I expect him to delay the opening at least another week.
Only take out is available in restaurants now, no sit down eating. I do not know about hotels being open or closed.
Check the Park web site for what is closed or opened at the BRP; right now I think the road is open but the facilities are closed. I think you can hike though.
quote:Yes, can't wait. We did a 3 week road trip last year to WY, SD, CO and MT and am ready to take off again.
Anyone else thinking of doing a random road trip during this time?
Posted on 4/27/20 at 7:59 am to OrlandeauxSaint83
We went for a drive on the BRP with our dog a few weeks ago. Up to around Craggy Gardens before heading back.
The stretch around Cherokee NC was closed so we had to spend an extra hour getting to the parkway. But from there it was clear up past Asheville, and there were a lot of people out (but not too many). The lodges and park facilities are closed, but trails, parking lots, etc. were open.
NPS is good about updating closures, so just make sure you're checking the week or so before you want to go.
As an aside, we're considering renting a mountain cabin or condo at the beach as things reopen. We're WFH for the foreseeable future - so why not.
The stretch around Cherokee NC was closed so we had to spend an extra hour getting to the parkway. But from there it was clear up past Asheville, and there were a lot of people out (but not too many). The lodges and park facilities are closed, but trails, parking lots, etc. were open.
NPS is good about updating closures, so just make sure you're checking the week or so before you want to go.
As an aside, we're considering renting a mountain cabin or condo at the beach as things reopen. We're WFH for the foreseeable future - so why not.
Posted on 4/27/20 at 11:45 am to Pettifogger
Most of Pisgah NF is announced closed until August 13.There is talk of opening it sooner. I wouldn't want to make that trip during closure.
Posted on 4/28/20 at 5:27 pm to Nole Man
quote:
nole man
Good call on the sliding rock. Did that when I was a kid. Wanting to take my kids there soon. I love the smokies.
Posted on 4/28/20 at 8:28 pm to OrlandeauxSaint83
We’re staying in Sevierville , TN Wednesday-Monday of Memorial Day Weekend. I like SMNP’s chances of being open. Looking forward to some hiking and fly fishing.
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