General Robert E. Lee is
buried. One of the four
Confederate banners
surrounding Lee’s tomb
is set in an original
flagpole, a branch a rebel
soldier turned into a
makeshift standard. Lee’s
beloved horse, Traveler, is
buried outside.
Just a few miles
north on Rte 11 is Hull’s
Drive-In Movie Theater
(%540-463-2621; http://
hullsdrivein.com; 2367 N Lee
Hwy/US 11; per person $6;
h7pm Thu-Sun May-Oct).
This totally hardcore
artifact of the golden age
of automobiles is a living
museum to the road trips
your parents remember.
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The Drive » Take US 11
southbound for about 12 miles
to get to Natural Bridge (you
can take I-81 as well, but it’s not
nearly as scenic and takes just
as long).4 Natural Bridge
Before we send you
back to the Blue Ridge
Parkway, stop by the
gorgeous Natural Bridge
(www.naturalbridgeva.com;
bridge adult/child $21/12,
bridge & caverns $29/17;
h9am-dusk) and its
wonderful potpourri of
amusements. Natural
Bridge is a legitimate
natural wonder – and is
even claimed to be one
of the Seven Natural
Wonders of the World,
though just who put that
list together remains
unclear. Soaring 200ft in
the air, this centuries-old
rock formation lives up
to the hype. Those whoaren’t afraid of a little
religion should hang
around for the ‘Drama of
Creation’ light show that
plays nightly underneath
and around the bridge.
A lot of other
attractions have been
built into the Natural
Bridge experience,
including a butterfly
garden, a wax museum,
a living history Native
American village-cum-
museum, a horribly garish
children’s play area and a
series of caverns; visiting
this last attraction adds
a little to the cost of your
ticket. It’s worth it, if
you’re into caves.The Drive » Head back to the
Blue Ridge Parkway using US
60 and get on at Buena Vista.
Drive about 13 miles south
to the James River area near
milepost 63.PARKWAY PRACTICALITIES
Most facilities along the the Blue Ridge Parkway (p301), including picnic
areas, visitor centers and museum-style exhibits, such as the historic farms at
Humpback Rocks, officially open on Memorial Day weekend (the last weekend
in May). With that said, some facilities are open year-round and private
concessionaires along the parkway maintain their own hours; we have listed
these where applicable, and you can also check on updated opening hours and
facility renovations at http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit (click on Operating Hours
& Seasons). During winter, portions of the parkway may be snowed out; check the
aforementioned website for updates.
Distances in the park are delineated by mileposts (MPs). The countdown starts
around MP 1 in Virginia, near Waynesboro, and continues all the way to MP 469
near Cherokee, North Carolina.
The Blue Ridge Parkway can feel crowded in spring and summer, when
thousands of motorists crowd the road, but there are so many pull-offs and picnic
areas you rarely feel too hemmed in. Just remember this is a scenic route; don’t
be the jerk who tailgates on the parkway. Expect people to drive slowly up here.
Honestly, it’s a good idea to follow suit; this road has lots of narrow twists and turns.
You can take your RV on the parkway. The lowest tunnel clearance is 10ft 6in
near the park’s terminus in Cherokee, NC.VIRGINIA.TRIPS.25
.BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY