Enjoy the Fall Color Change on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

It is not too early to begin planning for a memorable fall trip to observe October's rich display of colors in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway offers unparalleled vistas as one slowly navigates the lovely mountaintop highway overlooking the Shenandoah Valley below.

For those who have never traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway it may difficult to visualize the breathtaking beauty of this mountaintop byway that meanders through lovely, natural stands of wild flowers, rhododendron, wild azaleas and a magnificent variety of virgin forests of mountain firs.

As the road ahead navigates a gentle curve one can anticipate seeing a grazing herd of white-tailed deer in a nearby field or a flock of wild turkey cautiously crossing the road. At the higher elevations new warning signs have been erected that tell of bear activity in the area and it is not uncommon to see a lumbering, black bear here.

Scenic overlooks, where one can pull off the road and park to observe the valley below are located every three to five miles. In addition to offering some of the most scenic views these overlooks often include historical or informational stations relative to the site and provide and welcome opportunity to stop and get out of the car to enjoy the refreshing, mountain air. Many of these overlooks link up with mountain hiking trails where one can enjoy hiking to a nearby mountain stream or to the opposite side of the mountain for an alternate view. Some of these stops offer picnic tables, but most visitors seem to prefer spreading a blanket and enjoying lunch where the views are most spectacular.

One of the more popular stops at the Virginia's southernmost stop on the parkway is Mabry Mill. Here, at milepost 176.1 one can see an original gristmill that has been in operation since 1910. This rustic old mill with its' graceful, slowly turning, waterwheel is one of the most photographed sites on the parkway. The clear water of the millpond reflects the image of the mill interrupted only by colorful ducks as these crisscross the pond seeking favors from visitors. The mill still grinds corn into cornmeal and after observing the process in action visitors can buy freshly ground cornmeal at the nearby gift shop.

In addition the gristmill visitors here can take a walking tour of the site where they can see a turn of the century sawmill and blacksmith shop. In season there are demonstrations of soap making, a sorghum mill and a whiskey still. In the original farmhouse on site one can see typical furnishings including a demonstration of wool yarn making using a spinning wheel.

There is something for everyone to enjoy at Mabry mill as it offers a living history lesson of life 100 years in our past.

If history is not your thing you may still want to plan a stop at Mabry mill as it offers one of the few restaurants on the parkway. Located just in back of the gift shop the Mabry mill restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in season (The restaurant is closed the end of October through March). The restaurant is small and is not famous for its' ambiance as most of its' tables are located on an outside, screened porch. Mabry mill is famous for its' wide selection of breakfast dishes that are served all day. Many visitors, including myself, will drive for hours with no other purpose than to enjoy breakfast here. There is nothing so enjoyable on a cool fall morning as a plate of buckwheat pancakes, covered in warm syrup and surrounded by crispy pepper bacon.

Another favorite is a large breakfast platter filled with three eggs (cooked per your choice), an 8 inch by 10 inch slab of smoke-cured country ham surrounded by golden brown hash brown potatoes and a side of homemade biscuits or toast of your choice, coffee and a jar of homemade blueberry jam.

While I am certain that the lunches and dinners served at Mabry mill are equally enticing...for reasons that should be obvious, I have not yet gotten beyond breakfast.

Please do yourself a favor. Plan a fall day trip that includes spending the better part of a day on the Blue Ridge parkway. I can promise you memories you will never forget.