From Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile ridge-riding ribbon that runs from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Along the way are opportunities for a multitude of recreational activities, including hiking, rafting, kayaking, as well as calmer strolls around stately historical sites. If you're road tripping from Knoxville to Washington DC, here's some ways to enjoy all the outdoor adventures the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer. Newfound Gap Road: Bisecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the 33-mile drive offers plenty of long-distance views, short hikes, and streamside driving. Andrews Bald: Hike to one of the prettiest high-altitude meadows in the Smokies. Catalooches: Camping in this secluded valley with Milky Way views is bliss--and driving through isn't half bad either. Hen Wallow Falls Trail: An easy out-and-back day hike to a beautiful waterfall. Cades Cove: Cades Cove offers plenty of wildlife viewing and the largest collection of intact historic structures in the park.
Rick Mountain: Hike up, up, up in the hills for gorgeous views of Cades Cove. Dollywood: Ride roller coasters and get a taste of southern Appalachian music, history, and culture at this theme park owned by a country music legend. East Tennessee History Center: Learn about the history and culture of Tennessee foothills at this downtown Knoxville landmark. Knoxville Museum of Art: This Tennessee marble building is filled with impressive contemporary pieces, including works by artists native to the city and region. Tennessee Theatre: The official state theater of Tennessee is an architectural marvel. As you pull into the Shenandoah Valley, you'll find memorable places of both human and natural historical interest. National Air and Space Museum: Showcasing the crowning achievements of U.S.
aeronautics, this museum displays everything from the Wright Flyer to space suits and artifacts from the Apollo missions. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: This moving memorial illustrates the rise of Nazi Germany and the atrocities perpetrated upon European Jews and other ethnic and social groups during World War II. Arlington National Cemetery: The second oldest National Cemetery contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the gravesite of JFK, and monuments, memorials, and headstones marking major events in our history. Manassas Battlefield National Park: The site of two bloody battles during the Civil War, this battlefield is the place where General "Stonewall" Jackson earned his nickname and the Confederate army earned two early victories and opened the way for a Southern invasion of Northern territory. Hogback Mountain Overlook: From here you can spot 11 bends of the Shenandoah River and mountains as far as you can see. Luray Caverns: Just west of Skyline Drive, these caverns were discovered in the 1870s and found to contain human bone fragments embedded in a stalagmite. Today, more than 500,000 people tour the caves annually. Mary's Rock Trail: A moderate trail leads to a beautiful rock outcrop with sweeping views of the countryside.
Dark Hollow Falls Trail: This short trail leads you to a beautiful 70-foot waterfall just off Skyline Drive.