Blue Ridge Parkway

Episode 2: Lodging In The Parks, Maintenance, And Glacier Bay

Bryce Canyon National Park lodging/Kurt Repanshek

In this week's edition of National Parks Traveler, host Kurt Repanshek discusses lodging in the National Park System with David and Kay Scott, authors of The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges, updates congressional efforts to whittle away the park system's nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog, and reviews a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

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National Park Lodges That Vanished

Lodging can be hard to come by in the National Park System depending on the season you want to book a room for. It's also a little harder because some lodges have disappeared from the parks down through the decades. Do you remember the Echo Bay Resort? David and Kay Scott take a look back at some of those places.

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By David and Kay Scott - February 10th, 2019 1:30am

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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Funding Temporary Reopening Of Parkway Visitor Center

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is paying for National Park Service staff members to reopen the Visitor Center in Asheville, North Carolina, at milepost 384 on the Parkway for three weekends. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend and then Friday through Sunday, February 1-3, and again February 8-10.

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By NPT Staff - January 25th, 2019 12:08pm

Navigating The Blue Ridge Parkway During The Shutdown

As the government shutdown continues, we want to share information about the impact on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here are answers to some of the questions we've heard most frequently from our Community of Stewards.

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By NPT Staff - January 11th, 2019 2:00am

Renewing The Views On The Blue Ridge Parkway

The designers of the Blue Ridge Parkway created 216 overlooks to offer astonishing views of rippling mountain peaks and lush valleys. Over time, vegetation has grown and obscured many of those vistas. Earlier this year, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation provided funding to clear these overlooks through its Renew the Views program.

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By NPT Staff - December 5th, 2018 2:00am

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Ceiling Failure Closes Tanbark Tunnel Along Blue Ridge Parkway

In the midst of multiple weather-related closures at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service officials announce that Tanbark Tunnel at Milepost 374.4 is closed to all uses until further notice due to a piece of the tunnel’s natural rock ceiling coming loose.

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By NPT Staff - November 14th, 2018 1:30am

Pruning Vegetation Will Create Temporary Closures Along Blue Ridge Parkway

The need to trim back vegetation along the Blue Ridge Parkway will lead to intermittent and temporary road closures through the end of the year.

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By NPT Staff - November 9th, 2018 2:00am

New Roof Added To Bluffs Coffee Shop, Donations Sought To Finish The Rehab Work

Progress is being made towards reopening the Bluffs Coffee Shop, a popular way station on the Blue Ridge Parkway that has been closed for years.

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By NPT Staff - October 22nd, 2018 2:00am

Kids In Parks Blazes A Path In The Park Rx Movement

More and more doctors are turning to an innovative tool to help children feel their best: nature. Through a growing movement called Park Rx (or Park Prescriptions), physicians are prescribing excursions in the outdoors for the health benefits.

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By NPT Staff - October 2nd, 2018 8:36am

Fall Color Without the Crowds at the Great Smoky Mountains or the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Both Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are justly famous for their fall color—and a flood of mid-October visitors. Can you avoid the heavy traffic and still enjoy some autumn foliage by timing your visit a bit earlier? Here's a Traveler trip report.

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By Jim Burnett - September 28th, 2018 2:00am

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INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.