Place to see: Craggy Gardens, Barnardsville, North Carolina, United States

About this place:

Craggy Gardens is one of the most beautiful stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In summer, rhododendrons and other wildflowers cover the land with vivid color--one of the brightest displays along the parkway. Autumn, too, shows magnificent colors throughout the rippling landscape. Be sure not to miss the beautiful and abundant bunches of red berries of mountain ash.

The area often arouses visitors' interest, and the Visitor Center provides lots of information about local plants and animals. Books and photos about such wildlife wait to be bought, along with other souvenirs. But if preferred, visitors can simply relax in a rocking chair beside the wood-burning stove while listening to local bluegrass.

Of the trails, Craggy Pinnacle Trail is the most popular. A short drive north of the visitor center, the trail begins its upward climb. Flowers, moss-painted rocks, and gnarled sweet birch trees make this trail one of the most beautiful in the Asheville area. Along the ascent, visitors will also notice rare, endangered plants thriving in the pinnacle's unique habitat. The summit offers the most impressive sight along the trail with an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding ridges. After the 1.4-mile round-trip hike, visitors often settle into the picnic area.