Blue Ridge Mountains

14 Trips Our Editors Are Taking This Summer

"I chose the Blue Ridge Parkway in Roanoke, Virginia because my focus this summer is trips that are outdoorsy, either to parks and mountains, and away from people and bustle of crowds. It's a six-hour drive from New Jersey, and just to drive the Parkway itself is exciting. With 469 miles of road, there's a lot of exploring we can do. We're not going as far south as the Pisgah region in North Carolina, but will explore the Ridge region, and possibly parts of Shenandoah (further north from Roanoke) on our way back, including Crabtree Falls. We're excited to see natural attractions like Mill Mountain, Carvins Cove natural reserve, and will probably grab a takeout bottle from a local vineyard, like Valhalla, or swing by a local brewery like Soaring Ridge. We've booked a charming two-bedroom Airbnb a 10-minute drive away from the Parkway to use as our home-base."