America’s Favorite Journey: The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most popular destination in our national park system, hosting about 17 million visitors a year.
Nearly half the 469-mile route runs through North Carolina, including its highest elevations. Some of the parkway’s iconic features are in our state, including its highest peak and the Linn Cove Viaduct at Grandfather Mountain.
Visitors to the parkway generate more than $2 billion dollars a year for mountain communities. Its biological diversity, rich history and its parks and trails make the parkway a valuable educational and recreational resource.
Host: WRAL News anchor Bill Leslie
Producer/writer: Clay Johnson
Photographer/editor: Jay Jennings
America’s Favorite Journey’ aired June 29, 2010 on WRAL-TV.