Upcoming Events
May 4
Blue Ridge Music Center opens
May 10Avery County TRACK Trail Grand Opening May 11
Hanging Rock State Park TRACK Trail Grand Opening
May 11
Mayo River State Park TRACK Trail Grand Opening
May 25
TradFest! at the Blue Ridge Music Center
June 10-13
Plates for the Parkway
June 14 Rosanne Cash and Wayne Henderson & Friends at the Blue Ridge Music Center
June 22 The Kruger Brothers at the Blue Ridge Music Center
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Save the Journey�
Donate today and your tax deductible contribution will help preserve America's Favorite Journey� for future generations.
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photo by Monty Combs
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"Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night--
And I love the rain."
- Langston Hughes
April Rain Song
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Save the Date!
The Second Annual Plates for the Parkwayis just around the corner! Make plans to dine out at a participating restaurant June 10-13, and a portion of proceeds will go to protect YOUR Parkway. Has YOUR favorite restaurant signed on to help? Encourage them to help us protect the Parkway by signing up for Plates today! Learn more at
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"A small green frog
On a big brown log;
A black and yellow bee
In a little green tree;
A red and yellow snake
By a blue-green lake,
All sat and listened
To red bird sing,
"Wake up, everybody,
It's spring! It's spring!"
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photo by Solitary Traveler Photography
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"In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours." - Mark Twain
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Be One of the Lucky 100 -
Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, with Wayne Henderson and Friends, on the Blue Ridge Parkway June 14
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Photo by June Kirsch
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Join us on June 14, when Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, along with Wayne Henderson and Friends, will perform at the Blue Ridge Music Center at MP 213, only 10 miles from Galax, VA and 20 miles from Mt. Airy, NC.
In addition to the main stage concert beginning at 7pm, this evening offers an unusual opportunity. The first 100 people who reserve with a $100 donation will enjoy a private appearance by Rosanne, John and Wayne, where the artists will share personal experiences related to their lives and craft. Beginning at 5 pm, this special appearance will be followed by a private reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres, tour of the Roots of American Music Museum, and VIP seating for the main stage concert. Donations will support the Blue Ridge Music Center 2013 Season. To learn more about this special evening, click here. To reserve call Lynne Fletcher at 1-866-308-2773.
For tickets to the concert only, visit www.blueridgemusiccenter.org or call 276-236-5309.
Sponsored by:
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Kids in Parks Heads to Maryland...and Receives Congressional Award!
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Kids in Parks' Tony Geiger, Elise Kahl and Jason Urroz, along with Kevin Mack (representing Congressmen John Delaney) and Kevin Brandt, superintendent of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park, at the opening.
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On Friday, April 26 th, the Kids in Parks program celebrated the grand opening of their first TRACK Trail in the state of Maryland at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The trail was funded by the National Park Service's Connect Trails to Parks grant program, and installed as part of the Greater Washington, DC Region's "Healthy People Healthy Parks" project.
During the grand opening ceremony, the Kids in Parks program received two special "Congressional Recognition" awards for establishing trails at the C&O Canal in Williamsport, Maryland. The awards were presented to the program by Senator Barbara Mikulski and Representative John Delaney for working with the National Park Service to establish this trail, which helps gets kids outdoors and active in the park.
"It feels great to have received congressional recognition for the work we are doing with our partners to get kids reconnected with nature and our parks. The program has certainly grown over the last few years, and hopefully with this recognition, as well as future recognition, we will continue to expand, providing kids and families with outdoor adventures for years to come," said Jason Urroz, Director of the Kids in Parks program.
Get outside today! See a full list of Kids in Parks TRACK and Disc Golf Trails here.
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Parkway Names Concessionaire for the Peaks of Otter Lodge
The Parkway announced late last week that Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, a global leader in hospitality, has been awarded a 10 year contract for management of Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant, as well as its retail stores and shuttle service. Along with the lodge, restaurant, and retail stores, Delaware North will operate the Sharp Top Shuttle service. Delaware North has announced that they will operate the lodge from April to November, but has not yet announced an opening date for this year.
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E. B. Jeffress Park Picnic Area to Open
Parkway managers have made the decision to open facilities at E. B. Jeffress Park Picnic Area (MP 271.9) this summer, including restrooms and trailhead access. This developed area was originally slated to be closed. The picnic area and its amenities will open on May 24 (along with many other facilities opening that same weekend).
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Parkway to Open Between Craggy and Mt. Mitchell
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Photo by Nancy Risch
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The Blue Ridge Parkway has announced it will open the section of the road at Milepost 358 between Craggy Gardens and Mount Mitchell State Park on May 4. The Parkway road section was closed to allow for the implementation of critical slope stabilization and a road reconstruction project while ensuring public safety and to allow for the completion of the project in the most efficient manner. Traffic will be controlled to a single lane for periods during the next several weeks to allow the contractor to complete the final stages of the project. |
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Parkway Place Challenge |
Photo by Harald Schmidl
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Do you know where this is on the Parkway? 3 winners will be selected at random from the correct answers that are submitted and will receive a special gift. Entries must be received by midnight, May 27, 2013. |
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