www.floydfolks.org & http 1-540-808-2880 -floydlcfgroup@gmail – PO box 179 Floyd,Virginia 24091 Virginia Travel Center I-77 North 276-755-3931 www.virginia.org The Blue Ride Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway, Americas Favorite Drive, will be celebrating its 75th Birthday in 2010. Started in the 1930s as a Depression-era public works project, it took over fifty years to complete. This highway, noted for its beautiful scenic views, meanders through the Blue Ridge Mountains for 469.1 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to US 441 at Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina. For seventeen miles it winds its way through Floyd County, one of the most beautiful and photographed areas of the parkway. There is no fee for using the parkway and it is a favorite destination for many travelers for many reasons. Along the parkway can be found plenty of opportunities to stop, eat, stretch, visit restrooms and exhibits, hike, fish or view wildlife. Historic sites and buildings, each with its own unique history, are found all along the parkway giving the traveler opportunities to be transported back in time as they explore the cultural heritage of the area while enjoying the spectacular natural views. The parkway is an excellent destination for birdwatchers. The Appalachian Mountains are along the flyway for most eastern migratory birds. Photographers also will find an abundance of unique photographic opportunities. Hikers and horseback …