Memorial Day Weekend Blue Ridge Mountain Drive (Saturday, May 24th

[MandiLu]

Who is up for a trip to the mountains Memorial Day Weekend? We did this last year and all who went had a blast. Here is the thread from last year with links to pictures to take a look for your self. You can choose to go up for a night or two or just the day. If you need a place to stay, this website is a good place to start looking. Steve and I will most likely be staying in the Blowing Rock area. Boone is also very close if you would like to make that your option. The cruise will be on Saturday. Right now, I’ll say the plans are to meet at the Shoppes on the Parkway at 10:00 on Saturday morning and start the cruise from there. Last year we rode the Parkway to Mt. Mitchell and had lunch at the restaurant there. This year the plan is to take the High Country Back Roads loops. The Northern Loop takes about 1 hour to drive and the Southern Loop takes about 2 hours. This is just drive time and does not allow for stops. Depending on what everyone who shows up; and what we all want to see, we could possibly do both or just one and make most of the suggested stops. Saturday night we will all plan to have dinner somewhere in Blowing Rock. So who is in? Last year was a blast.

[Va_Sky]

Hey this is great. The High Country is a great place and I have actually been planning to go Memorial Day Weekend anyway so this sounds great... I was actually up there last year for the Memorial Day Weekend and saw some of ya'll but I did not have my sky at that time so I was in my PT Cruiser. I would love to get together for a cruise up there, I just have to do some checking first. So pencil me in but it may change. Both of those cruises look great I actually found and downloaded both of these routes a few weeks ago. Another good place to stay is Bear Den Campground. They have cabins located in the campground that are real nice...

[WindySky]

Sounds like fun -- I think we can get the time off work and join in

[NCBlue]

Count me in! We had a really great time last year-and the roads were soo much fun!

[MandiLu]

Great. I hope everyone can make it. If any of you have any questions or I left anything out you can PM me if you don't want to post it here. I guess it depends on the turn out as to where we will venture out to eat that Saturday night. If anyone has suggestions or a favorite place I am open. Nothing is set in stone.

[Va_Sky]

Here is a link to Canyons which is always a good choice and here is a link with more good Restaurant ideas
North Carolina's High Country Directory

Stuart

[MandiLu]

Originally Posted by Va_Sky

Here is a link to Canyons which is always a good choice

Yeah, we've eaten there a few times. There is a new place opening where Tijuana Fats used to be. (Ugh.... that Tijuana was just awful.) And I have always wanted to try Bistro Roca. Gotta love the pug on the billboards. But we do need to find a place for what will hopefully be a big group. So it may be Canyons again. You get a great little history lesson reading the menu's too.
Bandana's ALWAYS smells so good when I drive by.

[Va_Sky]

Dan'l Boone Inn Restaurant is good also if you like an old country style buffet restaurant.

[R Sky Rox]

Count us in. Can't wait. We had a blast last year. Wherever you want to eat is fine with us. It will be great to get away for the weekend. I wish gas didn't cost so dang much, though.

Thanks for setting this up, MandiLu & SteveMR2! You guys (y'all) are the best (I'm trying to catch that cute southern accent that Mandi has--but it's pretty hard for this SoCal girl).

[Ken the Great]

Penny and I went there a couple of years ago.. It was really good, had a great view, but was kinda pricey. I think the majority of our money that weekend will be spent on gasoline. Heck we may have to eat at McDonalds. I am very glad to see some new peeps joining in on our fun. Dont be too alarmed when you meet us. We only get wild and crazy when we arn't sleeping. See everyone there. Cant wait. sounds like a great time.

[SkyMan 08]

Originally Posted by MandiLu

Who is up for a trip to the mountains Memorial Day Weekend? We did this last year and all who went had a blast. Here is the thread from last year with links to pictures to take a look for your self. You can choose to go up for a night or two or just the day. If you need a place to stay, this website is a good place to start looking. Steve and I will most likely be staying in the Blowing Rock area. Boone is also very close if you would like to make that your option. The cruise will be on Saturday. Right now, I’ll say the plans are to meet at the Shoppes on the Parkway at 10:00 on Saturday morning and start the cruise from there. Last year we rode the Parkway to Mt. Mitchell and had lunch at the restaurant there. This year the plan is to take the High Country Back Roads loops. The Northern Loop takes about 1 hour to drive and the Southern Loop takes about 2 hours. This is just drive time and does not allow for stops. Depending on what everyone who shows up; and what we all want to see, we could possibly do both or just one and make most of the suggested stops. Saturday night we will all plan to have dinner somewhere in Blowing Rock. So who is in? Last year was a blast.

Well sounds like fun, and not far from here, We were planning on going to a Car show in Kingsport that day, but instead we may just skip that and go on the cruise, I would rather be driving than sitting anyway!. That Friday night they have a Cruise-in at the Wal-mart on Ft Henry Drive. It is free and they give away prizes too (not judging just a drawing). It is always fun to see all the great cars there, I will probably have both the Sky and the El Camino there.

[Midnight Sky]

Well I can vouch for the fact that last yer was a blast.

And its good to see some new people interested in our disfunctional group.

But, I'm not sure yet how work will be that weekend, so I'll have to be my usual noncommittal until the last minute.

[MandiLu]

Originally Posted by Midnight Sky

Well I can vouch for the fact that last yer was a blast.

And its good to see some new people interested in our disfunctional group.

But, I'm not sure yet how work will be that weekend, so I'll have to be my usual noncommittal until the last minute.

We will keep you penciled in as always. And I think disfunctional may be mild at best.

[Va_Sky]

Originally Posted by Ken the Great

Penny and I went there a couple of years ago.. It was really good, had a great view, but was kinda pricey. I think the majority of our money that weekend will be spent on gasoline. Heck we may have to eat at McDonalds. I am very glad to see some new peeps joining in on our fun. Dont be too alarmed when you meet us. We only get wild and crazy when we arn't sleeping. See everyone there. Cant wait. sounds like a great time.

Ken you have got to mean Canyons not Daniel Boone Restaurant... Canyons is the Restaurant with the view... The only view at Daniel Boone Restaurant is the street out front...

Plus I think Daniel Boone is between 12 & 14 buck per person for all you can eat.

[Ken the Great]

It was a couple of years ago when I went there. We had to drive up this long winding mountan road to get there. When we walked in it was still daylight and I remember looking out the windows at the rear of the restaurant and admiring the beautiful view. Almost the whole rear of the place was glass to show the view. The only way I could be wrong is if the place I'm thinking of is not the Daniel Boone. Who knows I was wrong once back in 1973... maybe once again I could be wrong. Nahhhhhh. probably not.

[Va_Sky]

Originally Posted by Ken the Great

It was a couple of years ago when I went there. We had to drive up this long winding mountan road to get there. When we walked in it was still daylight and I remember looking out the windows at the rear of the restaurant and admiring the beautiful view. Almost the whole rear of the place was glass to show the view. The only way I could be wrong is if the place I'm thinking of is not the Daniel Boone. Who knows I was wrong once back in 1973... maybe once again I could be wrong. Nahhhhhh. probably not.

Up a long winding road??? Thats not Daniel Boone Restaurant or Canyons... I'm not quite sure but I believe that my have been the Restaurant at Crestwood Inn called Dominic's Table. Here is a picture.


Daniel Boone Restaurant is right in the middle of town in front of Appalachian State.

[MandiLu]

And Ken.... We went to Canyons last year for dinner on Friday night. Me, you, Steve, Penny and Rhonda. You didn't complain (much) about the prices. No more than you normally do. But I do remember Steve ordering the nachos for everyone and you complained that we had to pay for nachos. Love ya! Mean it!

[Va_Sky]

Hey MandiLu,

Did you down load the Audio Guides with the Route Guide??? They are pretty neat. If any one that goes wants a CD copy I'm willing to make some.

Stuart

[MandiLu]

Originally Posted by Va_Sky

Hey MandiLu,

Did you down load the Audio Guides with the Route Guide??? They are pretty neat. If any one that goes wants a CD copy I'm willing to make some.

Stuart

No I haven't done that yet. I started to do it at work today and decided to wait till later. CD copies of the audio guide would be a great idea.