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Best of the Outdoors

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 Cara Ellen Modisett

The Winners

Moses Cone Manor

Scenic Overlook

Platinum: Linn Cove Viaduct , Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 304 in North Carolina
Platinum: Peaks of Otter, Va., Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 86 in Virginia
Gold: Brasstown Bald, Ga.

Blue Ridge Parkway Stop

Platinum: Mabry Mill, Va. (MP 176.2)
Gold: Peaks of Otter, Va.
(MP 86) Silver: Moses H. Cone Manor, N.C. (MP 294) (right)

Skyline Drive Stop
Platinum: Big Meadows
Gold: Skyland Lodge

Davidson River Fishing River
Platinum: The New River
Gold: The James River
Silver: The Davidson River (right)
Fishing Lake
Platinum: Smith Mountain Lake, Va.
Gold: Price Lake, N.C.
Silver: Lake Hartwell, S.C.

Biking Trail
Platinum: Virginia Creeper Trail, Va.
Gold: New River Trail, Va.
Silver: Greenbrier River Trail, W.Va.

Hiking Trail (Non-AT)
Platinum (tie): Panther Creek
Virginia Creeper Trail
Gold(tie): The Foothills Trail
Peaks of Otter
Silver: New River Trail

Stretch of the Appalachian Trail
Platinum: Roan Mountain
Gold: Catawba's "Triple Crown"

Family Getaway
Platinum: Pigeon Forge
Gold: Gatlinburg

Snowshoe Ski Resort Ski Resort
Platinum: Snowshoe Mountain Resort (right)
Gold: Ski Beech
Silver:Wintergreen Resort


Golf Resort
Platinum: Brasstown Valley Resort
Gold: Greenbrier Resort
Silver: The Homestead

Whitewater River
Platinum: The Nantahala River
Gold: The New River
Silver: The Gauley River
Silver:The Ocoee River

Canoeing River
Platinum: The New River
Gold: The James River
Silver: The Hiawassee River
Silver: The Nantahala River

Sunrise/Sunset Spot
Platinum: Mt. LeConte
Gold: Brasstown Bald
Silver: Waterrock Knob

Campground
Platinum: Cades Cove
Gold: Doughton Park

Country Drive
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Gold: Cades Cove
Click here for more country drives recommended by our readers..

Birding Area
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Platinum: Cades Cove

Wildlife Viewing Area
Platinum: Cades Cove
Gold: Grandfather Mountain
Silver: Great Smoky Mountains

Motorcycle Ride
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Gold: Tail of the Dragon

Biltmore EstateRegional Garden
Platinum: Biltmore (right)
Gold: North Carolina Arboretum

National Park
Platinum: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Gold: Shenandoah National Park
Silver: Blue Ridge Parkway

Fall Foliage
Platinum: Blue Ridge Parkway
Gold: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
 

Featured Blue Ridge Video

The Fool in the Woods, aka Blue Ridge Country editor in chief Kurt Rheinheimer, is back with more great woodland information and secrets, this time reporting on how Virginia's Devil's Marbleyard was formed.
See Kurt's Hikes Blog.