#Linville Bluffs

[thorsenmark]

Rising Above the Everyday Experiences by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A setting looking to the northeast while taking in views to the ridges and peaks present at this overlook in Grandfather Mountain State Park. This is at the Grandfather Mountain Scenic Point along the main park road. In composing this image, I attempted to more or less center the peaks in the image so that I could have a balance between the earth-tones present with the nearby forest (still with that winter look with no leaves present) with that of the blue skies and clouds above. I liked the color contrast that brought out in the image captured.

[lrmartinjr]

Governor Northam Announces Administration Appointments

Governor Ralph Northam has announced additional appointments to his Administration.

Office of the Governor

Melissa Peeler, Policy Advisor Melissa Peeler has been appointed Policy Advisor in the Governor’s Policy Office. Prior to her appointment, she served as Virginia Government Relations Director at the American Heart Association where she managed state and local health policy portfolios. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and received her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth Board Appointments

9-1-1 Services Board

Mary M. Blowe of Winchester, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Support Services, City of Winchester

R. Scott Garber of Staunton, Fire Chief, City of Staunton

Lee Miller* of Mechanicsville, Major, Virginia State Police

Seth Weise of Chantilly, Vice President of Sales for the Mid-Atlantic, Sprint

Kelvin Wright of Chesapeake, Chief of Police, City of Chesapeake

Jolena Young* of Woodlawn, 911 Coordinator, Twin County 911 Regional Commission

Board of Regents of Gunston Hall (Regents are elected by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America)

Harrison Flynn Giddens* (Mrs. Thomas L. Giddens) of Mason Neck, Virginia

Barbara Camp Linville* (Mrs. David Linville) of Lake Bluff, Illinois

Virginia Carswell Nicholson (Mrs. Justin Marshall Nicholson) of Marietta, Georgia

Sara Lynn Cline Postma (Mrs. John Hendrick Postma) of Spartanburg, South Carolina

Ann Frunald Taylor Schaeffer (Mrs. Ronald Lester Schaeffer) of Arlington, Virginia

Rowena Boyd Van Dyke* (Mrs. Jacob Van Dyke, Jr.) of St. Louis, Missouri

Nancy Dempster White (Mrs. R. Douglas White) of Knoxville, Tennessee

Virginia Simonds White* (Mrs. Stephen Hopkins White) of Dover, Delaware

Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization

Becky Coleman* of Scott County, former Chief of Staff, Congressman Rick Boucher

Alexis I. Ehrhardt, Ed.D.* of Danville, President and CEO, Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce

Franklin D. ‘Frank’ Harris* of Amelia County, Member, Amelia County Board of Supervisors

Edward Owens* of South Boston, Mayor, South Boston

Cecil E. Shell* of Kenbridge, Owner and Farmer, Shell’s Farm

Richard L. Sutherland* of Elk Creek, Director, District Two, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors

Virginia Marine Products Board

Frederick Wayne Barlow Jr. of Richmond, Business Development, J&W Seafood of Va., Inc.

*denotes reappointment

[cleansweepus]

Bluff Mountain

A pleasant overlook with a moderate 7.5 trail, this wind-carved bluff shows off a nearly unobstructed view of Flat Rock Ridge.

Julian Price Lake Overlook

Named after the former president of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company, this scenic lake was dedicated as a public recreation area included in the 4,200-acre Julian Price Memorial Park.

Linn Cove Viaduct

One of the great engineering marvels of its day, this 1,243-foot-long structure (completed in 1983) rides into the sky while skirting around a rocky shoulder of Grandfather Mountain. While you don’t get to park along the viaduct, you can stop at a nearby visitor center and hike in for an up-close view.

Chestoa

Named after the Cherokee word for “rabbit,” this overlook from a rock wall ledge provides a magnificent view of Table Rock, a popular mountain-climbing destination on the eastern side of Linville Gorge.

Mt. Mitchell

View the tallest peak of the Appalachians (6,684 ft.) and the highest in the U.S. east of Mississippi River. Nearby is Mt. Mitchell State Park, which includes trails, a museum, campground, and restaurant.

Craggy Dome

Arguably the most beautiful location along the Parkway, Craggy Gardens is noted for its splendid showcase of Catawba rhododendron, which are best found blooming in June and July. You’ll also see a variety of other flora including azaleas, Turk’s cap lily, and mountain laurel.

Graveyard Fields

Named after the tombstone-looking stumps of trees that were left after a terrible windstorm, the area was also devastated by a large forest fire in 1925. Today, you can enjoy its cool climes, nearby waterfalls and looping trails, abundant blueberry bushes, bald eagles, and lovely colors of wildflowers and bushes spring through fall.

Cowee Mountains Overlook

With its impressive, unobstructed views of the Cowee Mountains, this is one of the best spots on the Parkway to get a family photo with a wide backdrop of mountain scenery.

Richland Balsam

Situated at the highest point of the Blue Ridge Parkway (6,053 ft.), you’ll get spectacular views of the Cowee, Nantahala and Plott Balsam mountain ranges.

Water rock Knob

One of the best parking areas on the Parkway—and a great spot for viewing meteor showers, starry skies and sunsets—this overlook, with nearly 360-degree views of surrounding mountains and a trail leading to an even higher elevation, is a fine stop for a picnic. A bookstore/gift shop is also on site.

Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain, one of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountain range (elevation 5,946 ft), is 70 miles from Asheville, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. While it is not as tall as nearby Mt. Mitchell, it offers more rugged terrain and better vistas from its rocky summit. Grandfather Mountain is also a globally recognized nature preserve.

Cold Mountain Overlook

Cold Mountain, North Carolina, located 35 miles from Asheville, has received notoriety from the best-selling Charles Frazier novel Cold Mountain and the acclaimed 2003 motion picture. The movie was filmed in Romania; however, the mountain scenery is very similar to the real Cold Mountain area

Devil's Courthouse

According to the sign at the overlook, the bare rock profile named Devil's Courthouse is sinister in appearance and legend. Its "devilish" look has contributed to the many folktales surrounding this mountain