When is the best time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway or go to other areas to see everything starting to bloom or in bloom? I know here in the Triad there is a lot of blooming going on and everything is beautiful. We would like to enjoy what the mountains have to offer too.

Thanks in advance.

I like the Parkway 365 days a year, but would recommend mid June to you This is when the wild rhododendron begins to bloom and it is just beautiful!

I would say anytime between now and a month or so from now is a great time to view what Spring has brought to the mountains! Everything is blooming and it is so pretty! If you wait until June or so... it will be pretty as well- but the initial blooming will be gone but flowers should be out. I say wait another 3 weeks or so.

I really hate to disagree with your Meredith, so I will apologize in advance . But seriously, if you go up to the Parkway right now, especially to the higher elevations, you don't see nearly as much color as you will toward the end of May. April on the Parkway can still be kind of brown. June and October really are the prettiest months.

love this color!

Thank you both for your input. Heck, there's no reason we can't go in a few weeks and in June. We were there in October-twice-and everything was just beautiful. So I can't wait. I guess there is always something beautiful to see along the Parkway and throughout the mountains. So we will just have to keep going back! (Maybe snow again this weekend they say??)

Lovesmountains: That's a great picture and great color. That's what I want in my soon to be planted garden. Thanks for sharing it with us.

It depends on the elevation - Asheville is beautiful right now (the redbuds are in full bloom!) - but higher up will bloom later.

Yet rain, snow, and freezing temps are forecast for the week-end. Yep, that would be spring in the mountains. Don't like the weather, wait and it will change drastically.