THE ROAD LESS TAKEN: THE CHEROHALA HIGHWAY
By Mark Stith (Southern Ledger Writer)
Take a road trip to this scenic two-lane curling through the NC/TN mountains.
The Cherohala Skyway might be the best drive-per-mile in the entire Appalachian mountain range between Tennessee and North Carolina. Yes, we�re including the Blue Ridge Parkway and all of the routes snaking through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Here are three great reasons to choose the Cherohala over other mountain drives this time of year:
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It�s a short and sweet ride- just some 40-plus miles -and qualifies as a great weekend, there-and-back getaway.
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The Skyway connects two delightful lesser-known, out of the way small towns such as Tellico Plains, Tennessee and Robbinsville, North Carolina.
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Both states deliver scenic views not only on the Skyway, but at various historic sites or parks just a short detour away.
Actually, there are two more great reasons to do this drive now. One, late summer and early fall presents beautiful roadside displays of brilliant flowers, grass plumes, fruits, and seed pods, with plants prepare for winter with a final flourish.
Snowbird Lodge is the second. This fantastic, rustic, comfortable inn sits perched on a high mountaintop near the Skyway�s� eastern terminus. Their flagstone terrace, furnished with Adirondack and rocking chairs, has to be one of the best places on the planet to watch the rest of the world go by. Rooms go quickly at this precious place, especially on weekends, and you can just about forget finding a room at the inn during peak fall foliage season. For information on rates and availability,� visit their website, www.snowbirdlodge.com, or call them at 1-800-941-9290. Rates include three fantastic meals a day (especially dinner).
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