SEE THE MAGAZINE COLUMN WITH TRAVEL PHOTOS

Autumn colors lured us from Kentucky to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, with a stop at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. America's most visited park was bustling with activity as families poured into Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville to spend Fall Break. With the Great Smokies, Dollywood and countless family attractions, entertainment options abound. And so do traffic jams, even on national park roads.

While driving along the park's Cades Cove and Roaring Fork scenic drives, we visited original cabins, admired stunning scenery and even spotted a black bear. On our drive up to Newfound Gap, snow started falling. Travelers jumped out of their cars to taste, touch and play in the tapioca-like snow. They proudly mounted miniature snowmen on their car antennas to show off back in town. We had hoped to miss the white stuff this year, but we couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement and the snows' magical beauty.

From the Great Smokies, we began our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway on its route through North Carolina into Virginia. Slopes and valleys sported lovely hues of red along with burnished gold, orange and bronze. We soon discovered how living and playing in the Rockies has instilled an ease with heights that we take for granted.

Similar to visiting Colorado’s Mount Evans, at Mount Mitchell, we followed a winding road up to a parking lot and then climbed the short distance to the summit. We stood on top of the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River - a lofty 6,684 feet! The swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain near Boone, NC, proved to be a popular favorite. For many of the visitors, crossing the bridge over a deep chasm was a white knuckle adventure of a lifetime and an accomplishment that brought grins to their faces.

Several stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway showcase the area's history and tradition. In the Folk Arts Center outside Ashville, NC, local artists demonstrated traditional crafts, from broom making to quilting. We shifted gears from humble heritage to jaw-dropping opulence at the palatial Biltmore estate. Exploring the lavish residence, gardens, farm and winery easily filled a day.

Up the parkway at the Blue Ridge Music Center, we tapped our feet to bluegrass played by local musicians on fiddles, banjos and mandolins. At Mabry Mill we watched staff demonstrate how mountain homesteaders spun wool, wove bed covers on large wooden looms, and milled corn into grits and flour. Even more activities will be happening throughout 2010 to celebrate the Blue Ridge Parkway's 75th anniversary.

With colder temperatures on the way, we set our course southward where we discovered the pristine beaches of South Carolina's coastal state parks. Huntington Beach, Edisto Island and Hunting Island captured our hearts and revealed our insatiable love for sandy beaches. And the park's dog-friendly policy meant that our dog Sonya could join us on walks and have her first-ever experience romping in the surf. Watching dolphins leap through the waters, pelicans dive for fish and egrets walk through golden salt marshes were daily sightings. Freshly caught shrimp and flavorful produce from nearby farms made eating a celebration.

Cultural and historic attractions further enriched our time in South Carolina, among them: Atalaya, the retreat of Archer and Anna Huntington, and Brookgreen Gardens designed to display her sculpture; Gullahs (African Americans from coastal South Carolina and Georgia) weaving sweetgrass baskets in Charleston's Old Market; and the "shouts" and other festivities of Gullah Heritage Days on St. Helena Island. Much as we adored South Carolina's barrier islands, we needed to keep heading south to warmer climes. And we did, knowing that around the next turn yet another fascinating sight or encounter awaited us.

See ya on the road!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
nps.gov/grsm

Blue Ridge Parkway
BlueRidgeParkway75.org

Grandfather Mountain
GrandfatherMountain.com

Biltmore Estate
Biltmore.com

South Carolina Tourism
SouthCarolinaTourism.com

South Carolina Parks
SouthCarolinaParks.com

Gullah Heritage Days
PennCenter.com

Rose and David Muenker, a travel writer-photographer team based in Denver, are traveling the roads of North America by motorhome. Read about their adventures in every issue of Out of Denver and on their blog davidandrose.com. Email them at DavidandRose.OTR@gmail.com.