Route 9 of the Southern Dozen; The Mountain Ribbons.

The Southern Dozen are twelve rides based in Johnson City that travel all around the region. Each one is an adventure in itself that will take you through winding curves, breath taking natural scenery, historic landmarks, local points of interest, and fun attractions. Whether you feel like exploring caves, seeing wolves, touring historic sites, leaning into heart-pounding curves or just taking in the views, you’ll find a ride that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

On this route you’ll ride the highways of East Tennessee that flow through our crowning glory, the Appalachian Mountains. Prepare to have your breath taken away as you snake across the lakes, rivers, and streams of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges. Ultimately, the ride leads to one of the greatest rides in the whole world - the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visit the Moses Cone House, the Linn Cove Viaduct, or the various overlooks of Grandfather Mountain.

You start in Johnson City and the first stop is Downtown Elizabethton, here you can stop and shop if you’re interested in Antiquities. At RP5 you have a view of the Covered Bridge on the right.

You continue the ride along the Watauga Lake, take time for a stop to admire the beautiful view. Take Highway 67 through the mountains via Damascus and Mountain City and Highway US 421 into Boone (RP10), where you can stop for lunch in one of the many restaurants.

You continue on US 421 for another 12 Miles and take the exit on to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Everyone should experience a drive on The Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway runs from Virginia all the way to Cherokee, North Carolina. Beautiful scenery all the way. Overlooks and amazing vistas the whole way. No big trucks are allowed on the Parkway and the speed limit is 45. You will ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 40 miles till Linville. At RP13 you can visit the Moses H Cone Memorial Park and Manor. Take a minute to stop at RP14 and admire the view of Price Lake.

Just before Linville we will get of the Blue Ridge Parkway to ride up the Grandfather Mountain. Grandfather Mountain has been an icon in North Carolina’s landscape for generations, offering stunning scenery and unmatched ecological diversity. This state park opens the mountain’s to spectacular hiking and backpacking and there is the mile-high swinging bridge (RP15) and other attractions.
In Linville you can visit the famous Linville Falls (RP17), the most popular waterfall in the Blue Ridge Mountains because of its accessibility to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a spectacular three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.”

A link to full Blue Ridge Parkway tour is included in this review.

The ride continues through the Roan Mountain State Park, another scenic ride (RP19-22) with amazing roads and views, back to Johnson City.
Roan Mountain is famous for its spectacular natural gardens of Catawba rhododendron. The peak bloom time for the sea of purple-magenta is usually mid-June, plus or minus a week depending on weather. Enjoy the blooms in two areas: a scenic hike along the Appalachian Trail from Carver's Gap (RP20) or nearby the Recreation Area with an easy paved trail and picnic area.

I rate this route with 5 stars, because of the beautiful mountain roads with amazing scenery.

Useful links:
Source of the Mountain Ribbons
Promotional Video of the Mountain Ribbons
Blue Ridge Highway (full 524 miles)
Grandfather Mountain State Park

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René Plücken (RouteXpert)

North Carolina

North Carolina ( (listen)) is a U.S. state located in the southeastern region of the United States. North Carolina is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the 50 United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and South Carolina to the south, and Tennessee to the west. Raleigh is the state's capital and Charlotte is its largest city. The Charlotte metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 2,569,213 in 2018, is the most populous metropolitan area in North Carolina, the 23rd-most populous in the United States, and the largest banking center in the nation after New York City. The Raleigh metropolitan area is the second-largest metropolitan area in the state, with an estimated population of 1,362,540 in 2018, and is home to the largest research park in the United States, Research Triangle Park. North Carolina was established as a royal colony in 1729 and is one of the original Thirteen Colonies. North Carolina is named in honor of King Charles I of England who first formed the English colony, with Carolus being Latin for "Charles". On November 21, 1789, North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the United States Constitution. North Carolina declared its secession from the Union (American Civil War) on May 20, 1861, becoming the last of eleven states to join the Confederate States. Following the Civil War, the state was restored to the Union on June 25, 1868. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully piloted the world's first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina's Outer Banks. North Carolina formerly used the slogan "First in Flight" on state license plates to commemorate this achievement. New plates use the slogan "First in Freedom" in reference to the Mecklenburg Declaration. North Carolina is defined by a wide range of elevations and landscapes. From west to east, North Carolina's elevation descends from the Appalachian Mountains to the Piedmont and Atlantic coastal plain. North Carolina's Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,037 m) is the highest-point in North America east of the Mississippi River. Most of the state falls in the humid subtropical climate zone; however, the western, mountainous part of the state has a subtropical highland climate.

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