@world..geo: Right off the Blue Ridge Parkway before you get to some of the most iconic spots of the drive, you have the beautiful town of Blowing Rock! This small town with a population of just over a 1,000 is a perfect spot to do grab a bite to eat, do some shopping, and just enjoy the ambience of fall afternoon. After the devastation of Hurricane Helene last year, towns like Blowing rock really suffered from the lack of tourism to the area, so definitely head here to support the local businesses!