By Jayne Cannon
When you consider stops along the 252-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway that winds through the North Carolina mountains, handmade crafts, farm stands and blue-grass music may be the first things that come to mind.
But hop off the parkway in Ashe County, and park the clichés. In this part of the mountains, you can check out an ancient Italian painting technique, tour a winery, visit one of the oldest rivers on Earth and even watch the making of cheddar cheese.
In Glendale Springs, stop by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on NC 16 to view a frescoe of The Lord’s Supper depicted by internationally known artist and Statesville, NC native Ben Long. Frescoe, a technique that dates back to the Renaissance, involves painting with wet plaster. When the plaster dries, the painting becomes part of the wall. More of Long’s frescoes can be found at Holy Trinity’s sister parish, St. Mary’s, in West Jefferson, about 15 minutes away.
There is no admission charge to see the frescoes, but donations are accepted. The churches are open 24 hours but if you want a guided tour, call (336) 982-3076 to make an appointment. A staffer at the church says more than 50,000 visitors view the frescoes each year.
Jefferson Landing Club, a AAA Three Diamond-rated accommodation, offers a range of leisure activities, including rental canoes, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails and an 18-hole golf course and is located about 1.5 miles from the intersection of Highways 211 and 16.
The county is home to two wineries: New River Winery in Lansing and Thistle Meadow Winery in Laurel Springs. Tours and tastings are available year-round at Thistle Meadow. Tours are $4 per person, and visitors often end up helping bottle their own wine, said owner Tom Burgiss. For tour information, call (800) 233-1505 or visit www.thistlemeadowwinery.com.
New River Winery will start tours and tastings later this year at its new facility in the old Lansing High School building, but its wines are available in several outlets around the county. Owner Haskell McGee says a local favorite is Back Porch Blueberry, which is made from locally grown blueberries. Check www.newriverwinery.com for updates.
New River Winery varieties are available at Ashe County Cheese Co. in West Jefferson, along with a range of cheddars made on-premises. The cheese company, in Ashe County since 1930, also offers free tours. Its cheese-making schedule changes weekly, so call (800) 445-1378 before making plans. The store also sells its cheeses and bags of cheese curds, a favorite snack for some.
Always open and always free, the Ashe County portion of the New River is favorite stop for outdoor enthusiasts. Some geologists believe that the river is about 300 million years old, second only to the Nile. It’s hard to determine the age of a river, but the river’s path seems to suggest that it was there before the mountains. The New River is one of the few rivers in the U.S. that flows north. Its waters are popular for canoeing; an annual Canoe Race is held each summer.
Before starting your drive along the parkway, call (828) 298 0398 for the latest news on temporary closures and driving conditions. |
