Beautiful in the Spring, and Unprecedented in the Fall, Mabry Mill may be under-appreciated as a place for a mid-summer ramble. The fact is that sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway can be 10 degrees (F) lower than the nearby lowlands. So, there just isn’t a bad time of year to visit Mabry Mill.

Along the way, we stopped at Lover’s Leap to shoot the show’s introduction and then out to Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway to shoot the ending. The two-dimensions of a flat screen just can’t do justice to those incredible views! You’re gonna have to ramble on up the Parkway to see for yourself!

Don’t miss the music that they have every weekend throughout the summer. You check out the music calendar, and other information about what’s happening at Mabry Mill. Here’s the National Park Service Mabry Mill and Rocky Knob Webpage to help you do that.

My wife and I had lunch while we were filming the show – in fact, the experience is part of the show! We’ve eaten there before, and we’re never disappointed with their down-home southern meals. They also have unique souvenirs, some made by local people and even some of the their own employees. Check it out in the Mabry Mill Restaurant and Gift Store website.

I hope you’ll ramble on up and see it for yourself!

And, when you do, make sure that you are driving a safe, well-maintained vehicle.

Your Defensive Driving Tip for the Week

Know Before You Go – Before you head out on your day of rambling, check the weather, road conditions, know your route and how long it will take to get where you’re going. Check the DOT website for the state(s) you’re driving through to see if there are any construction zones or road closures along the way. Know what kind of shape your vehicle is in, check the tires, the lights, fluids, etc. Check your first-aid kit, warning devices. And, make sure that someone knows where you are and how to get hold of you if they need to.

Put it all together with this mental thought: KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.

Until my next post, here’s wishing you…SAFE RAMBLING!