A number of guidebooks tell about things to see and do on the Blue Ridge Parkway itself. Hinkel describes nineteen loop trips beginning at the Blue Ridge Parkway that feature the rich historical legacy of the region, including important buildings, battlefields, and beauty spots. Hinkel chose to list only non-profit attractions which are suitable for family vacations. Breathtaking waterfalls, covered bridges, rustic campgrounds, and craft centers are featured in Parkway Byways . Hinkel drove into every nook and cranny of the Blue Ridge to find hundreds of notable stops.
Detailed maps illustrate each chapter and make for easy navigation along the back roads.
Photographs of many of the attractions described are included. Loop drives range up to several hundreds of miles in length and there is excellent planning material for trips of two or three days. Some of the destinations are truly tiny and undiscovered like the town of Rapidan, Virginia, which changed hands fifteen times in the Civil War, and the 1916 Sinking Creek covered bridge near Newport, Virginia while old favorites such as Asheville, Charlottesville, and Roanoke yield new treasures.