Evening star., 1954-06-06
CONTINUED From Page F-1.)

Jefferson National Forest attrac-
ton, Cave Mountain Lake.
Swimming. tables and other pic
mic and camping facilities are
available there.
Swinging back up the Forest
Service road, one reaches the
parkway again. At Thunder
Ridge, mile TAT, one gets a long
range view of Arnolds Valley. A
parking overlook at Sunset Field.
mile 1874, gives a gorgeous noun
tain view.
Dead ahead are the spectacu-
lar Peaks of Otter. One of the
peaks, Flat Top, is 4,001 feet
high, while its sister peak. Sharp
Top, is 3.875 feet. The first rec
reation area on the northern
part of the parkway is encom-
passed in the 1000 acres sur
rounding these peaks.
Bus to Shorp Top
A sightseeing bus service is
available to near the summit of
Sharp Top. The first gasoline
station on the parkway from the
north also is there. Light lunch
items are sold at the bus sta
ton. One of the best developed
picnic areas on the parkway is
nestled in the fiat country at the
bottom of the peaks. with so
separate picknicking units, COM
fort stations and drinking foun-
tains.
Those with a yen for a swim
after the trip to the top of the
peaks can have one in a mat
ter of As minutes by driving
down State Route 43 to Bedford
County Lake, a man-made i'm
poundment, holding pure noun
tain water and offering bass and
sunfish. A nonresident fishing
license is necessary for non-Vir-
ginians and can be bought at
clerks Offices in county seats of
towns throughout Virginia.
These entitle the holder to fish
in other State waters where the
season is open.
Some Is miles south from the
peaks, the traveller leaves the
parkway and turns to the right.
or west, on U. S. Route 460
toward a city with the worlds
largest manmade star. Roanoke.
often tabled "the magic city"
because Of its hospitality and
charm, is one of few cities hav-
ing a mountain within its cor
porate limits.
Fine Accommodates
Roanoke features some Of the
most up-to-date tourist accom-
modations to be found in the
vicinity of the parkway. The
KiddieS' Zoo atop Mill Mountain
offers such attractions as live
bears, miniature Noah's Ark
and dozens more. Topping off
the zoo features is a tiny train
the tracks of which, including a
tunnel, encircle the ZOO area.
Roanoke and environs offer
some 5000 rooms for tourists,
including three large, excellent
hotels and several ultra modern
motels recently completed.
One Of Virginia's miracles in
stone" Dixie Caverns, is west Of
Roanoke on U. S. Route II, and
seven miles west of Salem, the
home of Roanoke College.
Leaving Roanoke, the motorist
takes U. S. Route 221 south to
the next link of the parkway.
After climbing Bent Mountain,
which offers a panoramic view of
rolling hillside apple orchards,
the traveller should keep alert for
the turmoil from Route 221 to
the parkway. a left turn.
Soon Adney Gap is reached.
The 140-mile stretch of the park
way south from there is the old
est and most complete portion of
the scenic roadway, and generally
follows the crest of the Blue
Ridge through a region predom-
inately rural.
An arresting view of valley
farms may be had from Devils
B a ckb bone parking overlook,
which can be reached a few miles
after turning onto this section.
MiIepost System
Proceeding south, motorists
will come to Smart View, cover
ing 500 acres. It features a pic
mic area, trails, snack bar, COM
fort stations. and is located at
mile 154.5. The mile posts along
the parkway will help you keep
oriented when you remember
TRAVEL.