A great drive in Western NC - Hwy 181 to Grandfather Mountain

[RiskyBusiness]

This morning, I left Hickory, NC at 6:40 and headed west on I-40. When I reached exit 100, I headed north a few miles and turned left on Hwy 181.

After about 5 boring miles and and a few school zones, I started up the mountain. The road is windiing, with opportunities to pass, but no one else is on the road. I also caught it lucky, with no ice and snow on the highway.

The road alternates between 2 lanes and 4 lanes. You can "bob and weave" from lane to lane and work your way through the numerous turns and uphill grades.

All in all, it is a great drive of about 30 miles that tests your 6MT skill and nerves around great curves. It is challenging enough that 60 miles per hour is pretty speedy around some of the curves and you have to downshift to al least 4th gear to maintain power on the uphill grades.

I'm a pretty new owner, but I loved the drive and went past Grandfather Mountain all the way up to Banner Elk and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort.

Anyone else ever make this drive?

[SVTCOBRA]

Haven't been to Grandfather mountain since I was a kid.....If my daughter goes to ASU next year I'll be going thru your neck of the woods fairly often. Will have to check it out.

[RiskyBusiness]

By next year, 321 up to Blowing Rock and then Boone may be finished as well. It should be another nice drive.

Whatever you do, don't let your daughter see that Appalachian is Hot Hot Hot video. It is too good of a school for that bad an ad.

ASU is a popular school right now. It will be interesting to see if they decide to move up to "big boy football." Jerry Moore is a great coach.

Anyway, check out the drive if you get a chance.

[SVTCOBRA]

Went on a svt cobra cruise up to blowing rock a few years ago. Was a fun ride! Daughter has a 00 Maxima right now. I assume that it would do fine in the snow up there. I'm hoping that ASU will be the college.

[Bobby23]

It is a nice ride; my folks live in Boone, walking distance from ASU. If you take 321 up from Hickory, after you pass the outlet mall on you left in blowing rock, (there is a good restaurant called canons right after you get up the mountain on your left greta view) go down about a .5 miles down the road and you will see an exit for the blue ridge parkway, take that to grandfather...now thats a nice ride. Take it all the time on the Fatboy. You go across the viaduct 'SPELLING?" (The bridge that does along side of the mountain. The entire parkway is a nice ride.

The area around Beach Mountain is a nice ride too. Beach Mountain is right around the corner from sugar. The ride up on 321 is a bit of a pain b/c the road is under construction. The road is closed on tue and thur between i think 11-1 due to blasting...not sure on the times but i know its tue and thur

[rn79870]

We've got a nice drive in these parts too. It starts out at near sea level and then takes about an hour to wind up a mountain to 7500 feet. The Rim of the World highway that goes to Big Bear is quite a ride. Of course, this time of the year it has that white stuff (I forget what you call it) all over everything and it is cold. Mountain air is so clear and clean.