Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Spending time along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia can feel like coming across a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Here’s to that feeling of luck and for the next few months bringing the verdant green forests to life. Photo courtesy of Benji Barnes.  

For 105 miles, Skyline Drive curves along mountain crests through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Those Blue Ridge Mountains provide some of the most majestic scenery in the country. With 70 overlooks and a 35 mph speed limit, you can take your time. As one of the most beautiful drives, we aim to keep it safe and enjoyable. Through funds from the Great American Outdoors Act, the National Park Service will invest in pavement preservation along Skyline Drive. This will ensure we can keep road-tripping through this incredible park. Photo by Saurabh Ray (www.sharetheexperience.org).

A creamsicle sky over the mountains at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia delivers mesmerizing eye candy. Shenandoah National Park straddles the Blue Ridge, a unique line of mountains forming the easternmost rampart of the great Appalachian Range. The park is bursting with spectacular vistas, cascading waterfalls, fields of wildflowers and quiet wooded trails. Fall colors have mostly come and gone, but many visitors flock each year to see the incredible autumn display during its peak. Shenandoah is only 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., and a visit brings a breath of fresh mountain air to those who make the journey.

A mosaic of terrains and vegetation, Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area in Virginia is a wonderful place for an autumn adventure. The Bureau of Land Management maintains a network of 13 miles of hiking trails, 7 miles of horseback riding trails and 6 miles of thrilling mountain biking trails, which means you can pick your pace as you enjoy the fall colors of the rich hardwood forests. See you on the trails! Photo by Bureau of Land Management.

Some sights on public lands can seem too beautiful to be real. Every spring, pink and purple blooms of wild rhododendron appear along exposed mountain ridges near the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. These splashes of color highlight the already remarkable beauty of this rolling landscape. 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway are open for visitors to cruise, with every turn, trail and overlook promising a needed dose of tranquility and splendor. Photo courtesy of Joshua T. Moore.

Dawn brings a blazing welcome to the new day at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. Located on Assateague Island, the refuge protects the ever-changing lands at the edge of the sea. As one of the most visited refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, people from around the world come to feel refreshed and learn about the marsh and coastal habitats, while renewing their connection with nature. Take to the trails and watch flourishing wildlife - birds, deer, ponies, otters, Delmarva fox squirrels, foxes, raccoons, turtles, fish, butterflies and much more. Visit any time of the year, as each season brings something unique and wonderful. Photo by Aubrey Kurtz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A touch of white along the Blue Ridge Parkway and strokes of gold in the sky. Moments like this are what keep us coming back to these 469 miles of enchantment. Running across the Appalachian Highlands through North Carolina and Virginia, the parkway is a meandering escape from your average road. Stunning mountains scenes, forest solitude and charming encounters with wildlife are the hallmarks of this incredible place. We hope to see you there soon. Photo courtesy of Luke Sutton.

October is a busy time at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Campgrounds fill up and Skyline Drive sees an increase in traffic. Everyone wants to marvel at the fall beauty of the mountains and forests. The park is over 100 miles long and spans a wide elevation range. Fall color conditions can vary dramatically from area to area. Weather affects the color from day to day and even hour to hour. If this feels frantic to you, don’t worry. Shenandoah has many trails and overlooks where you can settle down and find a peaceful moment, looking up at the streaming sunlight and the fluttering autumn leaves. Photo by N. Lewis, National Park Service.

Everyone can enjoy cruising along Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. There are so many gorgeous places to stop and enjoy waterfalls, wildlife, trails and amazing views. Photographer Stephen LaVine enjoyed every minute of his visit: “My wife took me to the park for a couple of days for my birthday, so it was a really special time. Each night we went out in search of a sunset to watch and capture and this one definitely did not disappoint!” Photo courtesy of Stephen LaVine.

What’s better than exploring the outdoors with your best four-legged friend? For International Dog Day, we’re highlighting public lands where you can make awesome memories with your puppy pal. Wherever you go, remember to check out rules and regulations to know exactly where your dog is allowed and make sure to always bag their waste and have a leash handy if required.

Photo at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia by National Park Service.