Thursday, May 13, 2026
In the morning, I got caught up on a few work-related items and then went to Good Hot Fish, an acclaimed local restaurant, where I had boiled peanuts as one of my sides. I had seen boiled peanuts at a few stops and had heard they were a regional specialty. As an avid fan of peanut butter, I figured I was either going to love them or despise them.
I loved the flavor, but getting the soft peanut out of the soggy shell was nothing short of a huge mess. I knew I was doing something wrong. They sell these at convenience stores and gas stations, and I certainly wouldn’t try eating them in my car. I wish I had watched a few YouTube videos first on how to eat them without looking like a Yankee.
After lunch, we decided to see the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile national parkway stretching along the Blue Ridge Mountains through North Carolina and Virginia.
We started at the visitor center and asked whether we should go north or south. We were told we would see more by going north. The ranger highlighted sections of the parkway that were closed due to Hurricane Helene, and then handed us the map and sent us on our way! We went back to the car and turned on our GuideAlong app and headed out.
It was another beautiful day, and we enjoyed listening to the tour while driving along and occasionally stopping to enjoy the views which were stunning! Although it was mid-may, it was still early spring in the mountains and the Rhododendrons weren’t in bloom yet. I cannot imgine what it would be like in a another few weeks.
It was only a couple of years ago that I made it a point to start visiting our national parks and forests. Whoever thought of creating a national parkway along the southern Appalachian Mountains was ingenious. I have yet to visit a national park or forest and feel underwhelmed. It is nice knowing these places will be preserved and enjoyed for years to come.
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