Topping mountain crests, dipping into river valleys, and rambling through farmlands and national forests, the Blue Ridge Parkway winds 470 miles through Virginia and North Carolina heart of Southern Appalachia. Showcasing the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region, this scenic highway includes nearly twenty recreation areas, such as Linville Gorge and Grandfather Mountain. Images by noted nature photographer George Humphries show the splendor of the Blue Ridge Parkway, from rhododendrons veiled in morning mist to hardwood forests dressed in vibrant autumn colors. The text tells the story of the parkway and the Southern Appalachians, a region rich in music, crafts, and human and natural history.

The nation's leading authority on the history and building of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Dr. Harley E. Jolley has written extensively on the subject, including numerous journal articles and three previous books. His first book, The Blue Ridge Parkway, won the 1969 Thomas Wolfe Literary Award and the 1970 American Association for State and Local History Award of Merit. Past president of the Historical Society of North Carolina, Dr. Jolley taught for 42 years in the department of history at Mars Hill College, where he is now professor emeritus. For 26 years he worked as a seasonal ranger for the National Park Service, spending his summers amid the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A native of Ashville, George Humphries has lived most of his life amid the mountains of North Carolina. With the publication of his book North Carolina, Images of Wilderness (Westcliffe 1993), he won critical acclaim for his large-format photography as well as a loyal following. His images have also been featured in A North Carolina Christmas (Westcliffe 1996), Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, Audubon calendars, and numerous other regional and national publications. Humphries, who publishes two lines of nature photography note cards, was selected as artist affiliate at Brevard College in 1996. A high school history teacher, he lives in Ashville with his wife and three children.