Of roads and rhododendrons

Amid the steeply rolling greenery of the Great Craggy Mountains, Catawba rhododendrons add a sprinkle of pink to mirror the blushing sunset. With roadside views like this, it's easy to see why the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the nation's best regarded scenic drives. It's also one of the most widely accessible parts of the National Park System, given its fee-free entry and nearness to large East Coast cities. This combination of charm and convenience has made the parkway the most visited unit of the system by far, beating out flagships like Yellowstone and Yosemite by more than threefold.