Mary's Profile
Name: Mary Lindsay Clark
Title: Intern, Virtual Blue Ridge
Visit Mary's Website
My name is MaryLindsay Clark! Although you would not tell from my distaste for "sweet tea" and BBQ, I was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. It wasn't until my graduation from high school that I set out to explore the world. The Fall of 2007 began my exciting missions/photography school called YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Herrnhut, Germany. Following this five month school, myself and 9 other students moved to Thailand for two months.
I returned to the U.S. for a short time after my adventures and decided to relocate to Canada for 6 months. There I took classes at Alberta College of Art and Design, and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Eventually in 2009 I made my way back to NC and enrolled in Boone's very own Caldwell Community College.
This year has been a blast, full of new friends and plenty of outdoor adventures. Along with my passions for traveling and photography, I find myself dabbling in cooking, writing, guitar playing, and riding my bike. Photography is my way of seeing the world, and I aspire to someday have books filled with the places I have seen and the people I have met.
Just past the Julian Price Campground is the Price Park Amphitheater at Milepost 297. If you pull out of the campsites and take a right, there will be a brown sign pointing to the entrance of the Amphitheater on your left.
Parking spaces face Price Lake and the boat rental area. The Amphitheater is to the far left of the lake and is not far from the road. Handicap parking faces the short path to the amphitheater. Loop A campsites run directly behind the amphitheater and places campers in the perfect spot for attending events.
This outdoor amphitheater seats 300 people and various events are held here during the summer and fall seasons. Tucked away by trees, and surrounded by Price Lake, it’s a relatively shaded area. Sunday mornings in the summer (June-August) church services are held and open to the public.
For more information on this amphitheater and possible upcoming events you can contact Parkway Headquarters at 828-271-4779.
Towards the end of my parkway journey, I passed under the “Little Switzerland Tunnel” on the parkway, drove thirty more minutes, and started to see signs for Crabtree Meadows campground. At the entrance I noticed a store and decided to check it out. Inside there was a gift shop, restrooms, parkway maps, and even a place to eat. This little restaurant served hot dogs and sandwiches. It was a laid back atmosphere and housed quite a few hungry travelers.
About 20 feet from the gift shop and camp store, was an amphitheatre for the campground. Here, campers could go for solitude as it stretched out across a grassy field and was far from disturbances. The campsites were just beyond the amphitheatre and could be reached by a short trail leading from the gift shop. That way, if campers ever forgot an essential like their toothbrush, were craving some candy, or wanted ice to keep their food cold, the gift shop wasn’t far for them to journey. Read more »
In my opinion, Flat Top Manor is a hidden gem of the Parkway. With only a brown sign reading “Moses Cone Memorial Park”, I never imagined there could be a 3,600-acre estate on the other side of those trees.
As I navigated my car down the narrow road leading to the Manor, I had a feeling it was going to delight my camera lens.
Read more »
As I passed different entrances to Doughton Park, I realized how much there was to do. First were the restaurant, coffee house, and snack shop. Just down the road-a picnicking site, Bluffs Lodge, and campground.
Brinegar Cabin was about a mile past the Doughton Park entrance. I parked my car and walked towards the quaint cabin. The cabin was home to Martin and Caroline Brinegar in 1876 when they purchased the 125-acre property.
Read more »
Blue Ridge Parkway Destination CenterAfter a beautiful drive from Boone, I finally reached the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center. The first thing I notice is the plants growing on the roof, and find out later how it’s called a “green roof”.
Information inside tells how their roof is layered with soil and plants. Green roofs help in absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, and creating a habitat for animals. Read more »
