Before heading out of town, we fueled up at the Roxboro Biscuitville, this time trying their pancake breakfast. Not bad for a fast food chainThis is a blog of my five-week exploration of culinary experiences in North Carolina. Baaswell Sheep is accompanying me and offering his own commentary on the trip, although he refuses to go into any place that serves lamb chops.
Select/click any image to see it at double (or more) the current size. Select/click on the large image or any part of the darkened area to return to the blog page. Note: Table of contents is now located at the bottom of the page.
Before heading out of town, we fueled up at the Roxboro Biscuitville, this time trying their pancake breakfast. Not bad for a fast food chain
So, we detoured a little bit today, leaving North Carolina and heading up to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. This might seem a little odd when we we've been on a North Carolina culinary adventure, but there's a rhyme to our reason. Much of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed in North Carolina due to a combination of damage from hurricane Helene last year and a three-year bridge replacement project affecting the northern thirty miles of the parkway in North Carolina until 2027. As my companion had been looking forward to enjoying a large portion of the parkway this year, he decided to rearrange his plans and head up to the Peaks of Otter at milepost 86 of the Parkway, just north of Bedford, Virginia, and spend the holiday weekend at the lodge there. It's a nice way to get back to nature and avoid the big crowds and the noisy fireworks. We didn't get any pictures of the lodge area today, as my companion had to do IT work once he got there, and then he wanted to get in a waterfall hike before dark. So, I've dug into his archives and pulled a few pictures from his last visit so you can see how great this place is. In essence, you have three lodge buildings plus a dining room / front desk building, all of which face a huge, gorgeous lake (Abbot Lake). The three "peaks" are (in ascending order of height) Harkening Hill, Sharp Top Mountain, and Flat Top Mountain. And don't ask about the "otter" part – no one knows how it got that name, though there's a number of theories.
My companion did a 1.6 mile loop hike out to the waterfall called 'Fallingwater', which according to him was a very good waterfall hike (he's done quite a few in his time, including many of the best at Shenandoah National Park). He said there were multiple viewing points giving some remarkable views, and with virtually no one else around, it was quiet and relaxingly peaceful. He tried to get me to go with him – what does he think I am? A mountain goat? I think not. I stayed back at the lodge and enjoyed the lake views, but I include some of his pictures below.
I wasn't sure my companion was going to make it back from his hike in time for dinner, but he just barely made it. We got a lake view seat and enjoyed a reuben sandwich and much to my delight, a nice bowl of fruit. Of course he had to go and spoil this healthy turn by ordering a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream, but, well, okay, I took a few licks and yes, I admit it, it was delicious. (I'll also admit in all fairness to the dining room that we were so hungry that we ate half the meal before thinking about a picture. So, the meal was really about twice the size you see, but, well, sometimes these things happen.).
Please note that all restaurant and product names are used simply for referential purposes and links provided as a courtesy. Reviews are the sole opinions of the reviewer: no restaurant has paid to be listed here, and no restaurant is being explicitly endorsed. In other words, go out there, try them all, and form your own opinions!
All original content ©2025 Kevin Pittman and may not be reused without permission