Now is one of the best times of the year to plan a trip to the Peaks of Otter. If you love the vibrant purple blooms of the Catawba Rhododendron or the soft pink blooms of the Mountain Laurel, plan your trip for one of the first two weeks in June!

If you have never visited the Peaks of Otter, allow me to introduce you. These magnificent mountains are located in Bedford, VA on the Blue Ridge Parkway. While there, you will be able to hike on a variety of trails or fish in beautiful Abbott Lake. The Peaks of Otter hiking trails range from easy (a one mile hike around Abbott Lake) to strenuous (one and a half miles to the summit of Sharp Top). You can even get on the Appalachian Trail from the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Peaks of Otter.

If fishing is your preference, you can fish for catfish, small mouth bass, golden shiners, sunfish and blue gills. Take your catch home for dinner or save some effort by dining in one of their two restaurants. Whatever you do, you are sure to enjoy your stay.

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I hope you and your friends or family will get to enjoy the Peaks of Otter this year. To remember your stay, you may want to order one of Emerson Creek Pottery’s handpainted pieces of the Peaks of Otter. Click on the picture of Emerson Creek Pottery’s Summer Peaks Round Tray at left to learn more about the history of the Peaks of Otter and see how you can own one of these collectible pieces.