I loved driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. You don't really need to do much, or know much - just drive and enjoy. We tuned into some great folkie/Americana radio while driving it as well.

Worth stopping off at Asheville, which is a great town, and has a wonderful Folk Art Center. Their Heritage Weekend in September is definitely worth a visit, not least for the Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle contest!
Heritage Weekend



I would give Cherokee a miss.