Head west to see the rhododendrons in bloom

If you are a fan of rhododendrons, now is the time to head to western North Carolina.

Starting now until mid to late June, the flowering shrubs bloom in colors ranging from white and pastels to vibrant purple and red. The flowers combined with the mountain views make this a good time to take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Visitors can find rhododendrons blooming along the Blue Ridge Parkway at mileposts 270 to 316, especially by Linville Falls.

If you are headed that way, you also could in the Grandfather Mountain’s annual Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble, a series of guided walks to view the blooms and learn about the shrubs. The ramble is held daily at 1 p.m. June 1-12. The walks are included in Grandfather Mountain’s admission price, which ranges from $9-$20.

Info: grandfather.com/events/

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Head west to see the rhododendrons in bloom."