I spent an entire summer thinking about the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. As part of a research position for The Conservation Fund, I was quantifying the importance of tourism for the local communities, then linking tourism to conservation of the gorgeous views the visitors came to see. As part of my work, I spent a handful of days on Waterrock Knob, taking photos and asking drivers to fill out surveys. It was impossible not to be captivated by the rows and rows of blue mountains stretching far into the distance.