All About Tamarack

lisastrader | February 29, 2012

Driving on I-77/I-64 near Beckley (between the Harper Rd. exit and the Rt. 19 exchange) you will see a large, intriguing, spired roof line peeking out from the hillside above the travel plaza. This round, red-roofed building is Tamarack, one of the greatest showcases of West Virginia anywhere in the state.

Tamarack at Night

If you’ve been to Tamarack you know how much West Virginia culture this building houses. And if you haven’t been there, add it to your list of must-sees. From the display of local artisans wares to the theater, conference center, and food court serving up southern cuisine, Tamarack has something for everyone.

Here’s a quick look at what Tamarack is about and why you should visit on your next trip to southern West Virginia.

Shopping

If you are one of those people who likes to give unique, one of a kind gifts while supporting local artisans, Tamarack is your place to shop. You can actually watch some of the artists work in on-site studios.

Pretty in Pink

Tamarack has thousands of handmade crafts, specialty foods, and artwork. Hand carved wooden bowls, unique pottery and ceramics, soft goods, and hand blown glass vases and art are just some of the WV made items you’ll find at Tamarack. It also has a book store with lots of local and regional authors’ works available.
Entertainment

The Governor Hulett C. Smith Theater, located within Tamarack, is a great spot to enjoy all kinds of live entertainment. Every Sunday Tamarack offers a free Sundays@Two series, featuring performances from many local musician and actors. There’s also a great line up of plays, films, and music performed throughout the year.

Tamarack hosts a dinner theater several times over the course of the year. A gourmet meal prepared by Tamarack’s culinary staff precedes each locally produced and performed show. The theater schedule and menus can be viewed on Tamarack’s website.

Food

In addition to the many specialty food items you can purchase in the shopping areas, Tamarack has a wonderful food court. The court is hosted by the Greenbrier, a WV tradition. Serving full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, Tamarack chefs focus on using locally grown food in their meals.

Tamarack also has a well trained catering staff to handle in-house events. The on-site conference center makes Tamarack ideal for weddings, business meetings, conferences and many other functions.

Other Features

Tamarack’s David L. Dickirson Gallery represents over 500 juried WV artists and rotates exhibits every 6 to 8 weeks. The gallery gives both established and emerging artists a great place to display their work to thousands of people daily.

You can also find wonderful coffee at the Greenbrier Shoppe. Talk to Tamarack’s visitor specialists on local attractions, dining, and shopping. And be sure to stop in at Tamarack’s West Virginia Music Hall of Fame display, just outside of the Theater.

Tamarack showcases WV made products and its cultural traditions and heritage. Have you visited yet?

Posted in Things to Do, Things to See | Tagged Greenbrier Food Court, Tamarack, west virginia shopping, wv artisans | Leave a response

Where The Locals Go-Fayette County, Part Two. . .

lisastrader | February 22, 2012

Where The Locals Go- Fayette County, Part Two

With so many cool and unique places in southern WV, its hard to mention all of the area’s great sites and places in a single blog. So, take a look at Part Two of where the locals like to go in Fayette County.

Exploring Fayette County, WV

To See

In addition to the places we featured last week, there are many other cool things to see in Fayette County. Here’s a list that highlights some local favorites you should think about visiting.

* Kanawha Falls- This river-wide waterfall is on the Kanawha River just downstream of the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers. It’s a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the river, and is also a favorite among local fishermen.
* Babcock State Park- Complete with an old grist mill, lots of rental cabins, trails, and overlooks, this area attracts locals who like to fish and hike with their families.
* Plum Orchard Wildlife Management Area - Tucked away in a hollow just a couple miles off I-77, this park has great hunting, fishing and primitive camping areas that locals really take advantage of.
*Long Point Trail – A local favorite for hiking, due to the gentle nature of its terrain and gorgeous view of the New River Gorge Bridge. At 3.2 miles ’roundtrip’, you can hike Long Point in as little as an hour or explore its multiple side trails and extend the hike according to your schedule.

To Go

After you’ve seen some of Fayette County’s natural beauty you may want to grab a burger, a beer, or a unique local craft. These next places are some local favorites to do just that.

* Studio B Gallery and Gifts- With a great selection pottery, glass, handmade jewelry and other items, this little shop is a locals favorite. They also have an extensive wine and beer inventory, including ales from local craft brewers, Bridge Brew Works.

*Midland Trail Gallery - Did we mention artwork? This gallery, located on Rt 60, is owned and operated by a local artisan and features unique sculptures, paintings and more.

* Wisteria’s Gifts – This great little local shop is located in downtown Fayetteville. They have WV Fenton Glass and WV crafts and pottery. They also carry a lot specialty jewelry and name brand gift items from Vera Bradley, Clothique, and others.
* Wild Flour Bakery – Who says former raft guides can’t make good bakers? This locally owned bakery in Fayetteville is a great place for breads, cookies, cakes and just about any other kind of baked good you crave.
* Elliots Whitewater Bar and Grill- Located in the Quality Inn at Laurel Creek Road, this is a local hangout for sure. If it’s an ice cold beer or a good burger you’re looking for, this place will fit the bill.
* Gumbos – This is Fayetteville’s Cajun and Creole style eatery. It’s a quaint little joint that has the most unique menu in town. Locals also like the cozy atmosphere.

What else would you add to this list?

Posted in Things to Do, Things to See | Tagged Babcock State Park, dining, Fayetteville, Gumbos, Long Point Trail, parks, shopping, Wisteria's Gifts | 2 Responses

Where The Locals Go – Plan Your Visit to Fayette County

lisastrader | February 15, 2012

We are starting a blog series designed to help folks who are visiting the area find some of the unique and interesting places around here. And who knows better than our locals?

View from the Thurmond Depot

So here’s a look at some of the coolest places to see, eat, or visit in Fayette County (New River Gorge Country), according to the people who live there.

To See

Fayette County is packed full of natural beauty and interesting stops. The trick is to finding some that are a bit off the beaten path.

One of these spots is Firetower Mountain, just above the little town of Ansted. There is a magnificent view that is unlike anything else in the area. Not only do you get a cool panoramic view of the Gorge and a unique view of the Bridge, but a short drive to the other side of the ridge will give you a view of the Gauley River Gorge off in the distance.
You can access this area by taking County Route 60/3, Rich Creek road, in the middle of Ansted and making a hard left about 1.5 miles up the mountain.

Another hidden spot is the town of Thurmond. Thurmond was booming at the height of coal mining in West Virginia. Located right on the New River, this area offers many different things to see and do. The Thurmond Depot is an interpretive center for the National Park Service. Town buildings, long abandoned but still standing, illustrate what life was like in Thurmond at it’s hey day.

Also nearby are hiking, biking, fishing, swimming and rafting adventures. No wonder locals consider this a favorite spot. We’re sure you will too.

Grabbing a Bite

The Historic Town of Fayetteville is chocked full of unique and amazingly awesome restaurants but here are a couple of other area eateries that locals flock to like moths to a flame. Tom’s Carryout in Oak Hill is a true Hot Dog Joint and has been dishing out great weenies since 1970. Their specialty is the hot dog and hot dog chili. Be sure to grab a milkshake too.

Another Fayette County eatery that is popular with the locals is Burger Carte in Smithers. Located right on the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway, it’s a convenient stop. Best of all, it is listed on the WV Division of Tourism’s list of 101 Unique Places to Dine. They specialize in fresh, hand-pattied burgers (often hard to come by these days) Plus, with unique sandwiches like the Big Gene and the Sea Dog fish sandwich, you may make the trip down Route 60 just for the food.

Keep an eye out for a future post where we highlight locals’ favorite hangouts.
Where else do Fayette County locals like to go?

Posted in Things to Do, Things to See | Tagged Ansted WV, Burger Carte Smithers, Firetower Mountain, thurmond, Tom's Carryout, WV, WV hotdogs | Leave a response

No Plans for Valentine’s Day? We can help . . .

lisastrader | February 9, 2012

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Have you planned a romantic evening for your special someone? If you’re still looking for ideas, look no further! Here are some southern West Virginia Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day

happenings:

Tamarack offers a Sweet Valentine’s Day special on February 14 starting at 6 p.m. Dinner, live music, a cash bar kick off the evening. At 8 p.m., Treehouse Arts Ensemble will present the play “Love Letters” written by A. R. Gurney. Reservations are required for the limited seating event, which is $50, plus tax per couple and features a choice of prime rib or trout dinner, with dessert. Call 1-888-262-7225 and ask for Kelly

The Guest House Inn on Courthouse Square in Hinton is offering a one night stay, a box of gourmet chocolates, and a bottle of wine for $135. Call 304-466-8100 for more details.

State Parks here in Southern WV have some super accommodations and offer plenty of activities throughout the year. Pipestem and Twin Falls State Parks are ready to help you have a memorable time with the one you love.
Pipestem State Park – February 10-12. Sweetheart Weekend. Dinner and dance and other activities.
Twin Falls State Park – February 10-12. Sweetheart Weekend. Friday night activities. Saturday morning nature hike. Dinner and dance and Sweet Cash auction.

Bring your sweetheart to Gary Bowling’s House of Art Open Stage Night for an evening of live music, poetry, comedy and more. February 10th, 7-10pm. 500 Bland St, Bluefield, WV 304-324-4242

The Resort at Glade Springs’ Valentine Package for February 14th includes dinner for 2 at Glade’s Grill ($59.99 per person plus tax & service charge) and complimentary lodging in an Executive Suite for night. Call 304-763-0889 to book your getaway.

How does a Blue Smoke Salsa Valentine’s Day basket with “sweet treats” from West Virginia sound? They are $35 each, with free shipping anywhere in continental USA. The gift basket includes your choice of Blue Smoke Salsa, a large bag of homemade chips, chocolate and peanut butter balls from Sweeteez in Beckley, a chocolate “pop” in the shape of West Virginia from Candies by Linda of Buckhannon, plus a plush little pepper buddy with a sweet message. By purchasing this basket, you will support seven West Virginia Companies. Cash and carry baskets are also available at Blue Smoke Salsa’s Ansted location.

Visit Pipestem Spa and enjoy a romantic couples massage with candles, music, hot stones, aromatherapy and a Dead Sea Salt Scrub. After you are relaxed, enjoy Spa Champagne (sparkling apple cider) and chocolate covered strawberries. This package is $175 and is available February 11, 12, 14, 18 and 19th. Call 304-466-1767 to make your reservation.

Posted in Things to Do | Tagged blue smoke salsa, gift baskets, Glade Springs Valentines Day, spa treatments, valentines Day | Leave a response

Where Can I See Coke Ovens in West Virginia?

lisastrader | February 6, 2012

A normal WV winter (cold, snowy) has been conspicuously absent so far this season. That means you have even more time to explore in the New River Gorge.

Row of Coke Ovens at Nuttallburg

Unlike summer hiking, when lush vegetation obscures a lot of the history and character of the area, winter hiking exposes a world that is secretly hidden most of the year. Old stone retaining walls, building foundations, chimneys, and coke ovens, relics from southern West Virginia’s industrial past, all still exist in the Gorge. Winter is the best time to see them.

We are going to let you in on a few of the better spots to check out the coke ovens that are still standing in the gorge area. Maybe the next mild winter day you have you can go see a piece of this areas coal mining history.

Coke Ovens
Coal used in the steel making process is in the form of coke. Coke is coal with all of its impurities removed; this process requires baking the coal in an airless furnace or oven. The resulting product is mostly pure carbon and burns very hot and is virtually smokeless.

Much of the coal mined in the Gorge was of the quality to produce coke. Since the impurities comprise much of the weight of the product, it was cheaper to bake them out before shipping the coal to steel foundries. This means there were hundreds of coke ovens in the Gorge at one point.

Still Standing

There are a of couple areas in the Gorge where you can see coke ovens:

* Nuttallburg- This is one of the easiest sets to get to (although road is narrow and windy – the hike to see the ovens is easy to moderate). From Winona, drive down County Route 85/2 until it ends. A short hike from the end of the road downstream into the town of Nuttallburg will lead you to the coke ovens and many other structures that are part of the National Park Service restoration of the old town.

* Kaymoor- These ovens are located at the bottom of the old shuttle car tracks that have been converted into stairs. This hike is steep and fairly difficult; there are 821 steps to get to the bottom. The parking area is off County Route 9 on county route 9/2. The trail leads from the parking area down to the old mine portals, which is where the stairs begin. The ovens are just upstream from the bottom of the stairs.

* Red Ash and Rush Run- The ovens that were located in these two towns are situated along the Southside Trail going from Thurmond to Cunard. You can access this trail at either Thurmond or Cunard; it’s great for both hiking and biking. The trail is 7 miles one way, so plan accordingly. The coke ovens are located very close to the trail but you have to watch for them or you may stroll right by. Thurmond is on County Route 25 out of Glen Jean and Cunard can be accessed by taking County Route 9 out of Fayetteville and following the signs to Cunard.

These are just a few of the ovens that are still standing in the Gorge. Along with the ovens, these areas also have many other visible structures from coal mining of the past. If you plan on taking one of these trips before the leaves start budding, take your time and see what other pieces of history you can locate while you explore. Just remember to take your camera as taking anything more than a picture in these areas is against the law.

Posted in Things to Do, Things to See | Tagged coke ovens, kaymoor, mine relics, mining history of wv, New River Gorge, Nuttallburg | 2 Responses

Secrets to Planning Your Southern WV Vacation

lisastrader | February 1, 2012

February is here. Do you have the winter blues? If so, a good pick me up is to start to plan your summer vacation.

And we can help, especially if that vacation is in southern West Virginia.

Summer in WV ( New River )

Planning this far in advance almost ensures that the dates you choose are probably available for lodging, rafting or any other of the activities you can participate in here in the Mountain State.

There are a number of ways to find information about southern West Virginia. But there’s one thing we are sure of; your first move should be to talk with us.

Our website contains information about a variety of activities, events and lodging possibilities. If you’re not web savvy, we also have talented people you can reach by phone – 800-847-4898 – to help you find the information you are seeking.

Here are other recommendations on how to plan a great vacation here in southern WV.

Lodging

There are a few decisions that you need to make first on your own before choosing lodging. Location, budget, and dates of your stay will be the first things to determine. When you have figured out these few variables, there are many different sources to help you find the ideal place.

There are plenty of hotels, cabins, B&Bs, and campgrounds in the area. These choices are a bit different in style, location, and amenities. Starting your planning now allows you to really review each option and figure out what will work for your group.

Activities

Southern WV is one of the top areas in the nation for outdoor recreation opportunities. From rafting to rock climbing, ATVs to zip lines , there is enough adventure here to last a lifetime. Before you pick activities, there are a couple of things you need to do.

* Look at the age and adventure level of your group. Even if it ranges from mild to wild, you can design an agenda that can accommodate both groups.

* Most available activities in this area are listed on our website. Researching them, and even calling and talking to people at the various outfitters, will help you determine what’s going to work for your group.

Just remember one of the most important aspects to ensuring your vacation goes off without a hitch is proper planning. When you take the time to do a bit of research and make your reservations early, chances are good you’ll have planned the perfect vacation.

So get to day-dreaming and figure out how you’re going to enjoy summer in Southern WV!

Posted in Places to Stay, Things to Do | Tagged lodging in the new river gorge, lodging in wv, planning a wv vacation, summer vacation, west virginia recreation, whitewater rafting, wv lodging | Leave a response