Archive for the ‘Things to See’ Category

What You May (Or May Not) Know About Glade Creek Grist Mill

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

One look at a photo of the Glade Creek Grist Mill and it is hard not to think “West Virginia”.

Glade Creek Gristmill at Babcock State Park

The Grist Mill is on par with other State icons such as the New River Gorge Bridge, Blackwater Falls, Seneca Rocks and the Capitol Building. Accurately stated in the latest issue of Wonderful West Virginia Magazine, the Glade Creek Grist Mill truly is ‘iconic’.

During the fall season The Grist Mill’s placement among Glade Creek’s boulders, has a backdrop that would make Bob Ross have no reason to add another “happy little tree”.

It’s beautiful. Seriously. In fact so much so that it’s considered one of the most photographed places in the state.

Photos of the Mill, with the surrounding fall colors, has appeared on and in everything from magazines and coffee table books to refrigerator magnets and playing cards.

Simply put, the image captures our imagination. For some it is a reminder of where they came from, for others of where they’d like to go. The Mill itself is a representation of bygone days in which covered bridges dotted the landscape along with more than 500 water-powered mills, just like the one at Babcock State Park.

What You Might Not Know
On your next visit, feel free to use these “Cliff-Clavinisms” to impress your friends.

  • It is a real working Mill
    • You can purchase cornmeal and buckwheat flour ground on premise. Mmmm, homemade cornbread in the fall!

    • You can purchase cornmeal and buckwheat flour on premise.

  • The Mill is less than 35 years old
    This is a bit of a “trick question” as the parts are old. Really old. However, the Mill that is in place now, is not.

    • It was completed in 1976 using parts and pieces of old mills, which were no longer in operation.
    • The basic structure comes from Stoney Creek Grist Mill which was located in Pocahontas County and dates back to the 1890′s.
    • The giant wheel, which is pushed around by Glade Creek, and in-turn powers the giant grindstone, is from the Spring Run Grist Mill in Grant County.
    • Various other mills provided parts including the Roaring Creek Grist Mill near Seneca Rocks.

What You Need to Know

  • There are cabins located throughout Babcock State Park. If you’d like to rent one during the fall, call right now. Seriously.
  • There is a webcam allowing you to refresh the images and watch the rise and flow of the creek, and keep track of the fall colors.

Have you been to Babcock State Park?

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20 Reasons Why Tamarack Really IS The Best Of West Virginia

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Anyone who’s driven through southern West Virginia has seen it.  That red roofed round-about building that kind of looks like a landing spot for when the mother ship comes to down to get us.

Or maybe it’s a crown.  Or a flower.

Tamarack at Night

Actually, when viewed from above, the Tamarack building itself is a structured representation of its own logo, a geometric design within an invisible quilt square. It’s a beautiful work in and of itself. Inside the building, though, is what really matters.

Here are 20 reasons why Tamarack is always worth a visit:

1.    Tamarack houses art from all 55 counties in West Virginia.
2.    The Greenbrier Resort runs the kitchen, which means you’re walking in to pretty much the greatest cafeteria that’s ever existed.
3.    There are artisan made foods, candy, jellies, and sauces from all around the state.
4.    There is an information desk to answer questions right as you walk in (brilliant!)
5.    There’s live music, for free, almost every week.
6.    Kids like the small playground on the south side of the building (where they can’t break anything).
7.    Music from all over the Mountain State is for sale.
8.    Also, handmade instruments of all kinds are for sale.
9.    They have a ton of books written by, for, and about West Virginians.
10.     There’s a pretty good selection of out-of-the-ordinary WVU and Marshal items.
11.     Tamarack has a large and extensive gallery of fine art, if that’s your thing, if it’s not,  after visiting the gallery it will be.
12.     The glass objects section is easy to spend money in.
13.     You’ll see some of the most amazing woodwork of your life.
14.     Toys have their own section; all of them are handcrafted.
15.     If you find the perfect WV keepsake and can’t take it with you – they’ll ship it to you.
16.     The conference space is beautiful & well equipped, large enough to host nearly any event.
17.     The theater screens movies and slideshows from around the state.
18.     It’s the perfect (only?) place for eating ice cream while looking at art.
19.     It’s round, so once you look at everything, you’re back where you started.
20.     It’s a showcase of the art, music, dance, flavor, tradition, and pride that makes West Virginia wonderful.

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What No One Knows About Bridge Day

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Bridge Day Zipline

Bridge Day Zipline

Bridge Day.

Around here, those are some big words.  Everyone knows that Bridge Day is the largest festival in West Virginia.  We also know that it has to be seen to be believed.  It’s a spectacle.

That much, we can all agree on.  Bridge Day is about as cool as it gets.  But there are always other rumors, and questions, and misunderstandings about what’s going on from year to year.

So, we’re here to tell you, with this blog post, some of those little Bridge Day secrets that will make you the authority when it comes to info on the big day.  We’ve put together a group of facts, trivia, and logistical info for you to jump into (get it?  oosh- sorry)  before Bridge Day arrives.

No need to thank us :-)

1.   Bridge Day sells more funnel cake per capita than any other festival in the country.  Actually, we’re just basing that on our own love of funnel cake.  Don’t quote us on that one.

2.     Jumpers have to qualify for the lottery to get a pass to jump It’s first-come, first-served until all 450 slots are gone and they always sell out.  There’s always a ton of confusion about this one from us, the un-jumping public, on this one.  They have to have 140 100 skydive jumps before getting a ticket for the bridge.  Once they get their spot, they can jump as many times as they like from open to close. For more information for B.A.S.E. jumpers, visit http://www.bridgeday.info.

3.     Bridge Day 2009 is on Saturday, October 17.  Okay, not so secret.

4.     Taste Of Bridge Day, the eating party with all the restaurants from the New River Gorge cooking their best dishes, is on Friday night before the big day.  This party is in contention with Bridge Day itself for best event of the weekend.

5.      The First Annual Bridge Day Chili Cookoff will start just after the festivities on the bridge end on Saturday, and has one of the greatest slogans of any chili cookoff ever.  Ready for it?  “Jumping.  Beans.”  Get it?  Awesome.

6.      Bridge Day is as much about rappelling as it is about jumping.  The ropes hanging off of the bridge on Bridge Day are from 750 to 800 feet long.  There’s also a zipline hanging off the bridge that’s open to the public, if you can believe that.  You should, because it’s true.

7.    The Bridge Day website has every single piece of information about bridge day ever released.  If you have any questions about the event, click on over there to check it out.

8.     All of your photos, videos, and comments can be shared with the entire world (and definitely the Bridgeday audience) by tagging them with #bridgeday when you upload to Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, or Twitter.  You can then check out everything that everyone has said about the festival by going to the social media newsroom at Bridge Day social media newsroom

9.     All of the New River Gorge rafting outfitters have Bridge Day specials.  It’s one thing to go to a festival like this one, but it’s another thing entirely to show up via whitewater raft.

10.     No bungee jumping.

Questions?  We’d love to answer them.  Get in touch with us, and we can help plan your Bridge Day this year.  Otherwise, see you on the Bridge!

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What’s The Deal With Monroe County?

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

Hey… Take It Easy
Here’s the thing about visiting West Virginia:  It can get pretty

Indian Creek Covered Bridge

Indian Creek Covered Bridge

busy.  Especially in Monroe County.  It’s the ideal place to take it easy.

Seriously.  I’ve had to wait minutes, literally minutes, for big groups of wild turkeys to cross the road.  Same thing with deer.  With me just sitting there, watching.

And if I’m taking a walk around the mountains in the southern part of the Mountain State, I’ve had to wait almost an hour to see the sun set.  Honestly.  Sometimes longer.

A Different Kind Of Busy
Monroe County doesn’t have a stoplight.  Or a highway.  And that suits the people there just fine.

It suits a lot of visitors just fine, too.  Monroe County might be one of the greatest escapes no one knows about.  Those lucky ones who know and visit there get to experience a real retreat.

Nothing To Do, And All The Time In The World To Do It
If you’re thinking of heading out to Monroe County, you’ll want to take your time.  That’s why you’re going there in the first place, right?

Well, you should look around, because there are a lot of great places to do nothing when you get there.  For starters, there’s some perfect lakes and streams that are made of the kind of country R n’ R that fits Monroe County so well.

Try the banks of Indian Creek that drains into the New River (and passes under the Indian Creek Covered Bridge), or Potts Creek which runs the other way, into the James River.  There’s fishing and floating to be done on both, and they’re about as busy as the rest of the area, meaning there’s plenty of peace and quiet.

For the best water in the county, though, you should try Moncove Lake State Park. Everything in the park is within walking distance, and the park backs up to a much larger wildlife management area.  So, there’s swimming in the summer, hunting in the fall, and all kinds of stuff in between.

So What Else?
Well, a stop in Union can give you a glimpse of what small town life in Monroe County is all about.  Make sure to check out the courthouse, which is on the national registry of historic buildings.

The county also boasts  restored covered bridges, old grain and blacksmith mills, and historic churches and cemeteries.

Another “don’t miss” is the Wolf Creek Winery.  Tours and tastings are held all the time, and there’s plenty of opportunity to drink in the great flavor of the area.  With every sip, you can taste the clean Greenbrier Valley water, cool nights, and warm summer sun.

And if you don’t taste it the first time, just keep on sippin’.  You’ll get there.  Promise.

So take a trip to find out what the big deal is about Monroe County.  When you get there, grab a bottle of wine and head off in any direction.  You’re sure to find mountains, streams, lakes, and some secluded, laid-back spots that jump up and invite you to relax and enjoy it all.

And forget about traffic.  Except the deer.

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What’s The Big Deal With The New River Gorge?

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Fayette County, West Virginia has a secret.  It’s one of the world’s oldest places.  And that’s mainly due to the New River Gorge.

Sight-seeing in the New River Gorge

Sight-seeing in the New River Gorge

How do we know?  Read on…

Back before it was called Fayette County, about 500 million years ago, the New River Gorge drained the entire Appalachian Mountain Range, a lot like an ancient Mississippi river.  Everything that wasn’t under water or under ice drained into the New.

Fast forward to right now.  The New still cuts it’s same path down through the same ancient rock, but now you can visit without getting eaten by a T-Rex or a giant carnivorous slug.

In fact, Fayette County is a getaway destination for people all over the world.  The river and it’s shockingly good whitewater are the big draw, but there’s a lot more to see than just the “Grand Canyon Of the East”.  Fayco, as the locals call it, is a pretty big deal.

Eats
The area definitely benefits from having so many people from so many different places come in to visit.  That fact alone turns a lot of the fare from “food” into “cuisine”, without necessarily jacking the prices way up.

The result?  Great food just about anywhere you go around the gorge.   And it’s authentic.  Real Central American food that goes way beyond typical Mexican dishes, or the best Cajun broil outside of Louisiana. Sammies and salads, breakfast cafes, and just about anything else you’d like to scarf down is ready and available.

Shops
The New River Gorge is the place you want to go to find the otherwise unfindable.  From fine art to folk crafts, there are plenty of shops around the gorge to let your shopping bug run wild.

One place visitors might not expect to find good shopping is at the local whitewater outfitters shops.  These stores usually carry items that outshine the typical “T-shirts and Shot Glasses” inventory of most gift shops.  Oh, they carry that stuff, too, but you’re just as likely to find prints and other art that shows off the soul of the river.  They’re well worth checking out.

See And Do
The name of the game in Fayette County is white water rafting in the New River Gorge and on the Gauley River.  These rivers are the standards by which all others in the Appalachian Mountains are judged.  If you like doing stuff outside, it has to be on your list.

Here’s what you need to know about white water rafting:  it’s fun.  That’s it.  Everything else is just details.  The trips are easy to arrange, and the outfitters, no matter which one you choose, can pretty much take care of everything you need for your whole stay.   Just know that you can do super-adrenaline rafting trips, and lazy river kiddie trips, all with the same outfitter.

Then, there’s all the other stuff.  It’s pretty much a smorgasboard of outdoor bliss; anything you want to do outside, you can do in the gorge.  And the coolest part is, you get a local expert along for the ride.  Another cool part is that it’s not an amusement Park, and these aren’t rides.  This is the real deal- outdoor adventure that people can actually go and do on a vacation.

Other Stuff
Fayette County is also a good place for history buffs.  Civil war reenactments, interpretive natural history hikes, and plenty of old-timers who’ll tell you about growing up in the coal camps of the New River Gorge (that last one is my personal favorite) are all worth a visit.

Fayette county also has a vibrant music scene.  Again, this has a lot to do with the rafting companies, but there’s always live music somewhere to be seen out and about in the Gorge.

And that’s why Fayette County is a big deal.  There is quite literally always something to do, along with great places to stay, fine food, and friendly people.  There’s a lot to experience up in the New River Gorge, so make sure that you check it out when you visit southern West Virginia.

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What’s The Big Deal With Summers County?

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Pipestem State Park Tram

Pipestem State Park Tram

If you go less than 200 miles from home, is that considered a “stay-cation”?  If so, and you live in Southern West Virginia, go ahead and sign up for one in Summers County.

Hinton’s there.  If you have any interest in railroads, or rivers, or coal mining history, or hot dogs (you know what I’m talkin’ about!) that’s your town.  Hinton was a hub in during the coal boom, mainly because 3 major rivers, and as many major rail lines, come together there.

Trivia:  Guess which rivers.  If you said the Elk, Big Coal, and Kanawha, you’re wrong! And you’re thinking of Charleston.  The three rivers that meet in Hinton are the Bluestone, the Greenbrier, and the New.

And, it just so happens that Hinton is also the gateway to some of the coolest outdoor recreation in SWV.  That’s saying a lot.

Bluestone State Park
Just minutes down the road from Hinton is Bluestone State Park, at the mouth of the Bluestone River where it joins the New.  Actually, that’s all part of Bluestone Lake, being backed up by the Bluestone Dam.

But the park – the park is awesome!  Very laid back.  Clean.  Friendly folks.  Lots of space.  The cabins are the way to go if you want to be up on the mountain, but there’s a lot of great camping down at the river.

A bonus is the YPP- Young People for Parks program.  A naturalist meets up with kids every afternoon and evening to explore part of the park.  Check out the bats, find wild mushrooms, go fishing, and on and on.  It’s a very cool program for keeping the kids entertained.

Pipestem
Pipestem is a jewel in the crown of the West Virginia State Parks system.   The park opens up to a big rolling hill of green grass and tall trees, pushed right up to the edge of the Bluestone River Gorge.

Let’s just say that the picture window in the lodge is a good place to spend about 15 hours watching wildlife.  Deer, bear, all kinds of birds.  Walk outside and you’re in a painting.

Also, there’s a ton to do.  If you have kids, and you want the “park” experience, go there.  Archery, interpretive hikes, swimming.  Mini golf, not-so mini golf (par 3 course), big golf.  Camping, cabins,  and two lodges – one’s accessible only by tram.

That’s right.  I said tram.

The place is like a perfect mountain getaway, with plenty to do.  And plenty to not do.  It all depends on what you want.

Bet Summers County has it.

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Waterfall Watching In Southern West Virginia

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

5 Must-See Cascades In the Mountain State

Sandstone Falls

Sandstone Falls

One thing about people:  we’re attracted to water.  Something about vacations lead us to lakes, rivers, and oceans.  Ski vacations?  Yep.  Frozen water.  We can’t get enough of the stuff.

And we love to watch it fall.  Give people a Sunday drive and a picnic next to a waterfall, and it’s like you’ve set the stage to solve the world’s problems.  At least for an hour or so.

Here are some of our favorites…

Sandstone Falls
Stretching across the New River just below the town of Hinton, Sandstone Falls is an impressive piece of waterfall-ery.  On the far left side of the river, there’s a nice, uniform break. On the right side, the river gets squeezed and channeled into a torrent of exploding, frothy whitewater.  It’s inside the New River Gorge National Park so the boardwalks and viewing area here are well maintained.  Don’t miss it.

Twin Falls
Nestled up inside Twin Falls Resort State Park are the beautiful Marsh Fork Falls and Black Fork Falls that the resort is named for.  These are easy to find (take the Falls Trail) and well worth the stop.  The first set of falls, Marsh Fork, is only 1/10 of a mile from the trailhead, with the Black Fork coming in about ½ mile later.  If they named the whole place after these waterfalls, that means they’re something to see.

Kanawha Falls
If you drive through Glen Ferris, you cannot miss the great Kanawha Falls.  Just glance over at where it looks like the entire river broke in half.  Kanawha Falls is a series of ledges, and it’s easy to see where the river had been dammed up.  Stretching from one side of the river to the other, Kanawha Falls is the very first feature of the river, still visible from where the New and the Gauley make their confluence.  Just a short distance from Kanawha Falls is Cathedral Falls – another can’t miss!

Glade Creek Falls
Just outside of Beckley and still within the New River Gorge National Park, you’ll find Glade Creek Falls.  The big falls are at the bottom of the creek just upstream from where the creek meets the river.  This is an impressive drop to see when you’re looking at the creek with a lot of water in it.  When the water is low, this is great for swimming, with a big jump into the pool below for the adventurous.

Sweet’s Falls
The world famous Sweet’s Falls on West Virginia’s mighty Gauley River is only available for viewing one way:  going over it.  Rafters have had a love affair with Sweets Falls for nearly 40 years, and there is nothing- repeat: NOTHING- like running the falls during Gauley Season in autumn.  The big bonus is that, once you go over, you get to turn around and watch others test their luck on the same drop.  Part fun, part coliseum, at Sweet’s Falls, rafters prove the old rule of thumb, “Sometimes you watch the show, and sometimes you are the show.”

Okay, there’s our five.  Which ones did we miss?  Please, share your favorites with us- one of the great things about the Mountain State is that there’s so much falling water around.

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What’s The Big Deal With Southern West Virginia?

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
Golden Delicious Apples

Golden Delicious Apples

Here’s a secret:  southern West Virginia is one of the best vacation spots in the country.

Maybe that’s our fault.  We don’t want to keep it a secret, obviously.  Please, be our guests; tell everyone.  Shout it from the hilltops.  Share it on your facey-spacies.  It’s a big deal.

A New Blog Series
Well, a lot of us think it’s a big deal.  So, we’re going to spotlight exactly why with a short series of blog posts.

We’ll be talking about some of the major draws for visitors throughout our region.  And the way we’ll do that is by going from area to area, and listing the things that we like about it.

That way, when people say, “Hey, what’s the big deal about Beckley, WV?”, you can say, “Oh, Beckley? That place has a coal mine tour that goes 1500 feet under a mountain.  You’ve never been?! Are you out of your mind?  We need to go right now!  That place is a big deal…”

Or something like that.

Some Examples Of Why SWV Is A Big Deal (We’re Biased)
There really are great reasons to come visit.  Of course, we’re a little one-sided.  But can you blame us?  Check this out…

•    West Virginia is covered by more than 75% forest.
•    We have the lowest crime rate in the country.
•    One reason we’re the Mountain State is because we have the highest          average elevation east of the Mississippi.
•    We were once the site of the largest Oak tree in the country (it died), and still have the largest Sycamore (goin’ strong).
•    We’re the most northern of southern states and the most southern of northern states.
•    We have the world’s first brick street.
•   Golden Delicious apple? That’s right.  West Virginia.

Typical Big Deal Information
What we really want to provide with these posts are facts about cool stuff to see and do, places that we like to stay, some of the best places to eat… that kind of thing.

Vacation time is precious.  Maybe we can help plan a little of yours by finding out what the big deal is around southern West Virginia.

And thanks, too, for reading them. We hope they’re helpful.

What’s Your Big Deal?
Have a place that you’d like spotlighted?  Some info on the big deal about so-and-so town?  Share it.  Reply to any of these posts, and let the world know what you know that you want others to know about southern West Virginia.

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Rafting, Rhododendrons, and Recreation… Spring Hits Southern West Virginia

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

Ah, spring!  Little green buds, wildflowers, the great outdoors… is there anything better?

Well, the answer to that question depends on… where you spend your spring.  We’re biased, of course, but how can we not be?  Spring is pretty dramatic here in the mountains.  If you choose to spend time here, you’ll find out that the changing seasons reveal some great secrets.

Secrets Of Springtime

Here’s one:  Did you know that when trees turn green in the spring, they do it according to elevation?  Lowest goes first, then up and up.  It makes sense, when you think about it.  Spend time here in the spring, and you’ll see blooms and buds advance up the sides of the valleys right in front of you.  Green below, brown on top.  Seriously- it happens overnight; you can tell a difference if your plan you stay at the right time.  It’s dramatic.  It’s alive.

Time To Hit The River

Another secret: rafting in West Virginia starts each spring.  Spring is high water time here on the New and Gauley Rivers.  The rapids are big and the water is chilly. It’s like a wake-you-up-better-than-coffee kind of brisk.  It might be too big or to cold for a traditional family trip, but high adventure rafting is just about perfect here in the spring.  If you want to take one of the greatest white water rafting trips you can get take, look at coming in the springtime months.

Blooms Everywhere

Southern West Virginia, for anyone looking for it on a map, is just about smack dab in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains.  It’s one of the most diverse ecosystems you’ll find anywhere on earth.  Spring flowers start with forsythia and daffodils, redbud and paulownia.  When you see the yellow, red, and purple, get ready – things are beginning to pop.  By the time the rhododendron’s bright pink and the dogwood’s delicate white flowers arrive, spring has sprung.  In all nine counties that make up southern West Virginia, you’ll find some of the brightest blooms anywhere, and it happens every spring.

Recreation? Check…

Do you enjoy taking a fishing trip?  It’s a pretty popular sport in our part of the state.  Spring is an exciting time as the fish get active, especially trout.  The water temperatures start to rise in the creeks, rivers, and lakes, and the fish get moving.  Warm days start to get more and more productive as trout stir.  If you like to use bait, try stretching out worms on gang hooks.  You’ll present more naturally to the trout, and your bite rate will start to climb.  Some of the best places to fish (and for recreation in general), are the southern West Virginia State Parks and Forests.  There are twelve (twelve!) of them in our area.

Southern West Virginia is a great place.  If you’ve never been, spring is a perfect time to come take a look.  Give us a call – we’d love to help you plan your stay and remember southern West Virginia is Closer Than You Think!

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