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Southern West Virginia Weddings – Your Perfect Venue

Monday, January 9th, 2012

The New Year has been rung in and is under way. A month of holiday activities and excitement has come and gone. Now that the tree has been taken down and all the other decorations have been stored away, it’s time for things to get back to normal, relax, and enjoy the winter season.

That is, unless you got engaged over the holidays and have a wedding to plan. If that’s the case then all the holiday

Outdoor Wedding in WV (The Confluence)

madness was merely a warm-up for what the next few months will be like.
In order to lend a hand, here’s a list of some wonderful places to get married in southern WV.

Southern WV Venues

When you’re planning a wedding, you should start by choosing a venue.  Envision the type of ceremony and reception you want to have, and then find a place that can fulfill that vision.

  •      Tamarack – With 12,000 square feet of space and full catering available, this is a great place have a wedding.
  •      Smokey’s – A “Gorge”-ous view and the ability to have an indoor or outdoor wedding makes this venue at Adventures on the Gorge a popular wedding spot.
  •      Daniels Vineyards – This venue features multiple areas designed to host and handle events, meaning that you’ll have lots of possible setup options.  There’s a beautiful view overlooking the vineyards.
  •     Opossum Creek Retreat – With beautiful, secluded scenery and the added comfort of being able to lodge the entire wedding party, Opossum Creek Retreat makes for a cozy wedding setting.
  •      The Confluence – Another superb outdoor wedding site, the Confluence will make sure you have a wedding you won’t forget.  Lodging is available on site, and there are lots of spectacular views.
  •     Creekside Resort and Spa – This spot in Monroe County gets Martha Stewart’s seal of approval as a wonderful spot for a wedding.
  •     Pipestem, Babcock, Hawks Nest and Twin Falls State Parks – These are four gems of the WV State Park System. With plenty of indoor or outdoor spots for the ceremony and lodging and activities for the wedding party and guests, you’ll be able to host everything (and everyone) all in one place.
  •     Glade Springs Resort – A great Raleigh County resort that can accommodate the wedding of your dreams, large or small.
  •     The Greenbrier – This iconic hotel is a grand venue for a grand wedding.
  •     Foxwood Bed and Breakfast – A wonderful B&B surrounded by 250 acres of southern WV beauty. Just one of     many B&B’s in this region that can host wedding events.

Do you have any other wedding venue recommendations?  Where did you get married in southern West Virginia?

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Winter Theater Performances in Southern West Virginia

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Winter Theater Performances

When the weather turns chilly in southern WV, sometimes staying indoors becomes the best option. Sure, you could cozy up the fireplace, but there are still plenty of fun and entertaining indoor pursuits.

Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, WV

And here’s one of them:  southern WV theaters and the great entertainment they offer is one of the best ways to enjoy a cold winter’s eve.
Here are some of the different performances that will be taking place in southern WV this winter.

Historic Fayette Theatre

This theater, located in Fayetteville, offers a great mix of musical shows and performing arts throughout the year. Scheduled so far this winter is a New Year’s Eve show from the Wild Rumpus, a local Bluegrass band.  In March, you can see a musical show called The Wild, Wild, Wildest West. Both of these shows are good family fun.

Carnegie Hall

This theater in Lewisburg is one of only four in-use Carnegie Halls in the world.  Besides New York City, Andrew Carnegie built theaters in Pittsburgh, Lewisburg, and his native Scotland.

Lewisburg’s Carnegie Hall has played host to a lots of different kinds of shows. This winter will feature the group Carbon Leaf in January, Ladysmith Black Mambazo in February and Cathie Ryan in March. Each of these acts are extremely different and should make for a wonderful evening.

Carnegie Hall also offers a free lunchtime concert and lecture series in February, March and April.

Bluefield and Princeton

Bluefield and Princeton have a few options for theater offerings. Bluefield’s Summit Theater just finished it’s 2011 season and the 2012 schedule will be out soon.
Princeton’s Chuck Mathena Center for the Performing and Fine Arts has a full schedule of events set for the winter months, including West Virginia’s own Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. at the end of December.  In February, Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” will hit the stage.

These are just a few of the many opportunities for entertainment this winter. Tamarack in Beckley often hosts live performances.  And the Clay Center in Charleston offers a variety of concerts, plays, musicals, and ballets throughout the year.

So don’t let the winter blues get you down.  Instead, get out and see some of the great entertainment in southern West Virginia. You’ll be glad you did.

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Spotlight on Bramwell

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

With the town folk of Bramwell opening up their exquisite historic homes for a Holiday Tour this Saturday (December 10, 2011), a closer look at this former coal community seems in order.

Main Street in Bramwell

Founded in 1888 and officially a historic town since 1983, Bramwell, WV still exhibits a lot of the flair that millionaire coal barons brought to it over a century ago. In the early 1900′s, Bramwell was home to 14 millionaires.  In fact, in the late 1800′s, Bramwell had the largest number of millionaires per capita of any town in the United States.  Their historic homes are open for tours at certain times of year, specifically spring and Christmas.

Coal is a dominant industry in WV, and how much it influenced the WV economy through the years is evident in Bramwell.

Location

Bramwell is  in Mercer County, right on the Bluestone River, approximately 8 miles north of Bluefield. It is on the edge of 40 miles of the Pocahontas Coal reserves, which was some of the best and most productive coal in the state. The Bluestone River actually makes a huge horseshoe shaped bend around town.  In fact, Horse Shoe Bend was the first name of this community.

History

The town’s namesake is J.H. Bramwell, a civil engineer from New York.  He was Bramwell’s first postmaster and first bank president. He saw opportunity in the coalfields and became a very successful real estate developer.

And so Bramwell developed from the growth of the coal industry. Today Bramwell has fewer than 500 residents; in the early 1900′s, the town and surrounding areas had over 100,000 residents.

Bramwell is well-known for the Victorian style homes that were built by its affluent residents.  These homes were state of the art for their time and historically revered today.

Today

Today, Bramwell still embraces its historical past, hosting events to showcase the town’s history and beauty. The Millionaire Garden Club is responsible for many of these events.

Historic Home in Bramwell, WV

In addition to the Christmas Home Tour, Bramwell hosts an Oktoberfest event.  It’s been a popular festival for over 15 years; brewers and beer enthusiasts from all over the East Coast descend upon Bramwell for the event. Bramwell homeowners also open their homes for tours in the spring every year.

Bramwell has also seen an increase in visitation as the Hatfield and McCoy ATV Trail System has a trailhead 2 miles outside of town.

Have you visited Bramwell?

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Christmas Gifts, Where Art Thou

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Christmas season is here, and the yearly dilemma of gift buying is upon us again. Inevitably, there’s

WV Made Gifts @ Tamarack

someone on your list that has everything.  Where can you find a unique, creative, one-of-a-kind gift?  The answer to that problem may just lie in the hands of our local artisans.

Southern WV is home to many fine craftsmen and women.  Instead of settling for a zebra print Snuggie, or a Shamwow, try visiting one of the many local art galleries to find handcrafted gifts that show you care.  Bonus: you’ll be shopping local.

Here’s a list of some of the galleries and their locations in case you want to check out what they have to offer.

Tamarack

Probably the best known of all the local shops, Tamarack houses a great many artisans under one roof. Whether its pottery, hand carved bowls, hand blown glass, jewelry or any of a number of other items, Tamarack is THE place for WV goods.  With 59,000 square feet of crafts and studios for the resident artisans, it is conceivable to spend a couple hours there and not see everything. Located right of I-77/64 in Beckley, it is conveniently located for much of southern West Virginia.
Riffraff Arts Collective

Located in downtown Princeton, this gallery and performance center houses two live performance venues, a recording studio, 6 artist studios, a music school, and a fine gallery.  The gallery houses works from local and regional artists and includes paintings, photography, pottery and stained and blown glass. Located on the corner of Ninth and Mercer Streets, the Riffraff Arts Collective is part of a rejuvenation of downtown Princeton.
Harmony Ridge Gallery

Located on West Washington Street in Lewisburg, this gallery’s mission is to bring handmade arts and crafts into daily life. Offering handcrafted works from artists all over the United States, Harmony Ridge Gallery focuses on providing an outlet for artists to share their wares with the public. Specializing in art for life, the gallery has items like handcrafted clocks, garden art, furniture, lighting and jewelry.

So many others . . . .

And depending on where you are in southern WV, chances are good that there is a great little gallery or studio somewhere very close to you. Check out our website to learn about more local shopping.

Where are you shopping this holiday season?

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Will I Get Wet On My Rafting Trip? And Other Common Questions

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Going on an outdoor adventure can cause some anxiousness.  That’s especially the case if you’re trying something new or are elected to be the one in charge of planning. For many of us whitewater rafting is old-hand, but if you’re new to the sport, you probably have questions . . .  a lot of them.  So here’s a little Q & A that can help you navigate the waters:

Will I get wet on my rafting trip?

Yes! You will get wet while rafting . . .

We start out with this one since we get it so often, believe it or not. The answer is yes.  Most trips offer chances to swim in calmer areas, so getting wet is part of the fun. You’ll also get splashed in larger rapids and possibly by other patrons.

What are the age limits?

The rivers in Southern West Virginia have some easier sections and some that are perfect for thrill-seekers. Because of the way the rivers are broken up there are trips with minimum ages 6, 12, and 16 and up.

What should we wear?

Your wardrobe for the day should always be geared toward the water and air temperatures. For spring and late fall trips, rent a wet suit from your rafting company and stay away from cotton.  In summer, a swimming suit,  shorts and a t-shirt are fine.   Also remember to wear shoes that will stay on your feet, sandals with straps, water shoes or light weight tennis shoes will work just fine. No flip flops or you may be coming back barefoot. Don’t forget the sunscreen and if you wear glasses be sure and bring a strap to tighten them on.  PDF’s (personal flotation devices) and helmets will be provided by your whitewater rafting outfitter.

What are the chances I’ll fall out?

This is a tough one. While the object is to stay in the raft, some people love getting to “swim”. Much of your training will cover what to do if this happens.  As long as you pay attention to your guide, your swimming episode (IF you have one) will probably turn into something you’ll love telling your friends about.

What do the rapid classes mean?

Classes are a way to rank the rapids from easy to harder to navigate. Class I is  a small, easy rapid  and Class V rapids are big, adrenaline inducing and require a good navigator – it can get a little  crazy but it’s always  fun.  Class III and up will definitely get your heart pumping!

Have any other rafting questions for us?

We’ll see you on the river.

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A How-to Guide to Celebrating West Virginia Day

Friday, June 17th, 2011

June 20 is a holiday in West Virginia. Really, it is! And for good reason.  On June 20, 1863,  West Virginia statehood became official.

West Virginia State Seal

So it’s fitting that each June 20 West Virginians everywhere walk a little taller and feel a little energized about what’s to come for our fine Mountain State. To love West Virginia is to celebrate it.  Here are some ways to show your love come Monday:

Jump on the  Hatfield McCoy Trail

Everyone who knows anything about WV has heard about the Hatfield and McCoy feud. But if you want to get a leg up on your neighbor, 2011 style, it’s better to hop aboard an ATV and take on the mountains.  The Hatfield McCoy Trail is the largest contiguous trail system in the United States.  From beginner to advanced, it will surely get your heart pumping (in a good way.)

Get the West Virginia Day Collectible Piece from Blenko

Blenko is the signature glass maker in the state and each year on West Virginia Day they offer a limited edition piece to celebrate.  Only 148 pieces are made, and this year’s design is a guitar shaped vase to celebrate our musical heritage. To grab one for yourself, stop in Blenko’s Visitors Center at Milton.

Learn all the Words to Country Roads

“I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me…” This is maybe where your recollection of John Denver’s popular song, Country Roads, falls off. On June 20, play this beloved tune at high volume and vow to give West Virginia your best by learning all the verses.

Eat a Pepperoni Roll

It’s a tailgating staple. A lunchbox treat. And was once found in miner lunch pails everywhere. True West Virginians know the pepperoni roll and love it. And we’ll definitely consume one (or two or six or seven) on June 20.

Jump down to Charleston

The  WV Cultural Center will have a fun list of activities for kids and adults on June 20, including a West Virginia birthday cake and an exhibit of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.  Little Jimmy Dickens, Kathy Mattea, and Brad Paisley are native West Virginians, and this exhibit will give you chance to learn more about them and West Virginia music heritage.

How are you celebrating?

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The Long Weekend

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend can sometimes be a blur – filled with yard work, catching up on laundry, and lots of other mundane tasks. Then come Tuesday, we’re all at work wishing we had something better to talk about around the water cooler.

Lakes & Pools will Open Memorial Day Weekend

This year, don’t let the question, “What did you do this weekend?”, scare you.  There are lots of things happening to tempt us to truly take the weekend off.  From concerts to street parties, car shows to pool openings, don’t miss having a weekend of Southern WV fun.

WV Dandelion Festival

May 26-29

White Sulphur Springs, WV

The town of White Sulphur celebrates the tenacious dandelion during their annual spring festival May 26-29.  Join in the fun with fun factory kids activities, a fishing derby, a car show, and streets full of crafts, food and more!

Parrot Palooza

May 27-29

Beckley WV

Live music will fill Beckley’s city streets for this third annual event, to benefit the United Way. More than 10 bands are on tap for the event this year, in addition to hot dog eating contests, a race, and more.

Cole Chevy Mountain Festival

May 25-31

Bluefield, WV

From lumberjack and dog shows to carnivals, tournaments to pageantry, Bluefield hosts the area’s biggest Memorial Day Weekend festival with an entire week of activities.

What’s on your agenda?

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It’s Time! Spring = Whitewater Season

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Early rainfalls have created a great opening for whitewater rafting season.  Some outfitters started running trips as early as March!  But April was, officially,  the beginning of 7 months full of

Whitewater Rafting in West Virginia

whitewater fun and adventure.

This year’s Spring rainfall has been incredible so rafters can expect to go farther faster with great runs and holes full of excitement.

The whitewater outfitters in southern WV  have added even more adventure options this year – enabling you to not only plan a trip to raft but also add ziplining, horseback riding, or even skydiving to your itinerary.

Looking for adventure this Spring?  Well look no further.  Southern WV has professional outdoor adventure outfitters who can plan your raft trip, book your lodging, schedule your add on adventures and even help you plan your meals.

So what are you waiting for . . .

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Traveling the Springs Trail

Friday, April 8th, 2011

While most everyone has heard of spa resorts like  The Greenbrier and the Homestead, you may not know that at one time more than 50 different springs and spa resorts dotted the countryside of what is now West Virginia and Virginia.  While all that remains of most are stone ruins or single structures, they provide a fascinating story of what was once a thriving tourist market …even in the late 1700s.

Today the  Springs Trail , a driving tour among the mountains, details little known facts of several of the former spa resorts.  Places like Blue Sulphur Springs, where an impressive

Mineral Springs Resort - Salt Sulphur Springs

Grecian springhouse still stands, and Sweet Springs (now being restored).

Lured by advertising and the “healing” powers of the waters (touted by doctors), visitors came in droves during the early 1800s. Why make such a long trip by carriage?  Two reasons, really – the healing qualities of the waters and the social aspect of being seen among the wealthy and socially prominent.  While it was unclear if the waters were truly “healing”, many prominent physicians touted their powers and the power of the cleaner, cooler air found in the mountains.

Prominent visitors to the springs and resorts is duly noted in historical documents.  Guests included Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Martin Van Buren, as well as Levi Morton, VP under Benjamin Harrison. Robert  E. Lee and his generals even stopped in.

If you’re considering driving along the Springs Trail, take your camera.  Beautiful stone springhouses, cottages, and buildings will make for some fascinating photos. The route mostly follows easy two-lane roads and meanders the countryside of Greenbrier, Monroe and Summers counties.

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Start Filling Out That New Calendar

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

January marks the chance to sport a new calendar on the wall and start filling in some fun weekend events among all your other work and family commitments.

As you turn the page into January, February, and March, why not add in some fun

Tamarack Artisan Center

events alongside noting Grandma’s Birthday and your next work trip?  While you might not naturally associate arts and culture with southern West Virginia, maybe you should.  The artisans and creative class working among our mountains have plenty of inspiration all around them and are bringing some great events to you right here in Southern West Virginia.

In Raleigh County, the first few months of 2011 bring a chance to experience the life of prized writer Emily Dickinson or combine dinner and theatre at Tamarack, the state’s iconic arts and cultural center.

Over in Greenbrier County, you can celebrate your folk roots with the most awarded band in the history of bluegrass coming up on February 11.

In Fayette County, take in a showing of  “The Pied Piper” at Historic Fayette Theatre, March 4, 5, 11, 12, 18-20th.

In Summers and Mercer, social life  just got a little more interesting with the opportunity to  spend some quality time with your sweetheart at Pipestem Resort State Park.  Anytime is a good time to get away with the one you love but special sweetheart events are planned for Feb 11-13 including entertainment by  ‘Time Peace’ from Craigsville, WV during the Sweetheart Dance on Saturday night.

This is just a few of the events happening in 2011.  So what are you waiting for check out the 2011 Southern West Virginia Events Calendar and start saving the date(s)!

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