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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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Sharing the Love of Climbing With Friends in the New River Gorge

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Enjoy this post from Guest Blogger Erin from Hard Rock Climbing

I loved climbing the first very time it was introduced to me over 14 years

Learning to Climb in the Gorge

Learning to Climb in the Gorge

ago.  After my first week I bought all of my own gear.  Through out the years the time I have been able to dedicate to it changes constantly, but one thing remains, I love teaching people how to climb.  It’s what I do for a living.

My friend Holly had moved to Fayetteville over the winter and had been trying to find someone to “show her the ropes” as it were. Time schedules and weather finally lined up last week, so off to the Rico Suave Buttress we went.

It ended up being a girls’ trip which was perfect.  On the way to the crag, Holly was bombarded with climbers’ lingo and terminology.  We had already found her a pair of very uncomfortable climbing shoes. Climbing shoes are a form of modern day torture devices.  Think along the lines of ballerina slippers and/or Chinese foot binding.  The shoes are made to compress your toes so that all of your toes act as one powerful toe.  They are made with very sticky rubber so that your feet adhere to the rock.

She was suited up with a harness and two very willing instructors! She did beautifully! Her first climb was a 50 ft tall, left leaning crack.  Her foot work was great and anytime she had any questions, we were there to provide beta, or information, to coach her through the next move.  She got to the top in no time flat!
After completing two more climbs, our bellies were telling us it was time to head home.  So we packed up our gear and prepared for the hike up the hill.

It was a great day!  We shared our experience over a big plate of pasta, salad and a cold one.  It doesn’t get much better than that!

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What’s The Big Deal With Nicholas County?

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

In the northernmost reaches of Southern West Virginia (?!) are the beautiful rolling hills of Nicholas County.  It’s the gateway to

Summersville Lake

Summersville Lake

West Virginia’s mountain lakes region, and there’s a lot going on up that-a-way.

First up on the Nicholas County list of cool things is, of course, the world famous Gauley River.  Nicholas shares the big time whitewater part of the Gauley with Fayette County, it’s fine neighbor to the south, and they are brought together once every year for the phenomenon known as Gauley Season.

Gauley Season starts the weekend after Labor Day Weekend and rolls into mid-October.  During that time, the whitewater world descends on the Nicholas county area for food, recreation, and some of the wildest excitement this side of, well, northern West Virginia.

Nicholas County famously won the war to host Gauley Fest, the largest whitewater festival in the world.  Gauley fest is a little hard to describe- part trade show, part family reunion, and part outdoor nightclub is probably as close as anyone is going to get.  One thing’s for sure:  if you go, you’ll never forget it.

Nicholas county also gets to claim what’s on the other side of the dam there on the Gauley River – Summersville Lake.  The lake is often referred to by divers as the “Little Bahamas Of The East”.  That’s a bit confusing, as the original Bahamas are also little and located, well, east.  But who cares?  It only means that the diving is fantastic, clear, and scenic.

Nicholas County is also home to it’s very own winery and distillery which hosts an annual ‘Grape Stomping Festival‘ in September.  (Anyone thinking of Lucy and Ethel stomping grapes?)

The lake also boasts something lakes are not really famous for – great climbing.  A lot of the river outfitters (and all of the area’s climbing outfitters) take climbing trips  to the sheer sandstone walls that rise straight up out of the lake.  It’s the perfect place to go if you want to have a climbing experience that’s way, way out of the ordinary.

Beyond the lake is the town of Summersville, the county seat.  Summersville is not unlike some other towns in southern West Virginia in that its buildings are beautiful, its people are friendly, and its food is outstanding.  Anyone visiting southern West Virginia from the north owes it to themselves to stop over in Summersville and hang out for a while.

Summersville also attracts plenty of art, music, and culture from the rest of the county, and puts it all in one place.  The town often hosts touring productions of plays, big name music acts, and entertainment of every stripe.  The performing artists that come through are eclectic and interesting; they make it always  worth checking out the Nicholas County calendar of events.

Wasn’t music mentioned there a while back?  Nicholas County hosts what’s often the country’s biggest bluegrass festival, Music in the Mountains.  For almost 30 years, the lineup at Music in the Mountains has gotten bigger and better.  It’s a staple for the festival crowd, and a sight for any and all travelers to see.

Plus, there’s tons of other stuff to see and do in Nicholas County.  This is just a tiny fraction of it.

Interested?

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Top 10 Things To Do At Beckley’s Appalachian Festival

Monday, August 17th, 2009

As big admirers of all things Appalachian, the Southern West Virginia CVB offers you up this list.  Come to the Appalachian Festival, and get your last

Quilts - Appalachian Arts & Crafts Fest

Quilts - Appalachian Arts & Crafts Fest

summer fun in the southern WV way!

•    Hillbilly Breakfast – Biscuits-n-gravy, and… well that’s all you need to  say    really (plenty of other stuff, too).
•    Arts and Crafts Fair – This is the 45th annual event, where you can find knicks, knacks, and pretty much every combination thereof.
•    Coal Mine Tour -  The tour goes on all the time, but there’s a deep discount (by showing your Appalachian Arts & Crafts Fair ticket stub) during the Festival!  It’s always worth going underground for this one.
•    Strolling Musicians -  It’s like a bluegrass mariachi band; just eat lunch in the park and enjoy the show.
•    Ghost Tours – Find out what the dead are up to in Uptown Beckley as you tour some beautiful homes with some frightful history right in town.
•   Live Music at Grandview – There’s nothing better on the last nights of summer that showing up at the outdoor amphitheater at Grandview for an outdoor show.
•    Flea Market - Everything from apples to stuffed zebras is on sale, and then some.  If you’re a bargain hunter, this is for you.
•    Kids Crafts – Traditional artisans show up to teach kids how to make something special with the soul of the mountains in it.
•    Taste Of Appalachia -  Everything worth eating in a 50 mile radius will be on hand to try out.  This is the perfect event for the appetite that wants everything.
•    Classic Car Show -  How did so many great cars wind up in southern West Virginia?  You’ll have to go to the car show to find out.  Worth every second.

Do you have other favorites?  Tell us…

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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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Why Southern West Virginia is the Bar None, Hands Down Best Whitewater Destination in the World

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Sorry Northern California.  North Carolina?  Nuh-uh.  Don’t even try, Grand Canyon.  If you’re talking whitewater, southern West Virginia’s got you beat. We’re not bragging (promise).  But it’s true.  And it should be said that those other places offer a lot of fantastic rafting trips.  We give props where they’re due, and America’s got plenty of great whitewater all over.  Except Kansas.

Here’s why our West Virginia whitewater, collectively, is the best in the world…

Rafting the New River

Rafting the New River


It’s The Most Varied

We have 4 sections of commercially rafted river that are completely different. One is for families and little ones, one is for everyone beginner to expert, one is for families with older kids or people looking to step it up a notch, and one is white knuckle paddle craziness.


It’s All Really Close Together

Those 4 sections of river are all within 45 minutes of each other.  That’s nice, because you get to spend time out on the river instead of driving to and from the river.  It makes a big difference in a vacation.


It’s Close To Your House

We’re guessing.  There might be something closer, but not something this good.  Statistically, we’re within a day’s drive of 50% of the U.S. population.  So that chances are good that you can come right over.  It’s interesting:  we’re up in the mountains and easy to get to.


It’s Not The Scariest

Another reason we’re the best is because we’re not the hardest.  Put another way, there are rivers you can raft that are bigger and steeper, and there are definitely rivers you can raft that are more dangerous.  But you can’t find rivers like this that are more fun.  They don’t exist.


It’s Warm

Ok, it depends on the season.  In the summer, it’s refreshing, but not cool.  In the fall, it’s cool but not cold.  In the Spring, it’s better at waking you up than coffee.  You should never worry about the water being too cold, like on snowmelt rivers.


It’s Unusual

The New River is way, way bigger than other Appalachian whitewater rivers.  It’s more like the Colorado through the Grand Canyon than anything else, except you take all the biggest rapids out of the Canyon and put them in a 15 mile stretch of river.  And it’s not, you know, in the desert.


It’s Heaven For Kayakers

Hardboaters talk about southern West Virginia like pygmies talk about great iron birds in the sky.  There are a seemingly endless number of kayak runs in the Mountain State.  A lot of them are really hard, but, hey, a lot of kayakers that come here are really good.


It’s The Most Fun

Ok, that one’s totally subjective.  The truth is, all whitewater rivers are fun.  Have you ever had fun on ours?  Tell us about it.

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