Posts Tagged ‘outdoor recreation’

Sledding Down Mountains ( Just Like Calvin & Hobbes)

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Sledding Down Mountains

( Just Like Calvin & Hobbes)

Some of the greatest memories ever made included the simplest of items.  Cookie dough and your kids, a huge roll of paper and some paints, or even a few inner-tubes on some freshly fallen snow.

Tubing at Winterplace Ski Resort

Those of you in the deep south know the feeling you got when you saw your first snowflake or when your kids built their first snowman.  But the time honored tradition of sledding is just as swell.  Kids of all ages (including the adult variety) can find so much joy in gliding down mountains.

If your travels take you to Southern WV this winter, be sure and take in some sledding at our top locations – Winterplace Ski Resort and Pipestem State Park.

Winterplace offers WV’s largest tubing park with two great Super Carpet lifts to whisk you back to the top of the mountain. (Now don’t you wish we had that as kids?)

Pipestem offers a little family fun as their Driving Range goes snowy.  The park’s Pro Shop offers sled and cross country ski rentals by the hour or by the day and a great hill for sledding.

What memories does sledding conjure up for you?  Snow days off from school?  Calvin and Hobbes strapped in a toboggan?  Or your last trip to WV?

When was the last time you went sledding?

Flying South for the Winter

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Southern WV’s high elevations and low valleys make for perfect places to birdwatch – especially this time of year when lots of northern birds are passing through on their way south for the winter.

One of the greatest spots for watching all that air traffic is the Hanging Rock Raptor

Hanging Rock Observatory Tower

Observatory Tower in Monroe County.

At Hanging Rock, you’ll have a chance to view lots of different raptors – hawks, falcons, eagles, and owls.  Just last week, 126 sightings of bald eagles were recorded, a record sighting for one day.

Why are there so many bird sightings here?  Peters Mountain’s dominate ridge runs northeast to southwest, the same route the birds take and the funnel effect of the mountains create great updrafts so that the birds don’t have to exhaust as much energy as they migrate on toward warmer temperatures.

A little rusty on your bird identification?  No worries.  A visit to the Tower on any day of the week during fall will be met with two or three die-hard birders who are camped out for the day watching and counting the birds.

Insider’s Tip:  Plan to make a trip to Hanging Rock before mid November to ensure you catch a glimpse of the migration and don’t forget your binoculars.  After all, when was the last time you saw a bald eagle in the wild?

The Boys Scouts of America & West Virginia

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Just in case you haven’t heard: the Boy Scouts Of America are coming to West Virginia!

All of them.  (Well, almost all of them.)

Scouts Gathered for the Arena Show

We are the new home of not only the Boy Scout’s of America’s fourth and largest High Adventure Camp but also the site for future Boy Scout Jamborees.

It’s one thing to be told that there will be 40 to, oh, I don’t know, 50,000 scouts each year, and approximately 200,000 visitors coming to the Jamboree in West Virginia in 2013.

But it’s another thing entirely to attend the last Jamboree being held at Fort A.P. Hill, VA and see it for yourself.

Our staff, as well as representatives from the WV Division of Tourism, hosted a “Welcome to WV Booth” at the Jamboree that began on last Monday, July 26th.  All we can say is WOW!  The boys, leaders, and all of the visitors seemed very excited about the new location and we had a ton of great questions and comments.

We talked to scouts and scouters  from every single state and several different countries.  These scouts literally come from everywhere, and I can honestly say that I have never been in the company of so many polite young men in my life.  (And if you’ve spent a lot of time around groups of kids, you can really appreciate that last sentence.)

The Scouts can’t wait to raft the New River, climb in the gorge, hike our trails, and participate in all the other countless adventure activities in the region.

The Scouts and visitors were eager for information on our state as well as the plans for The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, and I for one came away knowing much more about the project and about what to expect in 2013.

Kay handing out info on WV - home of future BSA Jamborees

Here’s a really broad overview of where we stand, time-wise:   In 2013 the Jamboree will be held in West Virginia.  In 2014 The Summit – Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve will open the high adventure and summer camps.  The Summit will be used year round for winter camps, training and more.

I can definitely tell you one thing after meeting people at this year’s Jamboree in Virginia from California, Washington to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, Japan, Puerto Rico, and just about everywhere in between– our wild and wonderful state is no longer going to be one of American’s best kept secrets.

Thanks, Boy Scouts.  And welcome home.

The Top 50 Reasons To Go White Water Rafting In West Virginia

Monday, July 12th, 2010

1.    It’s hot outside.
2.    Rafting is the summer tradition in West Virginia (if you make it one).

New River Rafting

3.    Guides are ridiculously funny.
4.    White water brings people closer together.
5.    There’s no better way to see a gorge than from the river.
6.    Rapids are like roller coasters, but wetter.
7.    It’s really hot outside.
8.    You get great pictures of yourself doing something awesome.
9.    You’ll make memories.
10.     Butterflies in your stomach and a smile on your face.
11.     Amazing scenery.
12.     White water is the best way in the world to get back in touch with nature.
13.     Sometimes you watch the show, and sometimes you are the show.
14.     You can’t really wear the T-shirt unless you’ve been down the river.
15.     Amazing riverside lunch.
16.     Learning to surf West Virginia style (they really do surf rafts).
17.     It’s really incredibly hot outside.
18.     Swimming in the pools in between rapids.
19.     Paddling through the rapids in between pools.
20.     Getting smacked in the face with a wave is the river’s way of saying hi.
21.     You can push family members out of the raft.
22.     The family section of the New River (the Upper New) is perfect for kids.

Family Duckie Trip on Upper New River

23.     It’s also perfect for scaredy-cats.
24.     Summer rafting on the Gauley River is a sure fire way to have the whole place to yourselves.
25.     It’s really incredibly, insanely hot outside.
26.     Rafting is like being on a lake; a very narrow lake with huge waves.
27.     If you fall out of the raft, you’ll have a story to tell forever.
28.     If you stay in the raft, you’ll have a story to tell forever.
29.     Dinner tastes better after a rafting trip.
30.     You’ll meet people who are just as much fun as you are.
31.     Rafting leads to other stuff, like ATV rides, bike trips, and canopy tours.
32.     It will become an addiction (a good one).
33.     Rapids with names like “Scramble Like A Rat” and “Lost Paddle”.
34.     Your bus driver will be the most interesting person you meet all year.
35.     It’s really incredibly, insanely, ridiculously hot outside.
36.     You can show off that back flip at Jump Rock.
37.     It’s a scientific fact that there is no better way to make kids go to bed early than a day of white water rafting.
38.     You can show off those new river shorts/bathing suit.
39.     You’ll laugh harder than you have in a long, long time.
40.     Rapids on white water rivers make you feel alive.
41.     You can see deer, bald eagles, fish, and all kinds of other cool wildlife.
42.     It’s a great place to re-learn what poison ivy looks like and how to avoid it.
43.     Rafting lets you learn about the natural world and have fun at the same time.
44.     White water rivers are great places to challenge yourself.
45.     There’s no feeling on earth like paddling off the lip of a horizon line into a rapid.
46.     Rafting makes your vacation time really count.
47.     Your kids will think you’re the coolest person in the world (for a while).
48.     Best. Vacation. Ever.
49. It’s really, incredibly, insanely, ridiculously, stupendously hot outside.
50.     White water rafting is the best way in the universe to cool off.

5 Simple Ways To Plan A Family Vacation To West Virginia

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Okay, full disclosure: we want you to come to southern West Virginia.  Guess the secret’s out!

But here are some tips you can use to plan a family vacation to

Family Visiting an Overlook in the New River Gorge

anywhere.  Even somewhere that’s, say, not the most beautiful mountains on earth (ahem!).  These little shortcuts can save you money while you’re away from home.  And more importantly, they can make sure that everyone has a great time on vacation.

1.  Check On Events Specials

Here’s the secret about events: They’re everywhere.  And businesses will often offer special discounts on lodging, food, and activities surrounding the event.  This is a great way to save and plan at the same time.  Plus, searching for events is a good way to plan your vacation around something everyone in the family enjoys, like a music festival or river fest or a huge 4th of July event.

2. Plan On The Shoulder

If you can make your schedule more flexible than the next person, you’ll end up ahead.  Midweek is the time to book everything:  more availability, lower rates, and less crowded.  Plus one more benefit:  We cannot confirm this -it’s only a rumor- but supposedly, the weather is better during the week.  Going to have to check the almanac on that one.

3.  Double Check On Activities

A lot of outdoor adventures have age or weight guidelines for kids.  It’s always a good idea to call again after you’ve booked to double check that you’re reservationist got you in the right space.  There’s really nothing worse than showing up booked for the wrong trip or activity, especially when there are kids involved.  Checking up saves time and possibly tears in the long run.

4.  Crowdsource Your Vacation Ideas

The tools to review your experience exist for almost everything today, and vacations lead the way.  Check online to see how others have rated a particular experience, and ask the community what they think.  This idea of crowdsourcing is a powerful tool to make your vacation dollars -and more importantly, your vacation hours- count.

5.  Use A Convention And Visitors Bureau

You didn’t think we’d leave this out, did you?  In fact, we saved the best tip for last.  Use a CVB (hey, that’s us!) to help plan your trip, and you can’t go wrong.  Why?  Helping plan trips is our business.  And we’re free to use!  CVBs are a wealth of local information, and isn’t that really what you’re looking for?  The best restaurants, the right activities, the perfect lodging… these are the questions we at the Southern West Virginia CVB answer every day.

What about you?  Have a little go-to advice for planning a family vacation?  Something West Virginia specific, maybe?  We’d love to hear about it.

We’d love to help you even more.

The 5 Best Reasons To Spend Spring In The Mountains

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

If you ever needed a reminder about how great life is, do this:   Come to southern West Virginia in the spring.

Pinnacle Rock in "Spring Green"

Because this is hands-down, without-a-doubt the best time to be in the mountains.

Here are 5 reasons why:

•    The Green: The green that pops up during springtime isn’t just green.  It’s spring green.  So special they designed a crayon color for it.  And you can’t see it anywhere else like this.  Heck, even if you could, nowhere has the background of the ancient mountains to really draw it out.  Spring green in southern WV is truly like no other color on earth.

•    All The Other Colors: What isn’t green is every other color that’s bright, new, or refreshing.  The redbuds burst.  The forsythias pop.  The mountains reinvigorate all of your color sensibilities, and make you feel alive and awake in a way that a museum masterpiece never could.

•    The White Water :  Okay, okay… white water rafting isn’t for everyone.  Only 93% of you.  We understand.  If you think the mountains are pretty while driving down the road in the spring, wait until you see them from a wild river like the New or the Gauley.  Even if you don’t go to a wild section of a wild river, i.e. you like family floating more than white knuckle white water, it doesn’t matter.  Spring doesn’t care, and neither do we, as long as you’re having fun.

•    All The Other Adventures :  We like to say that, if you can do it outside, you can do it in West Virginia.  So spring is our chance to rediscover all that wildness and excitement.  Even if excitement is mushroom hunting instead of rock climbing, or antiquing instead of, say, ATV riding.  It doesn’t really matter how you define adventure, as long as you’re doing something that makes you feel adventurous.

•   The People:  You didn’t think we’d leave out the key ingredient, did you?  Mountaineers haven’t exactly been holed up all winter (we’re always free, remember?)  Still, spring unleashes a whole bunch of happiness in the Mountain State, and we’re going to celebrate it.  Our yards get the attention we’ve dreamed about.  So do our grills.  We get outside and stretch in the spring sun, and if that’s not a good time to visit somewhere, it’s going to be pretty hard to figure out when is.

Need another reason?  You.  You make spring here in West Virginia better.  Time to get outside, don’t you think?

Spring In Southern West Virginia

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Comin’ In Like A Mountain Lion
It’s March!  Time for, um, madness.  And four leaf clovers.  And lambs going out somewhere.

Actually, none of that makes much difference – Spring is on the way!  After the amazing, record breaking winter we just had, the sun is a fine sight to see.

Okay, “amazing” isn’t the word that some people would use.  But it was amazing if you like to ski, or sled, or play outside in the snow.  And even if you don’t, you have to admit it was still pretty cool.  For a while, anyway.

Ok, we won’t talk about snow anymore . . .

It’s

Whitewater Rafting in WV

White Water Time!

Go down to any river in Southern West Virginia and grab up some water and splash it on your face.  Wow!  That’ll wake you right up!

Well, if that’s your idea of refreshing, you’d be surprised how many people think exactly like you do.  Any idea?

It’s enough people to start white water rafting season off in West Virginia.  The weather can get chilly, but it’s nothing compared to how cool it is to go rafting before anyone else in the world.

Plus, there’s a real reason people go whitewater rafting in March and April:  You’re guaranteed some of the best whitewater of the year.  Spring is when the rivers run high, which means bigger rapids.

And every outfitter in West Virginia has hot showers at the end of the trip.  If you’re at all adventurous, you should give spring rafting a shot.

The 15 Most Romantic Things About Southern West Virginia

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Well, there’s almost no end to the romance when it comes to our particular spot here in the heart (get it?) of the Appalachians.

Scenic Winter View of the New River Gorge

Here’s a list of 15 things that are sure to get your baby to cuddle right up and give you a smooch.  If you’re lucky.

  • Cabin Getaways. A log on the fire, no phone, and no distractions.
  • Scenic Drives.  Driving slow up a winding road, with no particular place to go.
  • A Walk In The Woods. You have to bundle up, but oh-so-nice.
  • The Spa Treatment. You know it can’t last forever, but you can enjoy it while it does.
  • Historic HousesBed and Breakfasts offer those perfect romantic mini-vacations.
  • Casino Nights. Invite a little luck into your night out and win big.
  • Art and More. West Virginia is a showcase for art, and gallery openings can be as romantic as it gets.
  • Scenic Overlooks. With as many mountains as we have, it’s not hard to find the perfect spot.
  • Romantic AdventuresSkiing and snowboarding and tubing are a great way to find a little active romance.
  • Shopping Sprees. You don’t have to spend every dime to find that     perfect something special together.
  • Libraries.  No joke.  It’s a little known fact that bookworms are some of the most passionate Mountaineers.
  • Sports.  Between the Mountaineers, the Herd, and the West Virginia Blazers, it’s not hard to find a dinner-and-b-ball date to take a date.
  • Winter Camping. It’s not for everyone, but couples who camp in the winter have the outdoors to themselves, and, of course, you do have to keep warm.
  • Live Music.  West Virginia’s live music scene is small but vibrant, great for a date.
  • Moving.  One of the most passionate things anyone will ever do is move to southern West Virginia.   We call it wild and wonderful for a reason, and it’s a great place to share for a lifetime.  What’s more romantic than that?

The Best Day Trips In Southern West Virginia

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Snowtubing at Winterplace

Snowtubing at Winterplace

Here’s a nice way to get out and around in the winter:  Plan a West Virginia Day Trip.

Here are two suggestions for taking mountain state tours.  One’s a north/south itinerary, and the other is an east/west itinerary.

See West Virginia in the winter, South To North

-Soon after you cross the state line, head into Bluefield to have an early lunch at Gary Bowling’s House Of Art.  It’s filled with unique, beautiful pieces from floor to ceiling.  And the food is as good as the art.

-Take another detour to go snowtubing at Winterplace Ski resort.  Tickets are sold in 2 hour blocks, and there are no special skills or equipment you need.  Gravity + snow + an intertube = fun!

-Keep heading north, stopping in Beckley at the always wonderful Tamarack.  Even if you’re just window shopping, there’s still plenty to see.  Oh, and you’ll want to eat there too.  All the food is done by the Greenbrier- don’t miss it.

-Once you cross the New River Gorge Bridge, take a winter zip line tour at Adventure West Virginia Resort.  It’s kind of a cross between being Santa Claus and Tarzan.  If you’ve never done it, go.

-Bed down in a cabin near the Gauley River in Nicholas County.  Perfect Day.

See West Virginia in the winter, East To West

-Start at the Virginia state line, and leave that place behind.  Head straight for the lap of luxury at the Greenbrier Resort and take a tour of the once secret underground bunker that was built to keep the president and congress safe.  Amazing.

-Head to the Monroe County line, near Lewisburg, to head underground once more to tour the Organ Cave. It’s a pretty good mix of natural and human history- not only do bats hide there, but about 3000 confederate soldiers hid out there during the civil war.

-Beckley again?  Try checking out some minor league Basketball at the Civic Center.  Seeing a West Virginia Blazers game is a great way to spend an afternoon.

-Head to Pineville and get out on the Hatfield and McCoy ATV trails.  Outfitters in the area have everything you need to get out and ride.  Talk about your winter wonderland.

-Finish up your day with some skating at the South Charleston Me morial Ice Skating Rink.  That’s right, skating.  You know you want to.

Those are a couple of seriously full days.  Whoever said there’s nothing to do in West Virginia during the wintertime just didn’t take the time to look.  Enjoy!

Things We Have To Be Thankful For In Southern West Virginia

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

In no particular order…

25. All of our state parks and forests (12 total!)

New River Gorge Bridge View

New River Gorge Bridge View

24. Theatre West Virginia
23. The history and heritage of the southern West Virginia mountains
22. Being right in the eastern flyway for migratory birds
21. The State Fair every year in Lewisburg
20. The Gauley River National Recreation Area
19. Some of the best traditional mountain music ever heard by human ears
18. Delicious local wine made right here in southern West Virginia
17. Mountaineers/Thundering Herd (tie)
16. Skiing, snowboarding, and the state’s best snow tubing
15. The incredible New River Gorge National Park
14. Great food and local cuisine
13. 3 minor league baseball teams and professional basketball
12. Internationally known ATV trails at Hatfield and McCoy and Burning Rock
11. Golf resorts to rival some of the best courses anywhere
10. Tamarack, our showcase for West Virginia artisans
9. The world’s best whitewater
8. Wonderful lodges at Pipestem Resort
7. Cabins in some of the most scenic places in the Appalachian Mountains
6. Hiking in some of the oldest, most beautiful spots on earth
5. Being a world class rock climbing destination
4. State-record fishing
3. Shopping and antiques in every corner of southern West Virginia
2. The pride that comes with having more men and women serving in the military than any other state
1. A home that we’re always happy to share with family, friends, and visitors

And there are so many more.  What are you thankful for this year?