Posts Tagged ‘Things to Do’

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.

Baseball… In Southern WV!

Friday, April 16th, 2010

When you come to southern West Virginia, you have some expectations, generally.  Natural beauty.  Secluded mountain cabins.  White water rafting, maybe.  AdventureArt.  That sort of thing.

Most people don’t think, “baseball”.  But they should.  Southern WV has

Power Park - Home of the WV Power

long been home to three minor league teams, the furthest south being the Princeton Rays and the Bluefield Orioles.  They’ve provided the area with awesome baseball for decades.

And let’s not forget the West Virginia Power, whose long history as a franchise in Charleston as the Alley Cats, the Charlies, and the Senators (originally the Toledo Mud Hens!) has given the state a baseball team to cheer on since 1952.

And now Beckley will step in.  A brand new, non-pro collegiate franchise, The West Virginia Miners, will begin play in “the small town with a mine of its own”.  Here’s some info to get you ready…

  • The Miners will play in the Prospect League.  This league is designed for college players and uses wooden bats (NCAA college teams use aluminum bats, but all other rules apply).  That makes it unique among other collegiate leagues.
  • There’s a brand new, state of the art baseball stadium for the team in Beckley.  The Linda K. Epling Stadium may even be outfitted with extra bleacher seats pre-season to meet demand for tickets.
  • The Miners are developing a competitive junior league for both girls and boys called the Red Hats.  The boys will play in under-8, -10, and -12 divisions, and the girls will play under 18 softball.  Home field for the kids?  You guessed it- Epling Stadium.
  • Since the Miners are a collegiate club, the organization is running a promotion to find host families for some of its players.  Host families that “adopt a Miner” get all kinds of perks in addition to the satisfaction of helping the team, like season tickets and parking passes.
  • The West Virginia Miners’ home opener is on Saturday June 5th at 7 p.m.  Expect the whole city to come out and welcome the team, so get your tickets early.

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!

A Southern West Virginia Night-Before-Christmas

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

‘Twas the night before Christmas in southern WV
And all through the mountains, folks snoozed peacefully

Appalachian Coaltown Christmas

Appalachian Coaltown Christmas

The wood smoke rose up from the hollers in puffs
And old dogs everywhere sat back on their duffs

There was silence in Hinton, no trains rumbling by
No lights to blur out all the stars in the sky

It was peaceful and quiet along the Greenbrier
The picturesque river valley in winter attire

And from over along the Hatfield-McCoy Trail
There were no ATVs, just sleeping whitetails

Even in Beckley, the south’s biggest town
The streets were all hushed; there was no one around

When from over the treetops, what did appear?
It was Santa’s  sleigh, come to spread Christmas cheer

Santa said, “Here I am!  Hello, West Virginia!
I’m always my happiest when travellin’ within ya!”

“I’ve come far and wide, up holler and ridge
And I just flew right under the New River Gorge Bridge!”

And people came out of their cabins to see
The great jolly man who was shouting with glee.

“I brought you all presents,” he said to great cheers.
“I want to thank all of you good Mountaineers!”

“I have art from Lewisburg, and crafts from the Gauley,
Gift Certificates that everyone in the family will love, prob’ly!”

Cabins to rent, golf to be played,
Stays in places you’ll want to have stayed!”

“The world’s greatest adventure vacations, I’m crafting,
and did I mention last summer I went whitewater rafting?”

Then he waved to all the good people down low
Who were looking up skyward from their warm winter homes

And he jingled his sled toward the full moon so bright,
“Merry Christmas to Y’all, and to y’all, a good night!”

Reasons You Should Ride An ATV In Southern West Virginia

Thursday, November 12th, 2009


Riding on ATV trails in southern West Virginia is the most fun you can have with a motor attached to you.  Here’s why…

Hatfield-McCoy Trails

Hatfield-McCoy Trails

1.  It’s flat-out awesome.
2.  Most of you have never done it before.
3.  It’s a good way to see the mountains.

4.  Riding is loud (in a good way).

5.  ATVs are new twist on family time.

6.  Your kids will love you forever.
7.  So will your spouse.
8.  People that don’t usually like sports love ATVs.
9.  The views.
10.  There’s a lot of wildlife when you’re not revving the engine
11.  Southern West Virginia has the largest connected trail system in the country.
12.  The whole place is very ATV friendly.
13.  Everything from easy to difficult is available.
14.  Over 700 miles of trails, which, in local terms, is a whole bunch.
15.  You can choose from the Burning Rock or Hatfield and McCoy trail systems.
16.  The permit system is simple, and can be done on arrival.
17.  All the trail are well marked, so it’s simple to know where you’re going.
18.  You don’t need a guide.
19.  You can get a guide.
20.  You can find mud, and mud = fun.
21.  All the equipment you need is available for rent.
22.  In most areas of Hatfield/McCoy, you can ride on the roads to get to trails.
23.  The hospitality is better than you’ll find almost anywhere (standard for southern West Virginia   )
24.  There are tons of campsites, cabins, and hotels to base your trip out of.
25.  It’s an adventure that anyone   -anyone-   can be part of.

Haunted Happenings & Halloween Events, Southern West Virginia-Style

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Haunted Southern West Virginia...

Haunted Southern West Virginia...

Everyone knows what makes October in southern West Virginia spook-tacular.  It’s the haunted houses!  No, wait, it’s the festivals!  Right?

Actually, it’s both.  Plus, the colors.  We have great leaves.  Adds to the atmosphere.  Of course, when it’s dark out, the colors don’t matter, and all that crunching is probably letting whoever’s hiding in the woods know EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE!  MWWAHAHAHA!

Too much?  Sorry.  A blog isn’t the best place to scare people.  So we put together a list of some Halloween haunts that will do just that.  Plus, there’s a big list of activities that aren’t scary at all, right down below.

Here are both calendars.  And here’s hoping you have a happy and safe southern West Virginia Halloween this year…

HAUNTED HOUSE CALENDAR
4th Annual Haunted Hotel:  This one’s in Mount Hope, WV, in the former Mountaineer Hotel.  Now through Halloween. $8 admission, children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 7-10 pm

Little Beaver State Park Haunted Trail:  Oct 23-31st.  Dark until 10 weekdays, until 11 weekends.  $6 for adults, $4 for children 304-763-2494

MSU Forensic Investigation Association’s Annual Haunted House: Takes place at the Crime Scene House, 703 S Kanawha St. 7-11 Mon-Thurs and 7 – midnight Fri and Sat. Runs through Oct 31st.  There is a different theme every year at the house.

14th Annual Second Creek Haunted Trail: This is a haunted trail that benefits the community as well as families in need. It’s the 14th year of operation and the trail sees upwards of 1500 guests each year! Dates are Oct 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31st. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for under 12. No children under 5 allowed. Open from dark to 11pm.  October 16, 2009 – October 31, 2008 www.wvhauntedtrail.com
Second Creek 304-645-7450 or 304-645-2696

Princeton Rec Center Haunted House: Hours will be at the from 7-11pm, except on the 31st which will be from 8-11pm.   October 23, 24, 30, 31  Admission is $5/person. Info: 304-487-5040.

The Haunted House in Pineville: Opens on October 24th and runs through Halloween, from 7-10 pm and til 11pm on Halloween night.  RA Mihailoff, who played Leatherface in “Texas Chainsaw Massacre III” will be in Pineville Oct 30-31st and will be part of the Haunted House on those dates!!!  Admission is $3 per person. 304-732-6813

Haunted History Tours: This one’s at the Whipple Company Store in Scarborough.  Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays in Oct.  Adults only.  $20 per person.  9:15 to 11 pm.  Flashlights provided. http://www.whipplecompanystore.com/hauntedhistorytours.html

NOT-SO-SCARY-STUFF CALENDAR
Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze:  Okes Family Farms  http://hstrial-kokes.homestead.com/

Tailgate Halloween: The Youth Museum of Southern WV will present the 23rd Annual Tailgate Halloween in uptown Beckley from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, Oct 31st.

Autumn Fest in Pineville:  from 5 to 11pm this Saturday, Oct 24th.  Includes a Halloween Tailgate Party for children, annual chili cook-off, pie-baking contest, pumpkin decorating contest, cake walk, gurney race, adult and children’s costume contests and more.  Fest info 304-732-6255

Pipestem’s Annual Pumpkin Run: October 31, 2009 www.pipestemresort.com
304-466-1800 or 800-225-5982  31st Annual 5k, 10k Pumpkin Run.  Get out there and run your pumkins off!!

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!