From singing John Denver’s classic “Country Roads” to shooting the white water on the New River, you’re not a true West Virginian until you’ve crossed off a least half of the items on our fun-filled list.
By Kevin Savage
HQ 51 | SPRING 2004
Over the years, writers have coined a number of positive phrases about West Virginia – Almost Heaven, Wild and Wonderful, Mountain Momma. Musicians have waxed poetic about the state’s inspiring beauty and the vitality of its people. Indeed, West Virginia is a very special place.
But, what does it means to be a West Virginian? If a person is defined by deeds rather than words, completion of the following list, compiled by the HQ staff and our friends throughout the state, will make you a true Mountaineer.
West Virginia is steeped in history, rich in culture and blessed with extraordinary natural beauty. As a result, there is an abundance of activities to suit those of all ages and adventure levels, indoors and outdoors, in all seasons. Do as many as you can and you’ll not only have fun, but learn a lot about your state and yourself.
1. Spend the night at the world-renowned Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs. A favorite sleepover for U.S. presidents, the luxury accommodations include a spa, fine dining, three championship golf courses and many other activities. Set upon 6,500 acres, the resort has received numerous accolades during its 225-year history, including a ranking as the “#1 Resort Spa in North America and in the Caribbean” by Conde Nast Traveler. Also voted “World’s #1 Value” by readers of Travel+Leisure, the Greenbrier truly represents the very best of West Virginia.
2. Sing John Denver’s classic “Country Roads” with great pride while driving down any of the winding, twisting and scenic back roads found throughout the Mountain State.
3. Rent “Matewan,” the critically acclaimed movie based on the 1920 massacre in Matewan that started the Coal Wars. Poverty-stricken miners stand up to company thugs in a film that reveals the courageous spirit of the true West Virginian.
4. Visit the Hillsboro home of Pearl S. Buck. Her books, most notably “The Good Earth,” have won her the distinction of being the first woman awarded both a Pulitzer and a Nobel Prize for literature.
5. Commemorate Memorial Day this year by remembering the most loyal citizens in America – more West Virginians per capita have volunteered for military service and died defending their country than any other state.
6. Pick up a copy of “Yeager,” the autobiography by Chuck Yeager, which recounts the glory days of the World War II combat ace and famed test pilot. The book is truly fascinating and offers evidence that the Hamlin native and Brigadier General is arguably the most accomplished man in the history of West Virginia. Did we mention he also broke the Sound Barrier?
7. Play in the snow! Ski, snowboard, tube or watch others from the fireside comfort of the lodge at one of the mountain state’s four popular ski resorts: Snowshoe, Canaan Valley, Timberline and Winterplace. Don’t forget your flask.
8. Ride the whitewater down one of West Virginia’s scenic rivers. The New River and Gauley are well known for offering some of the best rapids in the entire country.
9. Honor your mother this May. After all, it was Grafton native Anna Jarvis who dedicated her life to the creation of Mother’s Day. West Virginia became the first state to observe the holiday in 1912; President Woodrow Wilson officially established Mother’s Day for all in 1914.
10. Cast a fly into the breathtaking Cranberry River, near Richwood, in the federally managed Cranberry Wilderness Area. The catch and release stream is stocked with a variety of trout species. But even if you don’t get a nibble all day, the rugged beauty of the area is something you will never forget.
11. Tour the Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley, an actual West Virginia coal mine, to gain an appreciation for the harsh working conditions endured by so many miners in our state over the years.
12. Garner some respect for West Virginia’s own beautiful action-adventure heroine, Charleston native Jennifer Garner. See the superstar weekly on the ABC television series “Alias,” or trading kisses and punches on the big screen with Ben Affleck in “Daredevil.”
13. Explore West Virginia’s awe-inspiring underground world. Tour Seneca Caverns and Smoke Hole Caverns in the eastern panhandle or Lost World Caverns and Organ Cave near Lewisburg. You’ll be amazed.
14. Enjoy the outdoors by visiting one of the 33 West Virginia State Parks. The Mountain State truly lives up to its wild and wonderful reputation with over 200,000 acres of state land set aside for public use. For more information call 1-800-CALL WVA or visit the website at www.wvstateparks.com.
15. Chug back into a bygone era on the Cass Scenic Railroad. Climb aboard one of the 1901-era steam driven trains (that once hauled lumber to the local mill) for an unforgettable ride to the top of Bald Knob in scenic Pocahontas County. For the best experience, plan your trip in the fall and soak in all the color.
16. Watch the pigskin fly! Head to Mountaineer Field in Morgantown to root for the WVU Mountaineers, or stop by Marshall University Stadium in Huntington to cheer on the Thundering Herd. Either way, you will enjoy an unforgettable day of college football action … not to mention all the tailgating.
17. Moth or myth? Rent “ The Mothman Prophecies” starring Richard Gere and search the red eyes for the truth in this spooky movie based on real life events that took place in Point Pleasant in the 1960s.
18. Celebrate Black History Month in February. It was Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a former student and principal at Douglass High School in Huntington, who established Negro History Week in 1926 which later grew into Black History Month. The second black man to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, Woodson is universally acknowledged as the “Father of Black History.”
19. Pull off the interstate at Beckley and see “The Best of West Virginia” at Tamarack. The peak-roofed, circular building and landscaped grounds offer a showcase for the state’s finest arts and crafts, music and cuisine, and products of all kinds, drawing half a million visitors each year.
20. Take a ride on the Big Dipper, an old-style wooden roller coaster at Camden Park in Huntington, the state’s only amusement park, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Congratulations!
21. Step back in time to see how life in West Virginia has evolved at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Wayne County. Tours are offered that celebrate the work ethic and ingenuity of our Appalachian ancestors, including everything from the history of transportation to the history of the broom. The small, re-created town includes a one-room schoolhouse, church, sawmill, blacksmith shop and several brimming museums all set against the backdrop of the lush West Virginia hills.
22. Relax at one of the state’s best-kept secrets, Glade Springs Resort near Beckley. The first-class resort is surprisingly affordable and offers something for the entire family including scenic walking trails, equestrian center, pool, spa, two spectacular golf courses and ski-and-stay packages to sister resort Winterplace during ski season.
23. Drive the Highland Scenic Highway, from Richwood west to 219, especially during the fall when the hardwoods are ablaze with color. Traversing the Monongahela National Forest, the route is 4,500 feet above sea level, features four scenic overlooks and passes the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, a unique wetland environment.
24. Have dinner at The Red Fox at the top of Snowshoe Mountain. A five-star dining experience, the restaurant is the best in the state and one of the few in the region to earn a Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence. It’s also one of the only places you can sample some truly wild and wonderful cuisine such as wild boar and wild turkey.
25. Catch a Minnesota Vikings game and watch Randy Moss, the Rand native, former Marshall University standout and perennial pro-bowler, haul in another touchdown pass.
26. Learn about the state’s most beautiful mind. Watch the movie or read the biography, “A Beautiful Mind,” about John Nash – the Nobel Prize winner from Bluefield who still teaches and works on his revolutionary scientific theories at Princeton University.
27. Attend a concert or buy a CD and listen to the soulful, heartfelt songs of Grammy-winner Kathy Mattea, a proud native of Cross Lanes. The singer-songwriter has managed to combine Celtic, folk and bluegrass over the years to blend her own flavor of West Virginia “country.”
28. Cheer on the Herd or the Mountaineers when the college basketball rivals meet in the “Capital Classic,” a court battle played each January at the Charleston Civic Center.
29. Follow the dreams and accomplishments of West Virginia’s own Rocket Boy, Homer Hickham. Read “Rocket Boys” or watch the motion picture, “October Sky,” about the Coalwood native’s role in helping thrust America into the space race.
30. Book a room at the Deer Park Country Inn in Buckhannon, one of the finest in the state, before attending the mouth-watering Strawberry Festival held annually in May.
31. Lock yourself up, at least for a little while, at the old West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, thought to be haunted. Tours are conducted April through November.
32. Discover the true birthplace of golf in America at Oakhurst Links in White Sulphur Springs. Play with authentic hickory shafted clubs and old gutta percha balls on the scenic nine hole course that many experts says was the first organized golf club in the United States. Just be careful not to hit any of the sheep grazing in the fairway. It’s a one stoke penalty laddie!
33. Start a Fiesta – or a whole collection of them. Tour the Homer Laughlin Company in Newell where the popular, colorful dinnerware has been crafted with pride for more than 50 years.
34. Discover Stonewall Jackson Lake State Resort Park, the newest in the state park system, located just off I-79 in the heart of West Virginia near Roanoke. Pleasure boat and fish on the state’s second largest reservoir or hit the links on the highly-acclaimed Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course. This outstanding resort park is unquestionably the finest in the entire Mountain State.
35. Stop and smell the roses – or rather, the Bleeding Hearts, Dutchman’s Breeches, Fairy Bells or other species of the state’s abundant wildflowers. Thanks to Operation Wildflower, a project in which 200 acres of native wildflowers have been planted along the state’s roadways, you don’t even have to stop to enjoy their stunning beauty.
36. Have a taste of amoré with a romantic dinner at Rocco’s Ristorante. The intimate Ceredo eatery has served the state’s finest Italian cuisine for more than 25 years.
37. Celebrate the legend of John Henry, the “Steel Driving Man,” by visiting his memorial at the Big Bend Tunnel (where he defeated the steam drill) during John Henry Days, held each July in Talcott.
38. Feel the mist from the Blackwater River as it cascades five stories at Blackwater Falls near Davis. The scenic amber-colored falls are one of the state’s most photographed sites.
39. Listen on public radio, watch on television, or best of all, be there in person for a live taping of Mountain Stage at the Cultural Center in Charleston. The show, broadcast worldwide each week, has included appearances by Joan Baez, Natalie Merchant, REM, Ralph Stanley and an eclectic mix of musicians from every walk of life.
40. Stroll through West Virginia’s largest fine art museum, the Huntington Museum of Art. In addition to a number of permanent collections of paintings, prints, sculpture, glass, silver and antiques, the museum features various exhibitions, concerts, workshops and events such as the annual Hilltop Festival and Book Fair held annually in September.
41. Get into a festive mood this holiday season by visiting the Oglebay Festival of Lights in Wheeling. Now in its 20th season, the colorful spectacle has served as a model for similar displays nationwide, including the James Island Festival of Lights in Charleston, S.C.
42. Send West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd a thank you note for all he’s done for the Mountain State. During his 46 years in the United States Senate, Byrd has funneled countless millions of dollars to his home state. You can write to him at 311 Hart, Washington, DC 20510; or you can send him an e-mail at [email protected].
43. Read “Memphis Tennessee Garrison: The Remarkable Story of a Black Appalachian Woman,” and learn more about the NAACP leader who lived in McDowell County and helped bring national recognition to the extraordinary contributions of African-Americans during the mining era.
44. Have a casual deli-style lunch or an elegant jazzy dinner at the Blossom Deli in downtown Charleston. The 1950s diner serves up some of the best lunches in the state, then transforms into a swank dining room each evening. The food and ambience are both unforgettable.
45. See a country music show at Jamboree USA, a Wheeling tradition since 1933. Hosted and broadcast by WWVA Radio, performances take place every Saturday night at the Capitol Music Hall and, through the years, have included almost every big name in country music.
46. Go bear watching in the Cranberry Wilderness, located in Pocahontas and Webster Counties within the Monongahela National Forest. The 35,864 acre region is considered to be one of the greatest wilderness areas in the eastern United States. Don’t forget to stop by the scenic Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, the largest area of acidic wetlands in West Virginia.
47. Have a taste of West Virginia on the rocks at the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Serious climbers can mount an ascent of the 900 foot tall formation from over 375 mapped routes. Everyone else can enjoy hiking a 1.3-mile interpretive trail overlooking the North Fork River.
48. See a Broadway-style show, world-class concert performance or attend the Foreign Film Festival, all part of the acclaimed Marshall Artist’s Series. Most events are held in the historic Keith-Albee Theatre in downtown Huntington.
49. Jump for joy at New River Gorge Bridge Day in Fayetteville. The annual event held in October draws more than 250,000 spectators and is the only day of the year set aside for those brave enough to parachute off the New River Gorge Bridge, the second longest steel arch span in the world.
50. Search for E.T. Have your very own close encounter with the world’s largest steerable telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank.
51. Pull some strings and secure a tee time at the Pete Dye Golf Club, a private course in Bridgeport. The tract that was build atop a former strip mine is easily the best in the state and arguably one of the finest in the United States. Don’t believe us? In 1999, Golf Week magazine named it the 2nd best course in America built in the modern era.
52. Visit the new Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston. See live performances and visual art or participate in hands-on science exhibits. The center also houses a planetarium, museum and large-screen theater, and serves as home to the West Virginia Symphony.
53. Pedal West Virginia! The mountain state is more than almost heaven to bicyclists with everything from hardcore mountain biking trails in Pocahontas County and Canaan Valley to gently sloping meanders such as the North Bend Rail Trail near Parkersburg and the West Fork River Trail near Fairmont.
54. Learn some history by visiting the charming town of Harpers Ferry in the state’s eastern panhandle. The site of abolitionist John Brown’s raid on a federal arsenal is also the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail, which runs close by.
55. Play by the rules the next time you tee it up to show your respect for West Virginia golfing legend William C. Campbell. The Huntington native and former president of the U.S.G.A. (which governs the rules of the game) was a 15-time winner of the West Virginia amateur and champion of the 1964 U.S. Amateur. Ask Jack Nicklaus and he will tell you that no one played the game with more integrity than Bill Campbell.
56. Read “Mr. Clutch: The Jerry West Story,” the autobiography by NBA Hall-of-Famer and Cabin Creek native Jerry West.
57. Visit the homeplace of Booker T. Washington in Malden. Learn more about the great African-American educator and founder of the Tuskegee Institute who rose from slavery to become one of the greatest leaders of his time.
58. Soothe your spirit with the uplifting music of renowned contemporary Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith. Listen to one of his many CDs, attend one of his concerts or, better yet, see him perform at his home church in the charming community of Kenova.
59. Pick your horse and watch it run. Although not as well known for horse racing as its neighbor Kentucky, West Virginia has two fine tracks – Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester and Charles Town Races in Charles Town. “And they’re off…”
60. Ride the Mountain State “New River Gorge” Mystery Train, which offers year-round excursions through the scenic New River Gorge including a fall foliage tour and a summertime jaunt to the West Virginia State Fair. For more information, call 304-529-6412.
61. Get a birds-eye view of the Bluestone Gorge on a tram ride at Pipestem Resort State Park, just north of Princeton. The enclosed tram will carry you on a six-minute descent to the Bluestone River Gorge 3,600 feet below. Afterward, visit the Mountain Artisan Shop at Canyon Rim Center, which features handcrafted goods from West Virginia.
62. Be a photographer for a day and capture the rustic beauty of one of the state’s 17 covered bridges, including the Philippi Covered Bridge in Barbour County on U.S. 250 – the only one in the country covering a U.S. highway.
63. Go Tex-Mex! Join owner Ron Smith and an always-enthusiastic crowd of hungry patrons at Chili Willi’s Mexican Cantina in downtown Huntington. Be sure to sample some of the award-winning chili at what many claim is the best Tex-Mex eatery in the state.
64. Have a cup of coffee, hear some live music or spend some time browsing over 20,000 titles at Taylor Books, Charleston’s popular bookstore. And don’t forget to check out the regionally produced arts and crafts featured in the gallery annex.
65. Laugh and cry with Robin Williams in his portrayal of “Patch Adams,” the screen version of the compassionate, unorthodox West Virginia doctor who still strives to administer healing through humor from his Gesundheit! Institute.
66. Stand your ground where Union forces stood theirs at Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park near Summersville. The historic park represents the site where the defeat of Confederate forces in 1861 secured West Virginia’s bid for statehood.
67. Attend the West Virginia State Fair in Lewisburg, set for August 13-22 this year. A state tradition for over 80 years, the Fair offers over 175 acres of fun and features more than 100 separate events including livestock shows, arts and crafts displays and performances by some of the biggest acts in country and popular music.
68. Ride a sternwheeler across the Ohio River from Parkersburg and explore Blennerhassett Island State Park, including a recreation of the mansion built in 1798 by Harman Blennerhassett, an Irish aristocrat who became embroiled in charges of treason and later imprisoned by Thomas Jefferson.
69. Spend the night at the General’s. The General Lewis Inn and Restaurant in Lewisburg has been owned and operated by the same family since 1929. Furnished with antiques and heirlooms, the charming Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
70. Show your roots at the Vandalia Gathering, a celebration of West Virginia folk culture featuring music, dancing, storytelling and art. The free event takes place every Memorial Day on the State Capitol grounds in Charleston.
71. Spend an afternoon with your family at Ritter Park in Huntington. The park offers 70 acres in which to romp, including a walking path, tennis courts, rose garden, amphitheatre and children’s playground ranked one of the “10 Best in America” by Child Magazine.
72. Tour the West Virginia State Capitol. Considered by many to be one of the finest in the nation, it’s something every West Virginian can look to with pride. The gilded dome, at 293 feet high, is the largest of any in the nation – five feet taller than the capitol dome in Washington, D.C. The building’s stunning interior comprises an area of more than 14 acres, utilizing nine different types of marble including Imperial Danby, white Vermont and black Belgian.
73. Stop by Shoney’s and bite into an All-American burger, named for Shoney’s founder Alex Schoenbaum, a Huntington native and Ohio State college football All-American. Since Schoenbaum opened his first restaurant in Charleston in 1947, the popular chain has grown to include more than 350 restaurants in 20 states.
74. Get away for the weekend at one of West Virginia’s quaint Bed and Breakfasts. There are over 90 to choose from scattered throughout the state. To find the one that’s right for you and your loved one, check out the very helpful Mountain State Association of Bed and Breakfasts’ website at www.wvbedandbreakfasts.com.
75. Hear Mark McVey sing. Whether in his critically acclaimed Broadway role as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables” or on any of the handful of occasions he returns to his home state for special concerts, hearing the Huntington tenor perform “Bring Him Home” from Les Miz is a deeply moving experience.
76. Visit the statue of John Marshall on the campus of Marshall University. Learn more about the university’s namesake and highly regarded Supreme Court Chief Justice by reading Jean Edward Smith’s acclaimed biography, “John Marshall: Definer of a Nation.”
77. Watch one of West Virginia’s least known yet most accomplished actors, chameleon-like Brad Dourif. The Huntington native has appeared in 87 films including “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” for which he earned an Academy Award nomination, and most recently “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” Be sure to catch him on the new HBO Original Series “Deadwood,” a bold new western.
78. Go hog wild at Benjy’s Harley Davidson in Huntington. A full-service dealership, Benjy’s also has a free museum featuring Harleys from 1916 to present as well as a charming 1950s-style diner.
79. Experience fine dining in the atmosphere of yesteryear at Café Cimino, located in a renovated Italianate Revival building in Sutton’s downtown historic district. Mmmmm.
80. Enjoy the foliage this autumn at Babcock State Park in Fayette County, near Clifftop. Adjacent to the New River Gorge, the park is said to be one of the best places in the state to view fall color. Of special interest is the Glade Creek Grist Mill, one of the most photographed structures in the state.
81. Pour yourself a glass of Vidal Blanc from the Wolf Creek Winery in Monroe County, the best vineyard in West Virginia. To order a bottle or case, call 304-536-5155.
82. Attend the crowning of Queen Sylvia and her court at the Mountain State Forest Festival, held each October in Elkins. Now in its 68th year, the weeklong festival is a celebration of fall and includes arts and crafts, music, competitions, parades and much more.
83. Try to unravel the enigma of the gravity-defying Mystery Hole in Ansted.
84. Celebrate autumn and all things pumpkin at the annual Pumpkin Festival in Milton. Don’t miss the chance to drink pumpkin cider, eat pumpkin ice cream or marvel at a pumpkin that weighs more than you. It’s an outing the entire family will enjoy.
85. Savor the smell of the state flower, the lovely Rhododendron, when it blooms in June and July. The showy shrub is easily recognized by its large evergreen leaves and pink or white blooms and can easily be spotted in woodsy areas throughout the Mountain State.
86. Don’t miss Wheeling native John Corbett in “Northern Exposure,” “Sex and the City,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and numerous other films and television roles. His portrayal of honest, earthy characters always seem to espouse the spirit of West Virginia.
87. Witness a West Virginia tradition: tour one of the state’s glassmakers. Visit Fenton Art Glass in Williamston or Glassworks in Weston, both manufacturers of hand-made pieces, or famed sheet-glass makers Blenko Glass in Milton.
88. Do a little research at Marshall University’s state-of-the-art Drinko Library, named after St. Mary’s native John Deaver Drinko, who rose from humble beginnings to become a nationally prominent attorney. The 118,000 square foot facility contains nearly 400,000 volumes and 300 networked computer stations, making it one of the most technologically advanced facilities in the nation.
89. Refresh yourself at the international water tasting competition held each winter in Berkeley Springs, the Eastern Panhandle spa and resort town that boasts of having more massage therapists than lawyers.
90. Spice it up at one of the state’s three chili festivals: Charleston’s Smoke on the Water in June, Fire on the Mountain at Snowshoe in July and Huntington’s state championship ChiliFest held in October.
91. Order a copy of “A Portrait of West Virginia” by Arnout Hyde, Jr. The book captures the essence of the Mountain State with brilliant color photography by the state’s premier landscape photographer. Perfect for any coffee table, you can obtain a copy by calling Hyde himself at 304-346-7602.
92. Carve your creation and contribute it to the more than 2,000 gourds on display this Halloween at the famed Pumpkin House in Kenova.
93. Buy a painting by world renowned wildlife artist Chuck Ripper. The Huntington native’s work has appeared in books, museums, stamps and hundreds of magazine and catalog covers – including L.L. Bean. Look him up in the phone book and make an appointment to tour his home gallery today.
94. See the herds of deer at Canaan Valley State Park. You and your children will be amazed by the number of tame deer that will walk up to you without hesitation and eat grass directly from your hand or lick your out-stretched palm. But be careful. Park officials warn against feeding the deer for safety reasons.
95. Have a laugh as you remember good ol’ Barney Fife from “The Andy Griffith Show” as you stroll down Don Knotts Boulevard in Morgantown, the much loved comedy actor’s hometown.
96. Hop on your ATV and hit the Hatfield & McCoy Trail system in Southern West Virginia for all the fun and none of the feud. While expansion into Kentucky and Virginia is planned, the current 400-mile system has already been designated a National Millennium Trail.
97. Go antiquing in the Mountain State. Several communities offer a veritable plethora of good finds including Lewisburg, Berkeley Springs and the Old Central City District in Huntington’s west end.
98. Hit the links. The Mountain State is fast becoming a golfing mecca with acclaimed tracts at the Greenbrier, Stonewall Resort, Glade Springs, Snowshoe Mountain and more.
99. Brace yourself and then have a swig of moonshine, the unofficial state drink. Though technically illegal, the original Mountain Dew can still be found and sampled – cautiously – by every West Virginian at least once in their lifetime.
There are undoubtedly many more things one can and should do in the Mountain State. Think of these 99 things as merely a place to start. Have fun and be sure to let us know about the ones we missed.
For more information about these and other activities, call 1-800-CALL WVA or log on to www.callwva.com, which contains a great deal of information about the greatest place in America …
