Help choose the location of the 2007 Wikitravel Get-together!

West Virginia Travel Guide

From Wikitravel

Jump to: navigation, search
map of West Virginia
Enlarge
map of West Virginia

West Virginia [1] is a state in the South of the United States of America. It's often called the "Mountain State", being the only state in the USA to lie completely within a mountain range (in this case, the Appalachians). West Virginia is bordered by five states, on the east by Virginia and Maryland, the north by Pennsylvania, and the west by Ohio and Kentucky. Originally part of the state of Virginia, the residents of the counties that became West Virginia split from the rest of the state in part due to a disagreement over the issues of slavery and secession. These counties elected to remain with the Union, and the new state was born on June 20, 1863. The population of the state today is around 1.7 million people. The capital city is Charleston, and the state motto is "Mountaineers are always free."

Contents

Regions

  • Northern Panhandle -- the western pandhandle of the state, between Ohio and Pennsylvania. Home to Wheeling.
  • Mountaineer Country -- West Virginia's technology corridor, bordering the south of Pennsylvania. Home to Morgantown and Fairmont.
  • Eastern Panhandle -- part of the state's Civil War heritage, bordering Maryland near Baltimore and Washington DC. Home to Harpers Ferry.
  • Potomac Highlands -- tucked away in the Allegheny Mountains and the Monongahela National Forest, with much of the state's skiing and caving. Home to Elkins and Spruce Knob, the state's highest point.
  • Lakes Region -- the central part of the state, with lots of lakes, rivers and streams. Home to Summersville, Buckhannon and Sutton.
  • Mid-Ohio Valley -- bordering the Ohio River, and the site of much of the state's glassmaking. Home to Parkersburg.
  • Metro Region -- the state's urban center. Home to Charleston and Huntington.
  • New River Region -- the southernmost part of the state, with whitewater rafting and beautiful parklands. Home to Fayetteville, Beckley, Bluefield and Lewisburg.

Cities

Other destinations

  • Monongahela State Forest -- over 919,000 acres of forest stretching from near Elkins to Richwood.

Understand

Once considered the southernmost of the North, the northernmost of the South, the easternmost of the West, and the westernmost of the East, West Virginia is nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Ohio River to the west. Rich in natural resources, physical beauty, and traditional culture, West Virginia's charm is that of being "off the beaten path". West Virginia is a destination for white water rafting, kayaking, skiing, climbing, golf, mountain biking, hiking, and off-roading. It is the only state that is entirely contained in Appalachia. Its location between the mid-west and eastern seaboard of the United States means that over 60% of the United States population lives less than 500 miles from West Virginia.

West Virginia is abundant in natural resources, being primarily known as a major producer of coal since the 1800s - in fact, it's the number-two coal producing state in the US [2]. However, it has never been a particularly wealthy state, particularly outside the larger towns; per capita income is quite low, and the poverty levels are some of the highest in the nation. From the point of view of the traveller, this isn't necessarily a negative. The people in rural areas may not have much material wealth, but they're down-to-earth, grateful for what they have, and very friendly and hospitable, and this attitude toward life generally applies to people in the larger cities as well. You'll receive a very warm welcome, as long as you respect their Southern politeness and try to return it in kind (which means: be patient, smile, engage in small talk, and no jokes about hillbillies or inbreeding).

As a visitor, you'll find that West Virginia has a lot to offer. There's beautiful natural scenery, quaint mountain towns, delicious down-home country food, traditional handicrafts, lots of pioneer and Civil War history, outdoor activities of the rollicking and stately varieties, and great cultural opportunities. The pace of life is slow and relaxed, but with so many exciting things to do, West Virginia is a wonderful destination for a quiet getaway or a weekend adventure.

Talk

Given its position as a boundary state between the North and the South, your perception of the West Virginia dialect will probably depend on where you're from. People from the North think that West Virginians have a Southern accent, whereas people from the South perceive them as speaking a more Northern dialect. Nevertheless, most West Virginians do have at least a bit of a Southern twang, particularly if you venture into the more remote mountain communities.

Get in

By car

There are three main interstates in West Virginia: I-64 crosses the lower third of the state from Kentucky into Huntington, through Charleston and Beckley, and then past Lewisburg into Virginia. I-77 moves up the western third of the state, from Virginia into Bluefield, through Charleston and then past Parkersburg into Ohio. I-79 begins in Charleston and continues through Morgantown into Pennsylvania.
Interstates that only cross a piece of West Virginia include I-70, which crosses from Ohio to Pennsylvania through the northern panhandle, past Wheeling; I-68, which branches off I-79 near Morgantown and passes through Preston County into Maryland; and I-81, which crosses from Virginia into Maryland and Pennsylvania through the eastern panhandle, past Martinsburg.

By bus

Greyhound [3] stops in Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg and Wheeling.

By train

Amtrak [4] offers two routes that pass through West Virginia.
The Maryland Rail Commuter [5] ferries passengers between Martinsburg and Washington, DC on weekdays.

By plane

West Virginia is served by one major airport:
There are over 30 smaller airports in the state, seven of which offer regular commercial flights to other cities:
  • Harrison/Marion Regional Airport (CKB) in Clarksburg. Continental offers daily flights to Cleveland.

Get around

By car

The best way to see the state is definitely by driving, as West Virginia is generally lacking in reliable statewide public transportation. Many towns are basically inaccessible except by car, as is some of the best scenery. But be careful — off the main highways, the roads often loop around the mountaintops, which makes for some stunning views but also requires careful driving. Hairpin curves around mountain roads are not to be taken at high speeds, and the smaller country roads don't always have guard rails. Many such turns are also at steep inclines - make sure you engine brake and obey all speed limit signs.

By bus

Although there aren't any statewide bus lines, many of the metropolitan areas have their own inter-area bus systems.
Lakefront Lines [12] also offers a daily service between Parkersburg and Charleston.

By train

There are several scenic train lines, if you want to view some of West Virginia's picturesque landscapes from the comfort of an excursion train:
  • The Cass Scenic Railroad [13] offers trips on a restored locomotive near Marlinton in Cass.
  • The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad [14] has several picturesque lines that travel through the eastern part of the state.
  • New River Excursions [15] offers fall foliage trips through the New River Gorge Valley.
  • The Potomac Eagle [17] in Romney follows the course of the Potomac River on weekends from May through September, and daily for three weeks in October.

See

Overlooking the Blackwater River, near Davis
Enlarge
Overlooking the Blackwater River, near Davis
  • The beautiful natural scenery. Just driving around backwoods West Virginia, with its hills and creeks and rivers and forests and mountaintop vistas, is a wonderful experience in and of itself. There are lots of out-of-the-way wonders to be discovered, and quite a few scenic routes, including the Coal Heritage Trail from Bluefield to Beckley, the Midland Trail along route 60 from Huntington to White Sulphur Springs, and the Highland Scenic Highway from Richwood to north of Marlinton.
  • The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs near Lewisburg, is probably the best-known resort and spa in West Virginia. It's a beautiful white building on 6,500 acres of land with golf courses, shops, and even a once-secret underground bunker for the President to use in the event of an international crisis. As of January 2004, you have to be a registered guest, or have a dinner or golf reservation, to visit the grounds.
  • Harpers Ferry was the site of a raid on the US Arsenal by abolitionist John Brown in 1859, an event that was a precursor to the Civil War. Today there's a national historic park on the site.
  • West Virginia University in Morgantown has museums, an arboretum, and a loyal football following.
  • Visit the Victorian downtown, scenic Ohio River waterfront and Oglebay Park in Wheeling. In nearby Moundsville, you can see the country's largest Adena burial mound, with an adjacent museum explaining the culture and customs of this Native American tribe.
  • The Swiss village of Helvetia, founded in 1869, with Swiss-themed events and festivals during the year.
  • Paranormal buffs might enjoy visiting Point Pleasant, site of the famous Mothman sightings in the 1960s. There's a Mothman festival every September.
  • The state capitol, Charleston, boasts a gold-covered Capitol Dome and some of the best cultural activities in the state.
  • The nation's oldest five-and-dime store, Berdine's Five and Dime, is located near Parkersburg in Harrisville.
  • Blennerhassett Island is a historical state park near Parkersburg with a mansion, wagon ride tours and nature walks.
  • History buffs will also enjoy touring Jackson's Mill Historic Area, which has links to the family of Stonewall Jackson, near Weston.
  • West Virginia is the site of the famous Hatfield and McCoy feud; the Hatfield family cemetery, with a marble statue of patriarch "Devil Anse", is near Logan.

Do

  • West Virginia's rugged nature lends itself well to outdoor sports like fishing, hunting, horseback riding, hiking, biking, camping, golfing, windsurfing, water skiing and scuba diving. However, much of West Virginia's outdoor tourism comes from two particular sources:
  • If you like to hit the slopes, there are several popular ski resorts in the state:
  • White-water rafting is also extremely popular and can be done on several rivers in the state, although the most popular - and the most commercial - are the New River and the Gauley River near Fayetteville.
  • West Virginia also has an abundance of caverns and underground grottos to tour.
  • Berkeley Springs State Park near Berkeley Springs, with its warm mineral-water spas.
  • Cathedral State Park near Aurora is a national historic landmark with old-growth forest.
  • Hawks Nest State Park near Fayetteville features a tram up to a lodge overlooking the New River Gorge.
  • Pipestem Resort State Park near Princeton has scenic overlooks of the Bluestone Gorge.
  • Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park near Weston is home to the Stonewall Resort, one of West Virginia's premier resorts and conference centers.
  • On Bridge Day, in October, you can also go BASE jumping or rappelling from the scenic New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, the longest steel-arch bridge in the western hemisphere.
  • Explore West Virginia's coal heritage by driving the Coal Heritage Trail from Bluefield to Beckley, where you can visit the Exhibition Coal Mine.

Eat

Traditional West Virginia cooking is broadly similar to Southern cuisine, but it's technically part of the Appalachian style of cooking, which was mostly subsistence-based, meaning that people ate what they could grow or catch themselves. This style of cooking emphasizes wild or cultivated plants, berries, nuts, wild game and corn. While this does mean that some West Virginians eat opossum, squirrel and raccoon, you won't find them on any restaurant menus (unless you visit the Roadkill Cook-off in Marlinton). Foods like fried chicken, sausage, cornbread, green and pinto beans, greens, squash casserole, mashed potatoes, fresh cucumbers and onions, ripe tomatoes, pickles and berry cobbler are commonly found throughout the state.

two varieties of pepperoni roll
Enlarge
two varieties of pepperoni roll
  • The pepperoni roll is an unexpected little West Virginia specialty that was reportedly invented in Fairmont in 1927, and was often used as a miner's lunch in early days. It's a soft bread roll with pepperoni baked inside, yielding a moist and spicy snack; variations include slices versus strips of pepperoni, the inclusion of cheese (pepper jack, mozzarella or provolone), tomato sauce and banana peppers. They're popular throughout the state, ubiquitous in convenience stores, and can be found from small family bakeries up through local eateries.
  • One of West Virginia's most famous (or infamous?) foods is the ramp, or wild leek, a wild onion similar to a scallion that is much beloved in the area, even though the flavor is so potent that the garlicky scent will linger on a person for days after consuming them. There are even ramp festivals throughout the state in spring, with the best-known being held in Elkins, Richwood and Helvetia.
  • As with many country communities, home canning is a popular activity in West Virginia. You'll see lots of home-canned vegetables, pickles, jellies and jams for sale around the state, with apple butter being a particular favorite. In fact, West Virginia's state fruit is the apple - specifically, the yellow Golden Delicious, which was discovered in West Virginia and has been grown in the state since 1912. There are apple butter festivals every September near Logan and October in Berkeley Springs and Salem, as well as apple festivals in October in Martinsburg and Clay, the home of the Golden Delicious.
  • West Virginia has lots of mountain streams brimming with river fish, and the brook trout — the state fish — is commonly found on local menus.

Drink

Although most people probably think of home-distilled whiskey and moonshine when they think of West Virginia, the state has a burgeoning wine industry these days. Wineries can be found all over the state; some also produce specialty products like mead and fruity melomel, and cooking wine made from ramps. A small selection of wineries is below:

However, if you really want to sample local moonshine, you can still get it at legal distilleries in the state:

Buy

  • Being a coal state, West Virginia gift shops routinely stock coal sculptures, which are surprisingly lightweight and make for a unique souvenir. However, they're frequently tacky (with googly eyes glued onto bears, turtles, what have you), so you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for the really nice ones.
  • Another major West Virginia industry is handblown glass, with several very nice factories whose wares can be found in gift shops statewide. Some of the major ones are below, although other prominent local glass factories and sales outlets can be found in Weston, Morgantown and Wheeling.
  • If you're looking for a one-stop-shop to peruse a variety of local specialties, there are a couple of really good markets in the state:
  • Tamarack is a statewide collection of handmade crafts, art and cuisine showcasing the best of West Virginia. It's located in a large complex near Beckley, and is well worth a stop if you're travelling up I-77 and want to purchase something really nice from the state.
  • The Flatwoods Factory Outlet Stores near Sutton is home to Poplar Forest, a cooperative representing over 200 juried West Virginia artists and craftsmen.

Stay safe

Be careful when driving on mountain roads, especially in the winter. West Virginia is susceptible to fairly large snowfalls, which can make the roads treacherous if not impassable.

Get out

On the eastern and southern border, Virginia, of which West Virginia was originally a part, has Shenandoah National Park and Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.

To the west, Kentucky is rich in horse related attractions, including the Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Derby.

Three states are on the northern border. Ohio has the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the only Y-shaped bridge in the world. Pennsylvania is the home to five-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and to the Gettysburg Battlefield. Maryland is where The Star Spangled Banner was written and is home to the US Naval Acadamy.

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!
Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/West_Virginia"