Food and wine
Sample an abundance of tasty foods and fine wines offered at events and attractions throughout the Mountain State. From competitions that showcase the culinary talents of chefs to festivals that celebrate the state’s bountiful harvest, West Virginia offers food to please your palate. West Virginia also is home to an assortment of wineries, including Potomac Highland, Forks of the Cheat, Daniel Vineyards, Mountaineer, Lambert Vintage Wines and West-Whitehill. Each has its own unique blend of vineyards, wines and styles.
The Division of Tourism and Collaborative for the 21st Century Appalachia partnered to identify 101 of the best can’t-miss eateries across the state in a new brochure called the “People’s Choice - West Virginia’s Unique Places to Dine.” These selections are only a sampling of what West Virginia has to offer. From down-home country favorites such as fired potatoes and corn-on-the-cob, to international cuisine served with fine wine, the Mountain State is full of mouth-watering aromas and scrumptious flavors. Whatever your taste or dining style, discovering and sampling the Mountain State’s rich food heritage will without a doubt satisfy your cravings. 304-558-2200,
www.wvfarm2u.org
New State Museum to open to the public
Follow a path through time as you trek from a pre-historic forest, through a dark coal mine and into the present at the new West Virginia State Museum in Charleston. The 24,000-square-foot facility recounts the history of the state through modern exhibits designed to appeal to visitors of all ages. There is a show path, which is a chronological journey of West Virginia’s history, using themed settings to highlight pivotal moments.
The path utilizes full surround sound, artifacts, dynamic theatrical lighting and narration to relate what it was like to be in West Virginia at various points in history. The facility is located on the lower level of the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. It is uniquely designed to showcase the state’s art, music, history, ethnic diversity and industrial background. 304-558-0220, www.wvculture.org
West Virginia’s rare battle flags available for viewing at Independence Hall
After being protected in dark storage for more than 20 years, West Virginia’s battle flags are available for viewing thanks to a new conservation technique. Once stored at the Cultural Center in Charleston, these fragile flags are part of an exhibit at Independence Hall in Wheeling. The new exhibit offers the largest display of West Virginia Civil War battle flags anywhere. It features a selection of 140-year-old flags displayed in special pressure-mounted frames with a state-of-the-art motion-activated lighting system to protect the flags. In addition, interactive displays, historic documents and photos about soldiers and regiments accompany the flags. 304-238-1300,
www.wvculture.org/sites/wvih.html
Scenic train excursions
Imagine traveling through the hills of West Virginia from the comfort of a rail car. With four major scenic train systems to choose from, travelers can take their pick for day trips or full-fledged vacation excursions that evoke the days when everyone rode the rails. Enjoy the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad where bald eagles are spotted on most of its trips, Cass Scenic Railroad with its steam-driven locomotives, Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad where visitors can ride the rails and then enjoy a show at the American Mountain Theater, or the New River Train excursions full of scenic rides.
www.wvtraditions.com
TreeTops on the Gorge Canopy Tour
Enjoy breathtaking views of 200-year-old hemlock trees and West Virginia’s beautiful hardwood forest. TreeTops New River Gorge Canopy Tour offers visitors a chance to soar over the Mill Creek Canyon, adjacent to the New River Gorge, from treetop to treetop on a network of cables. Using state-of-the-art equipment, certified guides with naturalist backgrounds take participants on an approximately 3 ½-hour tour that includes 10 ziplines, five sky bridges, two short hikes and one rappel. This course is created by Bonsai Designs. It offers a thrilling adventure that takes participants far above the ground at high speeds. 800-252-7784,
www.class-vi.com
Southern West Virginia attractions
New lodging and adventure packages: Are you looking for more than just a rafting trip? This year, Adventure West Virginia Resort, a merger of Class VI, Rivermen and Adventure Mountain River, offers new accommodations, including guest cabins, in the New River Gorge area. In addition to rafting, West Virginia whitewater outfitters offer additional adventure packages, including Songer Whitewater’s motorcycle tours and ATV (4-wheeler) tours at ACE Adventure Center. You can keep dry as New River Jetboats zip you around rocks or trade your kayak in for a mountain bike tour at River Riders in Harpers Ferry.
www.wvriversports.com
Wild Blue Adventure Company
Experience West Virginia from another angle – from the air. Wild Blue Adventure Company was founded by Christian Kappler out of his desire to share both the love of flying in an open-cockpit biplane and his appreciation of the beauty of the New River Gorge. Take advantage of a unique sight-seeing adventure in a vintage 1940s World War II Stearman. For the daredevils who like to test their nerves, Wild Blue Adventure Company offers aerobatics that include barrel rolls, cravats, hammerheads and s-turns. If you’d rather keep your body upright and looking straight ahead, more subtle flights are also offered. 304-574-1150,
www.wildblueadventurecompany.com
Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia
Located near Beckley, Tamarack is the nation’s first statewide collection of handmade crafts, arts and foods. Browse among more than 30,000 West Virginia handcrafted items, such as gourmet food products, books, music, wines, pottery, glass and wood items. These items offer an abundance of fantastic personal stories of passionate artists. 1-88 TAMARACK,
www.tamarackwv.com