Attractions
Cacapon growth to boost Berkeley Springs spas, dining, shopping
The expansion of facilities at Cacapon Resort State Park is expected to have a promising impact on tourism at nearby
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David Sibray
David Sibray is the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of West Virginia Explorer, a news and travel magazine devoted to the state’s history, tourism, outdoor recreation and economic development. For more information, he may be reached at 304-575-7390 or at editor@wvexplorer.com
Attractions
Chapel near Romance, W.Va., attracting more visitors annually
Now open year-round to visitors seeking solace, the Rippling Waters Chapel at Romance, in southern Jackson County, West Virginia, continues to attract more visitors every year. Undoubtedly because of its location near the village of “Romance,” the little church has also become a popular venue for weddings, according to Kim Brittain, manager for the Rippling … Read more
Communities
New River Gorge growing more popular as winter retreat
In search of a cozy cabin? The New River Gorge has become an increasingly popular winter retreat for travelers in search of cabin lodging, natural beauty, and plenty of great food. Off-season rates combined with world-renowned hiking trails, rock-climbing areas, and restaurants are attracting more vacationers every year, says Heather Johnson of River Expeditions, an … Read more
Culture
Autumn ideal to visit asylum, “top haunted attraction in U.S.”
Perhaps there’s no better time than fall to visit the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: Dry leaves skittering along like skeletal fingers and the howl of autumnal winds add to the inherent eeriness of the edifice that overlooks the historic town of Weston, West Virginia. Halloween marks the height of the season of ghostly ghastliness here where … Read more
Communities
New Teays Valley hotel signals travel growth in Putnam County
A new extended-stay hotel being built in the Teays Valley between Huntington and Charleston is a harbinger of increasing travel growth along the interstate corridor there, according to its owners and travel-industry officials. To open along Interstate 64 in summer 2019, the 74-room dual-brand facility will include Sleep Inn-style rooms for short-term guests and MainStay … Read more
Arts
Wheeling Heritage to enlist community help in choosing mural
Wheeling Heritage is asking artists to share their vision of Wheeling, West Virginia, for a mural to be installed in the city’s Kossuth Park, a downtown greenspace at the junction of W.Va. 2 and I-70. Alex Weld, project and outreach manager for the Wheeling National Heritage Area, said the organization will enlist the community to … Read more
Hiking
Hikers exploring lost trails of the New River Gorge
In 2014, without much fanfare, the National Park Service opened a new access point for two of the most remote trails within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. So far, only the most die-hard hikers seem to have noticed. The Kates Plateau Trail and Polls Plateau Trail were once practically rumors. They appeared … Read more
Arts
Writers track real W.Va. locations that appear in Fallout 76 map
Information being updated. New locations added. Last update 11/15/2018 The new virtual map for the Fallout 76 video game is filled with real-world locations in West Virginia (WV), many of which may or may not exist in their game-world form. Nate Purkeypile, Fallout 76 world artist, says developers have in some cases changed the locations … Read more
Biking
New Parkersburg-area trail designed for intermediate level bikers
Already among the most popular destinations for mountain biking in West Virginia, Mountwood Park has taken its mission a step further, unveiling a 1.4 mile “flow trail” designed for intermediate-level bikers. Wandering down a hill, rather than mounting and descending hills, the new “Pumphouse Trail” demands less energy from bikers, according to park director Jeremy … Read more
Hiking
Southern extent of tamarack highlight of Cranesville Swamp
If you’re a Canadian, chances are that tamaracks are nothing new. But if you’re a West Virginian, you’ve probably never seen one. That’s because the tree’s southern natural extent is in the Mountain State’s most lofty northern reach — in an obscure corner of the state in the Cranesville Swamp. Here in a ‘frost pocket” … Read more