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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
Visitors gather around the historic bandstand in Berkeley Springs State Park, where many first-time travelers discover that the town's official name is actually Bath, a distinction that has endured since 1776. (WVExplorer photo)
History / Prehistory

Why visitors to Berkeley Springs in eastern West Virginia keep asking, “Where’s Bath?”

by David Sibray

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — It happens often enough that locals know where the conversation is headed. A visitor walks into a shop or hotel and asks a front-desk clerk a seemingly simple question: “So, where is Bath?” The answer usually surprises them: “You’re in Bath.” Although the Morgan County community is widely known as Berkeley … Read more

Illustration of a commercial rafting trip running whitewater beneath the New River Gorge Bridge in southern West Virginia. The state's combination of nationally recognized rivers, dramatic mountain scenery, and outdoor adventure has made it one of the East's premier rafting destinations.
Whitewater Rafting

Here’s why West Virginia is the East’s premier whitewater rafting capital

by David Sibray

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Travelers planning a whitewater rafting vacation in the East have no shortage of options. Pennsylvania is known for the Youghiogheny. Tennessee has the Olympic-tested Ocoee. North Carolina offers the Nantahala and French Broad. So why do experienced paddlers—and so many first-time visitors—keep choosing West Virginia? Ask the state’s rafting outfitters and tourism … Read more

The Mingo Statue has greeted travelers atop Wheeling Hill since 1928. Created by Wheeling artist Henry Beu, the monument honors Native peoples associated with the Ohio Valley and remains one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. (Photo: David Sibray)
History / Prehistory

The story behind Wheeling’s Mingo statue is more complicated than most people realize

by David Sibray

WHEELING, W.Va. — For nearly a century, a bronze Native American figure standing atop Wheeling Hill has greeted travelers arriving in the Ohio Valley. Known simply as “The Mingo,” the statue is among Wheeling‘s most recognizable landmarks. Thousands of motorists pass it each year without realizing that the monument represents a people whose history is … Read more

adventure tourism have become increasingly important drivers of the state's visitor economy. (Photo: David Sibray)
Travel / Transportation

New outdoor expo to highlight West Virginia’s growing adventure tourism industry

by David Sibray

ELKINS, W.Va. — A new outdoor recreation expo planned for August in Elkins aims to showcase the businesses, destinations, and experiences that have helped make West Virginia one of the fastest-growing outdoor tourism destinations in the eastern United States. The inaugural West Virginia Outdoor Expo is scheduled for Aug. 8-9 at The Railyard Event & … Read more

A spectator watches a Fourth of July fireworks display. Medical professionals say hand injuries and burns increase significantly during Independence Day celebrations each year. (Photo: Dillen M)
Health and Medicine

Why hand injuries surge during Fourth of July fireworks celebrations

by David Sibray

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, medical professionals warn that the holiday also brings a predictable surge in emergency room visits for serious hand injuries. According to B. Seth Powers, a certified hand therapist and assistant professor in the Master of Occupational Therapy program at the West Virginia University … Read more