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Potomac Highlands
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There are 9 distinct tourist Regions in the State of West Virginia. What a great place for Tourism. I own rental homes in West Virginia, and between renting them and visiting there for the last 10+ years, I have learned what a diverse state it is: for Honeymooners, Families, Roamantic getaways, Outdoor enthusiasts or Baby-boomers wanting a great place to retire. But it is the creme-de-Lacreme for vacationing:
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Come back each month, and read about a different Region in the State. Find more details on the Department of Tourism site, but if you find an itch to visit any of the "Wild&Wonderful" State, log on and find a place to stay or visit~~we appreciate your support to stay at any of the vacation lodgings we have listed. Or visit any of the things to see and do while you are there...and if you do visit, e-mail, write or call, be sure you mention you found them on:
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There are 9 distinct tourist Regions in the State of West Virginia, Almost everything you see and read here can be found in much more depth and detail, thru one of the best Tourism Departments' web site I have ever come across....
www.wvtourism.com
The Potomac Highlands
I own rental homes in West Virginia, and between renting them and visiting I have discovered there is no outdoor activity I can think of, that isn't available to the Potomac Highlands. All 4 very distinct seasons offer a vacationer just about anything they want to do, ehen they want to do it.
The Allegheny Mountains ripple through this region, creating stunning rock formations, windswept moors and verdant groves of twisted rhododendron.
Here in the Great Forest, mountains and national forest provide the backdrop for summer outdoor fun and winter skiing. Escape is easy, whether on scenic drives or excursion trains, or in cozy cabins in remote villages. Other highlights: Elkins, voted One of America's Best Small Art Towns; most of the state's trout streams and a wildlife refuge.
Grant County- Named for General Ulysses S. Grant, this area was created from Hardy County in 1866. The county seat of Petersburg was named in 1745 for Jacob Peterson, who conducted the first general store in the county.
Hampshire County - The oldest county in West Virginia was created in 1754 from parts of Frederick and Augusta Counties and named for the English Shire of the same name. Romney, the county seat, was chartered in 1762 by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Cacapon Bridge was incorporated in 1902 and named for the construction of the bridge over the Cacapon River.
Hardy County - Named for the distinguished Virginian, Samuel Hardy, in 1786. . Moorefield, the poultry capital of West Virginia, is the county seat. This area is known for their Heritage Weekend in late September. Wardensville, the Lost River disappears under Sandy Ridge and reappears over four miles away at the headwaters of the Cacapon River. Lost River State Park includes Lee Sulphur Springs,
Mineral County - Created in 1866 from Hampshire County, this area was named because of the mineral deposits found here. Fort Ashby, built in 1755, is the only fort remaining that Governor Dinwiddie directed to be built for frontier protection. Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln, was born on the eastern slope of Saddle Mountain where her family settled in the early 1780s. Waffle Rock, a 300-million-year-old rock formation, overlooks Jennings Randolph Lake on the North Branch of the Potomac River. The lake offers fishing, boating and swimming opportunities.
Pendleton County - Created from parts of Augusta, Hardy and Rockingham Counties in 1788, this area was named in honor of Edmund Pendleton, a Virginia statesman and jurist. Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, is located here at an elevation of 4,861 feet. Seneca Rocks, part of the Monongahela National Forest, offers excellent rock climbing opportunities. Franklin, the county seat, is home to the Treasure Mountain Festival. Pocahontas County - Named for the Indian princess Pocahontas, this area was created from Bath, Pendleton and Randolph Counties in 1821. Known as the "birthplace of rivers," eight rivers have their source in this county - Cherry, Cranberry, Elk, Gauley, Greenbrier, Shavers Fork of the Cheat, Tygart Valley and Williams. The most extensive Civil War conflict in the state was on November 6, 1863 at Droop Mountain. The battlefield was acquired by the state in 1929 and is now a state park. The county seat of Marlinton was named in honor of one of the first settlers to spend a winter in the county, Jacob Marlin. The Cass Scenic Railroad State Park was once a thriving lumber town. Geared steam locomotives, especially designed to haul timber out of rough terrain, will take you to the top of Bald Knob, the second highest point in the state. Pearl S. Buck, the only American woman to win both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize for literature, was born at her grandparents? home at Hillsboro in 1892. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is located in Green Bank and is the future site for the largest radio satellite telescope in the world.
Randolph County - The largest of West Virginia?s 55 counties with 1,046.34 square miles was formed in 1787. The area was named for Edmund Jennings Randolph, Virginia governor from 1786-1788. The first 4-H camp in the world was held here. The county seat of Elkins was incorporated in 1890 and named for Stephen B. Elkins, United States senator from West Virginia in 1895-1911. The city is the headquarters of the Monongahela National Forest. Augusta Heritage Workshop Festival held on the campus of Davis and Elkins College. West Virginia?s oldest festival, Mountain State Forest Festival, is held the first week of October in Elkins.
Tucker County - Named for Henry St. George Tucker, a Virginia jurist and statesman. Canaan Valley Resort State Park was West Virginia?s first ski resort, opening in 1971. Located in Davis ~ the highest municipality in the state at an elevation of 3,101 feet. Incorporated in 1889 and named for the family of Henry Gassaway Davis, United States senator from West Virginia, the town is also home to Blackwater Falls State Park and the five-story falls of the Blackwater River.
With a million acres of national forest and five federal wilderness areas, West Virginia?s Potomac Highlands are indeed sweet for outdoor adventurers.
The Highland Scenic Highway, a National Byway and a great driving tour, winds through mostly undeveloped areas of Monongahela National Forest. Highland waterways welcome kayaks, canoes and squealing kids in inner tubes. Excursion trains roll through remote meadows and narrow gorges. Back roads beckon motorcyclists. Cool caverns lure underground explorers. Thrush songs ring through deep woods, and golden trout glimmer in the shallows of icy mountain streams.
Outdoor Pursuits
Downhill skiers love Snowshoe Mountain, Canaan Valley Resort and Timberline Four Seasons. White Grass, Elk River Touring Center and some state parks offer groomed cross-country ski trails, and hundreds of forest hiking trails double as schussing trails for the Nordic set.
Summer or winter, Snowshoe Mountain is alive with activities of every stripe. The four-season resort ? one of the most acclaimed ski, bike and golf destinations in the East ? offers an extensive program of activities and events, including an annual cultural institute, symphony weekend, chili cook-off and wine festival.
From technical single-tracks that challenge Olympic athletes to relaxing byways, the terrain is tops for mountain biking. Town-to-town rail trails include the Greenbrier River Trail and Allegheny Highlands Trail.
You?ll find it?s surprisingly easy to reach real natural wonders ? to watch hawks hover at Dolly Sods, scale sheer Seneca Rocks, wander through Cranberry Glades Botanical Area or gaze for miles from Spruce Knob, the state?s highest point.
Delightful Destinations
And there?s much more than what?s outdoors. Don?t miss the college town of Elkins, rated among the Best Small Art Towns in the U.S. Here, the Augusta Heritage Arts Center hosts five weeks of traditional arts workshops and a festival each summer. A new community arts center and active theater, dance and music organizations enhance the Elkins experience. In autumn, Elkins celebrates with the Mountain State Forest Festival.
Near Canaan Valley, the villages of Thomas and Davis are art destinations as well as ski towns, with fine galleries including MountainMade and The Art Company, live music, theater and charming restaurants and gift shops such as The Purple Fiddle.
At Green Bank, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory operates the world?s largest fully steerable radio telescope. Charming Marlinton nestles between several state parks. Tucked into valleys throughout the region are more small towns: Helvetia, Franklin, Moorefield, Petersburg and Romney. Take time to explore ? each holds delights and discoveries.
The restored lumber town of Cass is a state historical park. For students of earlier history, several sites in this region are part of the Civil War Discovery Trail. Others date back to Revolutionary times.
You can trek from winery to winery for tastings and tours and dine well on both homestyle cooking and gourmet fare. And, throughout the Potomac Highlands, you?ll enjoy food festivals that celebrate everything from sweet maple syrup to redolent ramps.
Make the Potomac Highlands your home up on the mountain.
Potomac Highlands? Train Terrain
Celebrating 100 years, the Cass Scenic Railroad?s Shay #5 engine chugs its way up to Bald Knob. The Potomac Eagle glides through a narrow gorge, and the Cheat Mountain Salamander snakes through remote forest. The New Tygart Flyer features a comfortable parlor car, and Durbin Rocket excursions include an overnight ?Castaway Caboose.?
Music from the Mountains
Where did all those West Virginia songs come from? Nobody?s ever made an accurate count, but it?s probably safe to say that West Virginia has inspired more songs than any other place on earth.
In fact, three songs ? ?The West Virginia Hills,? ?West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home,? and ?This is My West Virginia? ? have been officially declared ?state songs? by the West Virginia Legislature. But all three have been overshadowed by the unofficial state song, John Denver?s and Bill Danoff?s ?Country Roads.?
And people keep on writing them. Something about West Virginia just makes you want to burst into song.
Ramping It Up
With its famous lingering odor and reputation as a tonic, the ramp is a West Virginia rite of early spring, when it is one of the first plants to emerge after winter. The tasty wild leek, Allium tricoccum, is the mainstay of many a savory supper at schools, churches and community centers. The Ramp Cook-Off and Festival in Elkins challenges the culinary imagination of contestants to come up with new ways to relish this fragrant vegetable.
?Knobby? Territory
Discover West Virginia?s scenic mountain biking terrain, an area that is gaining a reputation as being the best in the East. From rugged and steep, to calm and picturesque, the Potomac Highlands has a trail for everyone. Cheer on bikers, or join in these exciting events held annually:
?The NORBA National Series holds the first and only dual-slalom event giving gravity enthusiasts a full docket with mountain cross, downhill and Super D (generally, a one-run downhill format with small climbs and low-level technical ability) scheduled.
The Wild 100 Backcountry Race allows racers to choose their own adventure with several routes exploring 62 miles of scenic terrain.
Biking is only one leg of the Great Greenbrier River Race in Marlinton. Four-person teams bike, run and canoe during this relay race.
Come back and see us again next time
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Phone: -800-CALL WVA (1-800-225-5982) Address: 90 MacCorkle Ave. SW in Charleston City: West Virginia Regions State: WV Zip: 25303 Region: Potomac Highlands Url: http://www.wvtourism.com/spec.aspx?pgID=146 Canaan Valley - Albright - Davis - - Mathias - Keyser - Thomas - Berkeley Springs - Potomac Highlands~ - Fayetteville - Harpers Ferry - West Virginia Regions - Roanoke - Moorefield - Beckley - Eastern Panhandle~ - Hico - Cass - Petersburg - Snowshoe - Elkins - Hatfield-McCoyMountains~ - Ansted - Franklin - Philippi - Fairmont - Buckhannon - NewRiverGreenbriarValley~ |
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