Sea kayakers have to be on top of their skills when heading out on west coast paddle expeditions, especially anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.   The incredible scenery available while kayaking on the coast of British Columbia is paid for with a price of cool and damp, if not outright wet.  Even the sea mists in August can pretty much soak everything.  Managing the wetness is an essential part of campcraft when sea kayaking to west coast destinations like the Broken Group Islands, Nootka Sound, Clayaoquot Sound, or Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands).

A good tent and tarp setup is the primary structure for shelter.  Camping in the forest, off the beach can help provide some shelter, but you lose the magnificent beach scenery with it.  The first step is using good judgment to set up your shelter to manage the wet.  Marine forecasts can help you look ahead to what is coming so that you can decide whether to beach it or head to the forest.  Either way, using a good tent and tarp is the way to go.  Kayakers don’t have to worry so much about weight as hikers, so a larger tarp, or combination of tarps is more possible.  Separate areas for cooking and sleeping are absolutely appropriate and easy to manage from a kayak.  That means you can have a dry place to sleep, a dry place to eat, and a dry place to hang out.

Managing your clothing is important for staying warm on the coast.  For that, the tent and its shelter is absolutely critical.  Let’s look at what you can do to keep yourself dry and warm by looking at some simple ways to keep a dry shelter.

1.  Pack your tent and its parts into plastic bags to keep everything else dry.

2.  Carry good tarps with enough size to give good shelter.  These are available for between about and 0.  Set the tarp up before the tent, over the tent pad.  If it is raining, or threatening, you have a sheltered place to set up your tent, keeping it dry.  Your paddles can be used as posts for your tarp on a beach, and some tarps even have an attached center sock/stuff sack combination that ties onto your paddle for a center post.

3.  Use your groundsheet properly under the tent to keep moisture away from the tent surface.

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4.  Set up on a spot that is slightly above the surrounding ground.  If there is not water pooled in the low spots already, then there can likely be pools later on.  Make sure you are setting up in a drainable position.  Sandy beaches are usually not a problem for drainage unless you set up below the high tide line.  Know where the high tide comes up before you set up your tent and tarp.  Move into the forest if it is unclear.

5.  Make sure your tent is set up properly.  The fly needs to be tight and not touching the actual tent.  Proper staking helps make sure the fly is tight, increasing its effectiveness against rain and wind.  The fly also needs to follow the lines of the tent and poles.  One problem with some tents is splash.  In heavier rains, water hitting the wet ground or tent platforms can splash up under the edge of the fly and right into the tent through the mesh fabric.  By staking fly lines so that the fly follows the contour of the tent, you can minimize this problem.  Staking can be a problem in the sand.  Tying lines to the staking tabs on your tent then wrapping the ties around sticks or rocks that are buried in the sand can get you over the loose stakes in the sand problems.

6.  Set up your tarp/tent before you change into your dry clothes.  Once you have the shelter set up, you can change into the dry stuff in a dry space.  This is part of protecting the dry clothing to make sure it is effectively warm for you.

7.  Keep all your dry clothes in a separate dry bag.  Keep any wet clothes in a different bag. Kayaking is a wet activity, so you are probably wearing some kind of special clothes  on the west coast, just in case of immersion.  You should have a dry set for emergencies and a dry set for camp.  Diligence with keeping a warm, dry set of clothes helps make the trip comfortable in the campsite and on the beach.

8.  After you have set up the tent, move the tarp or tent to have a decent sized sheltered area to enter and exit the tent.  In other words, at least one doorway is well covered by the tarp.  If there are two or more of you with a tent that has two doors on opposite sides, use the unsheltered side and its vestibule to stow your gear and the sheltered side for entry/exit.  With a good sized sheltered entry, you can shake off any water, or remove rain gear before entering the tent, helping to keep the inside dry.

9.  Wait until just before getting into your sleeping bag to pull it out of its protective bag.  The sea air is very wet and sleeping bags can pull moisture out of the air if left out in the tent.  To prevent moisture absorption, leave the sleeping bag protected in its bag inside the dry tent until ready for use.

10.  Open some vent areas in the fly to help reduce condensation inside the fly.  We breathe out a large amount of moisture in the night which can condense and collect on the inside of the fly.  By increasing the ventilation, you can minimize this moisture build up.

11.  Take your tent down under the shelter just like you put it up.   You are still trying to keep everything as dry as possible.  You may have to move the tent or tarp again to cover the whole tent for this, but it is worth it to keep the tent dry.

12.  Change back into wet clothing and gear under the shelter the next day, before leaving.  Your tarp is last to go.  It provides shelter for entering/exiting the tent.

13.  And the last tip is to pack in small bits.  Small bags, either dry bags or small stuff sacks lined with plastic bags, are best for managing dryness and for efficient packing.  Larger bags make packing difficult and increase the possibility of getting wet things mixed with dry things, making them wet in return.

Campcraft is a big part of sea kayaking on multi-day trips.  You want to be warm and dry in camp after your incredible paddle to get there.  Properly using your tent for dry, warm shelter and as a staging area for changing clothes is a good set of skills to develop.   Not only does it help with your comfort, it provides a place to keep things organized, do planning, and to rest.  After paddling through the west coast waters, your shelter is a welcome and necessary part of your trip.

Related Kayaking Day Trips Articles

Sea kayaking really does sound like something new and exiting. In the last few years you could clearly see an increase of sea kayaks in and off the water (on car roofs). One can only guess why it has become so popular recently. However, looking at pictures and thinking of the novel way of travelling from A to B on the water seems like a good idea. After all you can pack between 30 and 50kg of gear in a sea kayak (depending on boat design and paddler weight). Try to carry that amount on your back in a rucksack. Only the Royal Marines would be that crazy. You don’t have to and just pack your kayak up to the rim with camping and cooking kit.

To learn how to paddle and control a sea kayak you can either buy a book and read about it or pay someone to show you the ropes. Buying a book is cheap but you will not really learn how to kayak efficiently, which is very important in a sea kayak. You also won’t get any professional feedback. What better way to learn how to sea kayak then in a friendly environment, with good demos and plenty of time to practice and find out how to improve paddling.

If you decide to get professional instructions you can pick up a lot more in a short time and get advice of all aspects of paddle strokes. In the UK sea kayaking instructors are certified by the BCU (British Canoe Union) and trained to a high level to teach paddling. The most important paddle stroke in sea kayaking would be the forward paddle stroke. An efficient paddler doesn’t your arm or shoulder strength but core muscles instead. This is called body or trunk rotation. This is not the only thing to look after: posture, power transfer, arm position, hand position, pushing with feet, length of paddle stroke, fetch, exit and much more. Now this is only one stroke and then you have to think about manoeuvring about. Turning, backwards paddling, sideways paddling launching, landing and last not least rescues; all these skills can be acquired by reading a book, but are you sure it will work when it comes to it. Sea kayaking coaches are trained to coach people in the right skills. In the trade we have a saying: “get wetter, get wiser”. For good reasons. You only learn by trying. That doesn’t mean that you will get wet every time you go out sea kayaking in Scotland. It is optional though.One of the leading sea kayaking coaches in the Inverness area is Highland Ascent. With years of experience they have introduced many people to sea kayaking over the years. Highland Ascent is a specialist in multi day trips. They provide sea kayaking, hillwalking and mountain biking trips throughout the Highlands of Scotland. One of the great things is that they are mixing activities like sea kayaking and hillwalking to produce even more exiting trips. Why not find out for yourself and contact the supplier of outdoor activity holidays yourself.

When you think of a vacation in the Northwest Territories, nature’s beauty comes to mind; matter of fact, this is actually an understatement as those who have visited the area’s lakes and national parks agree that words cannot describe the hypnotizing panorama of the Great North.

The Northwest Territories are situated in northern Canada, bordering Nunavut to the east, Saskatchewan and Alberta to the South, British Columbia is southwest, Yukon to the west, and the sea to the north. It covers an enormous amount of land yet, like Canada’s other northern regions, it remains barely populated. This is good news for those wanting a vacation in the Northwest Territories in order to get away from the maddening crowds and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.

Weather in the Northwest Territories
Roughly half of the territory sits above the tree line; consequently, it gets a bit of a warmer climate than its neighboring territories. However, since it covers over 500,000 square miles, you can expect a range in climate from north to south.

The northern coast experiences a polar climate, characterized by a substantial lack of warmth during the summer months. While the sun shines almost 24 hours a day in the summer, the winter rarely sees any light. Temperatures can reach as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Southern portions of the territory have a subarctic climate with short, mild summers, averaging 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and long, cold winters, averaging daytime temperatures of -4 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime lows of -22 degrees Fahrenheit.

While thunderstorms are rare, occurring mostly in the southern areas, the territory experiences arctic blizzards, violent snowstorms that cause whiteout conditions and can bring about temperatures of -60 degrees Fahrenheit. While these phenomena are a thrill to watch when you are safe and sound inside, visitors should take weather warnings very seriously.

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Major Cities

Yellowknife – It is the capital of the territory and the highest populated city with less than 20,000 habitants. Seeing its first settlement in 1935, when gold was found in the region, it is a relatively new city. Every vacation in the Northwest Territories must include a trip to The Gold Range Bar, the oldest drinking establishment in the area, and the inspiration for “Solomon Gursky Was Here,” a novel by Mordecai Richler.
Hay River – This small town of approximately 3,500 people is second in line as the most populated area in the territory. It is said to have been inhabited as far back as 7,000 BC, but it was not until 1892, that settlers brought dairy cows and started building log cabins. Anyone interested in the country’s history will certainly enjoy a visit to Hay River.
Inuvik – Here is a town known for its Igloo Church – a must-see. Since1989, for 10 days in July, the Great Northern Arts Festival celebrates its local artists, artisans, and performers.

Things to Do
Regardless of the season, there are a multitude of things to do on a vacation in the Northwest Territories. Whether you play in the snow, visit a wilderness lodge, or hike one of the hardest trails in North America, there are enough activities here to keep you busy and happy.

Cross-country Skiing – It is a way of life to dwellers in the Northwest Territories. Some trails have been made famous by Canada’s first cross-country team to participate in the Olympics.
Hiking – From scenic trails for the casual stroller to challenging treks for the advanced backpacker, the region offers memorable hiking adventures. Canoe Heritage Trail is known to be a worthwhile challenge. There are also guided tours on horseback or on foot in the Mackenzie Mountains.
Rafting – Visitors from around the world take a vacation in the Northwest Territories just to go white water rafting. Expeditions on major rivers are always accompanied by seasoned guides.
Canoeing and Kayaking – There is virtually every type of freshwater adventure available here. A peaceful canoe ride on a lake surrounded by unspoiled wilderness is a breathtaking experience, while kayak enthusiasts burn off adrenaline on the Pelican Rapids and the unforgiving Rapids of the Drowned. Some of the fastest moving waters in the world flow through this area.
Dog Sledding –Dogsleds rule in this region. You can choose to drive your own team of huskies or leave it to the experienced mushers. Lovers of nature enjoy a long run through the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary, with an overnight stay in an insulated tent; and they can watch the northern lights.
Wildlife Watching – Canada’s most pristine wildlife areas are found in the Northwest Territories. Take a guided tour through a wildlife sanctuary and you may spot a moose, bison, black bear, fox, caribou, wolf, or perhaps a grizzly. At the edge of a floe, you may be lucky enough to observe some whales.
Shopping – Souvenirs are truly one-of-a-kind. Clothing is made from traditional materials with exquisite bead work while unique carvings and paintings are created by the local artists. Do not forget that since the diamond boom of 1991, this is the ideal place to buy some sparkle to take home with you.

Whatever it is you choose to do, rest assured that your trip to Northwest Territories will be memorable.

Read more information about cities to visit in Canada.

Ha Long Bay
This is the premier sea kayaking trip in Asia. Start out in Ha Long city and spend seven days paddling through the emerald-blue water of the Ha Long Bay World Heritage site. Thousands of islands dot the seascape while millions of brightly colored fish swirl through the water below you. You can spend hours exploring the caves and grottoes sprinkled through the larger islands and marvel at the formations of the smaller ones.

Nights can be spent in a hotel on a different island each night as you paddle your way through them. Fresh seafood is caught daily by the local fishermen and prepared for your meals.

Cat Ba Island
On the edge of the Ha Long World Heritage site, Cat Ba Island is itself a national park. Hotels populate Cat Ba city on the southern tip allowing the kayaker to spend their days exploring islands off the coat and their nights in the same hotel.
Fresh seafood caught by local fishermen is included in every meal. Many of the fishermen will recognize you after a few days and will greet you as you paddle among the narrow rock channels to investigate the many grottoes.

Mekong Delta
The Me Kong delta offers a unique opportunity for an easy paddle journey discovering channels containing floating markets and aquatic thoroughfares. Most expeditions start in Ho Chi Minh City and go on a circuit of small towns and islands in the river delta. The Cai Be floating market displays the handicraft of local villages while islands like Thoi Son wait for you to explore.

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Ba Be Lake
This inland lake has been designated a national park and is divided into three parts giving it its name, which means “three lakes”. Set in Northern Vietnam, these trips generally will start in Hanoi with a cross-country drive into the hill country to Ba Be Lake. Travelers can visit hill country museums in Hanoi to get a better understanding of the cultures they will experience on the drive and in the towns dotting the lake’s edges. The lake itself is generally calm; paddling is easy as you enjoy the tranquility of unspoiled jungles and limestone mountains. Accommodations are through a guest house sponsored by the local hill tribes and meals are always freshly caught. Ba Be is under intense international pressure to stop poaching and travelers visiting there help build awareness of this problem.

Preparation
It is important to have the right visa when traveling anywhere; even when kayaking the bay. Visa applications to Vietnam are 30-day single-entry tourist visas and must be applied for at least six months prior to the date of entry. The visa specifies the arrival and departure dates but can be extended once inside the country. The application packet can be found at the Vietnam embassy website. Be sure to take extra passport-sized photos for the local officials if they request them. Carry your passport with you when kayaking for easy access in case you are stopped by officials.

Things to Remember
Do not attempt to take a kayaking trip during the monsoon season in May through October. Weather for the rest of the year will be warm and you will need to take plenty of water and sunscreen.
Most of all, remember to have a good time. Going at the right time of year and careful planning of the trip will ensure it goes smoothly and a little forethought will help keep you away from problems in the future.

Written by Chris Allen -  posted by Liz Mai

Book kayaking tours in Halong and Mekong online through http://mekonghalongbaycruise.com or http://holidayindochina.com

Fairly well known cities and areas around the Puget Sound include Tacoma, Bremerton, and the Kitsap Peninsula.  Bremerton houses the Naval Museum while Tacoma shows off its Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.  Also contained in the Tacoma area are the Washington State History Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum.  Over on the Kitsap Peninsula is the Suquamish Museum & Tribal Center.

The snow-topped mountains in this area of the country generally see a lot of snow.  Mount Baker, for example, gets an average annual snowfall of 595 inches.  For those who enjoy a dryer type of snow to snowboard on will find plenty of it at places like Mission Ridge and Mount Spokane over on the east side of the state.  If an overnight excursion is what is desired, one can ski at Crystal mountain and lodge in their accommodating resort with a capacity of 700.  The best place to go snowboarding in the United States was proclaimed to be Stevens Pass by the people at GORP.  It lies between Seattle and Wenatchee and is right near Mount Baker and Wenatchee National Forest.  Skiers and snowboarders who wish to ride late are attracted to its equipment for night riding.

Washington State enjoys a fairly large number of both hunters and anglers.  In 1990 there were over five hundred licensed charter boats off the coast and in the Puget Sound.  Some of the various ports attuned to the recreational aspect of fishing in Washington and Oregon include Neah Bay, Newport, Charleston, and Winchester Bay.  The most popular catch of fish is of the salmon family, specifically chinook and the small coho salmon.  In Washington State in 1991 there were 301,900 people who hunted with the east central region being the largest contributor and the Puget Sound region was the highest in the number of sport fishermen throughout the state.

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Many historic sites and parks pepper the Washington landscape including Whitman Mission National Historic Site near Walla Walla, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, San Juan Island National Historical Park, and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Seattle.  The Makah museum in Neah Bay makes its mark by displaying many recovered items from the mudslide that buried an ancient Makah village 500 years ago.  Many designated recreation areas that include lakes were established by the National Park Service including Lake Roosevelt, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan national recreation areas where many campers come to experience the outdoors.

The picturesque beauty of the Gorge at George is the perfect backdrop to the ongoing concerts that plague that town.  Elsewhere in the central Washington region one can find within Okanogan County the controversial Omak Stampede and Suicide Race that happens ever year in August.  Western Washington’s Puyallup Fair has become a tradition with many people and is easily the largest in the state. 

Seattle is home to three major sports teams including the Mariners, the Seahawks, and the Supersonics.  Considered one of the most beautiful baseball fields in the major leagues, the Mariner’s Safeco field sports a retractable roof for baseball enjoyment in any weather condition.  Seahawks Stadium is brand new with a completion date of 2002. One of Seattle’s most popular day trips is the quick ferry ride over to Victoria, British Columbia where one can spend the day taking in the English atmosphere and just 13 miles north of there is the Butchart Gardens.  It maintains 50 acres of formal gardens and hosts firework shows and concerts.  There are places for outdoor recreation even within the city of Seattle including hiking, kayaking, biking, and windsurfing.  One of the largest outdoor recreation outfitters in the nation, REI, resides in Seattle.  Recreational biking can be achieved through, among other places, the use of the Burke-Gilman Trail that winds from Ballard to Log Boom Park in Kenmore on Seattle’s Eastside for a length of 16.5 miles.  The trail extends another eleven miles to Redmond’s Marymoor Park but under a different name.

Another long trail through the Seattle area is the combined 19-mile trail of the Alki Trail and the Duwamish Trail.  If independent biking is not desired there are cycling clubs including the Nation’s largest called the Cascade Bicycle Club with its 5500 members.  Several miles of trail exist within the city for hiking in Seward Park and the 534-acre Discovery Park offers an extensive network of trails.  One tour that people seem to enjoy is of the University of Washington and its gothic-style Suzzallo library and the beautiful area behind the library called The Quad.  Another fantastic aspect of the campus is its Rainier Vista looking down past Drumheller Fountain (Frosh Pond) onto the picturesque Mount Rainier across Lake Washington.

Please visit www.bonshops.com

Find More Kayak Tour Vancouver Island Articles

Located a two hour drive from Vancouver, British Columbia (five hours from Seattle) Whistler has long been known as a world famous winter wonderland popular with skiers. It’s now starting to become a more popular destination with tourists, but it’s still one of the world’s destinations where you can experience a romantic vacation away from it all with your partner. If you are considering a city based vacation, Whistler also offers you the chance to spend a few days getting away from it all if you are holidaying in one of the nearby cities of Vancouver or Seattle.

Accommodation is still quite limited in Whistler but as host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games there will be an increasing amount of hotels available. There are currently no large resorts in the area but a number of hotels are available. The weather in Whistler is cold in the winter which usually lasts from November to April but it’s always warm in many spa facilities to be found in the pedestrian village and which offer everything from a massage to relax tired muscles to botox injections.

Whistler is a dream vacation for those who love the snow and want to find some winter romance. It’s also a fabulous place for a honeymoon (you could even consider getting married there if the idea appeals to you!) – and celebrities are also starting to appreciate the seclusion of this unspoiled part of Canada. There are plenty of ski runs to cater for all abilities of course, but the fun doesn’t end there. If it can be done on snow, it’s probably going on in Whistler! There’s ice climbing and snow mobiling for the more energetic, whilst the more leisurely tourist can enjoy such gentle activities as glacier tours – and what could be more romantic than snuggling up with your partner on a sleigh ride? Wildlife in British Columbia is abundant so if photography is a passion of you and your partner, then there are plenty of opportunities in Whistler – with the wild animals and flowers – and not to mention the breath-taking mountain views.

No longer just a winter resort that closes once the snow thaws, there are now many activities you can enjoy during the summer – making it perfect for couples who are looking for a vacation that offers them a variety of outdoor activities. Aside from the usual horseback riding, and kayaking that you will find at many other destinations, Whistler also offers you the unforgettable experience of bungee jumping or how about the romance of following a wagon trail? If you and your partner enjoy a round or two of golf, Whistler also has its own golfing facilities.

As the 2010 Olympic Games draw nearer, and even more so once they are finished, Whistler will be firmly on the map as a tourist destination, but for the moment it is one of the most romantic vacation areas for couples, especially during the more unpopulated off-season summer months. Whether you choose to take part in some of the many outdoor activities together, or just relax in the beautiful surroundings, the mountains of Whistler offer a chance for a romantic break at any time of year.

Halong Bay

Just over 100 miles east of Hanoi in northern Vietnam, Halong Bay is famous for its dramatic rock formations. With thousands of limestone karst rock islets soaring from its waters along with caves, mangrove forests and sandy beaches, the bay offers spectacular kayaking opportunities.
 
Caves give way to hidden lagoons, channels are bordered by tall cliffs covered in lush, green vegetation and locals sell crafts and snacks on small boats around the bay. Many people choose to stay on a traditional junk boat in Halong Bay and take day trips by kayak to secluded lagoons, caves and floating markets. The best time to visit is October to June, but kayaking is available year round. Halong Bay is connected to Hanoi by bus and taxi.

Ba Be Lake

Located in the Can Province northwest of Hanoi, Ba Be Lake is the centerpiece of Ba Be National Park. Surrounded by tall
limestone cliffs, the shores of the 4-mile-long lake host traditional villages inhabited by ethnic minorities making their
living farming and fishing. The tropical forest in the surrounding park is home to 300 wildlife species, including one of the world’s rarest primates, the snub-nosed monkey, and more than 400 plant species.

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Kayaking is usually offered as part of a tour of the national park, which also includes biking and visiting traditional villages. Kayak tours include paddling on the Nang River followed by an entry onto the lake through a striking 100-foot-high, 1,000-foot-long cave. The bus ride from Hanoi to Ba Be Lake takes six to eight hours.

Mekong Delta

Probably the best known waterway in Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is actually fairly new in the kayak tourism industry. The
locals have been paddling these rivers and canals for centuries using their famous stand-up paddle method, but most tourists view the region from larger boats.

Located to the south of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, the Mekong Delta has a flatter terrain than the destinations to
the north. The river is lined with farms and towns and river traffic is high in some areas. A network of tiny canals cuts through the water plants on the banks, leading to small villages and floating markets. You can kayak along the Mekong, staying the night in small guesthouses along the way. If you join a kayak tour, you will be able to visit local farms, gardens and homes. Many tours also use a larger boat with sleeping cabins as a base.

Perfume River

Located about 600 miles south of Hanoi, the Perfume River winds its way through verdant tropical forests dotted with ancient pagodas and the tombs of several Nguyen emperors, including Gia Long and Minh Mang, to Hue on Vietnam’s eastern coast. In addition to the tombs and pagodas, kayakers can visit a traditional bronze casting village and Sinh village with its rustic paintings. Bicycle trips just off the river visit sites such as the Royal Tiger Arena, an historic animal fighting place, and Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb.

References: Kayak Halong Bay (http://www.kayakhalongbay.com/)

Source: usatoday

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1. Introduction

West Virginia, endlessly covered with forests and known as the “Mountain State,” offers breathtaking scenery, natural resource-related sights, and year-round, outdoor activities.

Once rich in coal and timber, it was shaped by the mines and logging railroads which extracted them, but when decades of removal began to deplete these commodities, their rolling, green-carpeted mountains yielded secondary byproducts—namely, hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, climbing, and hunting to tourists and sports enthusiasts alike.  Its New River Gorge, which offers many similar activities, is equally beautiful with its rugged banks and azure surfaces, while the principle city of Charleston, revitalized during the 1970s and 1980s, now features museums, art, shopping malls, restaurants, and world-class performance venues.

2. Charleston

Located on the Kanawha River, and sporting an easily negotiable street grid system, it is subdivided into the Capitol Complex and the downtown area with the East End Historic District linking the two.

From the former, which is the heart of state government, juts the ubiquitously visible, gold-domed Capitol Building itself.  Constructed of buff Indiana limestone and 4,640 tons of steel, which themselves required the temporary laying of a spur rail line to transport them, the building had been laid in three stages during an eight-year period: 1924 to 1925 for the west wing, 1926 to 1927 for the east wing, and 1930 to 1932 for the connecting rotunda.  It was officially dedicated by Governor William G. Conley on June 20, 1932, on the occasion of West Virginia’s 69th birthday as a state.

Its gold dome, which extends five feet higher than that of the Capitol in Washington, is gilded in 23 ½-karat gold leaf, applied between 1988 and 1991 as tiny squares to cover the otherwise copper and lead surface.

Two-thirds of its interior, which encompasses 535,000 square feet subdivided into 333 rooms, is comprised of Italian travertine, imperial derby, and Tennessee marble, and the chandelier in the rotunda, its center piece, is made of 10,180 pieces of Czechoslovakian crystal illuminated by 96 light bulbs.  Weighing 4,000 pounds, it hangs from a 54-foot brass and bronze chain.

Across from the State Capitol, but still within the complex, is the West Virginia Cultural Center.  Opened in 1976 and operated by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, it was created to showcase the state’s artistic, cultural, and historical heritage, and houses the West Virginia State Museum, the archives and history library, a gift shop, and a venue for cultural events, performances, and related programs.

The former, a collection of items which represents the state’s land, people, and culture, is subdivided into 24 significant scenes covering five periods: Prehistory (3 million years BC to 1650 AD), Frontier (1754-1860), the Civil War and the 35th State (1861 to 1899), Industrialization (1900 to 1945), and Change and Tradition (1954 to the 21st  century).  The 24 representations themselves trace the state’s evolution and include such periods as “Coal Forest,” “River Plains,” “Wilderness,” “The Fort,” “Harper’s Ferry,” “Building the Rails,” “Coal Mine,” “Main Street, West Virginia,” and “New River Gorge.”

Thirteen monuments, memorials, and statues honoring West Virginians for their contributions to the state and the nation grace the Capitol Complex’s landscaped grounds.

Culture can also be experienced at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, a modern, 240,000-square-foot, three-level complex which opened on July 12, 2003 and represents one of the most ambitious economic, cultural, and educational projects in West Virginia’s history.  Offering sciences, visual arts, and performing arts under a single roof, the center houses the dual-level Avampato Discovery Museum, an interactive, youth-oriented experience with sections such as Health Royale, KidSpace, Earth City, and Gizmo Factory.  A 9,000-square-foot Art Gallery, located on the second floor, features both temporary and permanent exhibits, the latter emphasizing 19th and 20th century art by names such as Andy Warhol, Stuart Davis, Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Vida Frey, and Albert Paley.  The ElectricSky Theater, a 61-foot domed planetarium, offers daily astronomy shows and wide screen presentations.  Live performances are staged in two locations: the 1,883-seat Maier Foundation Performance Hall, which is home to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, but otherwise offers a variety of performance types, from comedy to popular singers, bands, repertory, and Broadway plays, and the 200-seat Walker Theater, which features plays and dances with cabaret-style seating for the Woody Hawley singer-songwriter program.  The Douglas V. Reynolds Intermezzo Café and three classrooms are located on the lower level.

Shopping can be done at two major venues.  The Charleston Town Center Mall, located adjacent to the Town Center Marriott and Embassy Suites Hotel, and near the Civic Center, is a one million square foot, tri-level complex with more than 130 stores, three anchor department stores, six full-service restaurants, and a food court with ten additional fast food venues, and is accessed through three convenient parking garages.  Sporting a three-story atrium and fountain, the upscale, Kanawha Valley complex was the largest urban shopping center east of the Mississippi River when it opened in 1983.

The Capitol Market, located on Capitol and Sixth Streets in the restored and converted, 1800s Kanawha and Michigan Railroad depot, is subdivided into both in- and outdoor markets, the latter of which can only be used by bonafide farmers and receives daily, fresh, seasonal deliveries, usually consisting of flowers, shrubs, and trees in the spring; fruits and vegetables in the summer; pumpkins, gourds, and cornstalks in the fall; and Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands in the winter.  The indoor market sells seafood, cheeses, and wines, and offers several small food stands and a full-service Italian restaurant.

An evening can be spent at the TriState Racetrack and Gaming Center.  Located a 15-minute drive from Charleston in Cross Lanes, the venue offers 90,000 square feet of gaming entertainment, inclusive of more than 1,300 slot machines, live racing, a poker room, blackjack, roulette, and craps, and four restaurants: the French Quarter Restaurant and Bar, the First Turn Restaurant, the Café Orleans, and Crescent City.  The adjacent, Mardi Gras-style hotel was completed in 2010.

3. Potomac Highlands       

The Potomac Highlands, located in the eastern portion of the state on the Allegheny Plateau, is a tapestry of diverse geographic regions and covers eight counties.  Alternatively designated “Mountain Highlands,” it had been formed some 250 million years ago when the North American and African continental collision had produced a single, uplifted mass.  Subjected to millennia of wind- and water-caused erosion, it resulted in successive valleys and parallel ridges, and today the area encompasses two national forests: Canaan Valley, the highest east of the Mississippi River, and Spruce Knob, at 4,861 feet, West Virginia’s highest point.  Its green-covered mountains yielded abundant timber, the logging railroads necessary to harness it, two premier ski resorts, and a myriad of outdoor sports and activities.

The Potomac Highlands can be subdivided into the Tygart Valley, Seneca Rocks, Canaan Valley, and Big Mountain Country.

A. Tygart Valley

The town of Elkins, located in the Tygart Valley, is the transportation, shopping, and social center of the east central Appalachian Mountains and serves as a base for Potomac Highland excursions.

Established in 1890 by Senators Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen. B. Elkins, his son-in-law and business partner, it originated as a shipping hub for their coal, timber, and railroad empire, the latter the result of their self-financed construction of the West Virginia Central Railroad, whose track stretched between Cumberland, Maryland, and Elkins, and served as the threshold to some of the world’s richest timber and mineral resources.

The town, serving the needs of the coal miners, loggers, and railroad workers, sprouted central maintenance shops and steadily expanded, peaking in 1920, before commencing a resource depletion-caused decline, until the last train, carrying coal and timber products to the rest of the country, departed the depot in 1959.

The tracks lay barren and unused for almost half a century until 2007, when the newly-established Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad again resurrected them—and the town—transporting the first tourists for scenic-ride purposes and resparking a slow growth cycle with a subsequently built restaurant and live theater in its historic Elkins Railyard and additional hotels nearby.  Consistently ranked as one of the country’s best small art towns, it is once again the service hub of the Mountain Highlands, reverting to its original purpose of providing hotel, restaurant, shop, and entertainment services, but now to a new group—tourists.

The railroad remains its focus.  The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad offers three departures from the Elkins depot.  The first of these, the “New Tygart Flyer,” is a four-hour, 46-mile round-trip run which plunges through the Cheat Mountain Tunnel, passes the towns of Bowdon and Bemis, parallels the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, and stops at the horseshoe-shaped High Falls of Cheat, during which time it serves an enroute, buffet luncheon.  Upgraded table service is available in 1922-ear deluxe Pullman Palace cars for a slightly higher price.

The “Cheat Mountain Salamander” is a nine-hour, 128-mile round-trip to Spruce, and includes a buffet lunch and dinner, while the “Mountain Express Dinner Train” mimics the New Tygart Flyer’s route, but features a four-course meal in a formally set dining car.

The Railyard Restaurant, sandwiched between the Elkins depot and the American Mountain Theater, provides all on board meals.  Emulating the depot itself with its exterior brick construction, the .5 million, 220-seat restaurant, leased to the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad, serves family-style cuisine on its main level and upscale dinners in its second-floor Vista Dome Dining Room, its menus inspired by railroad car fare from the 1920s to the 1940s.  It toted the opening slogan of, “Take the track to the place with exceptional taste.”

The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad’s Rails and Trails Gift Shop is located on its main level.

Continuing the historic, red brick exterior, the adjacent American Mountain Theater, founded in 2003 by Elkins native and RCA recording artist, Susie Heckel, traces its origins to a variety show performed for tourists at a different location.  But increasing demand merited the November, 2006, ground-braking for a .7 million, 12,784-square-foot, 525-seat structure with aid from her sister, Beverly Sexton, and her husband, Kenny, who owned the Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down Theater in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

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Opening the following July, the theater offered family-oriented, Branson-style entertainment performed by a nine-member cast, with Kenny Sexton serving as its president and producer and Beverly writing the score.  Two-hour evening shows include comedy, impressions, and country, gospel, bluegrass, and pop music.

Davis and Elkins College, located only a few blocks from the Historic Railyard, shares the same founders as the town of Elkins itself—namely, Senators Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen B. Elkins.  Established in 1901 when they donated land and funding to create a college associated with the Presbyterian Church, it was originally located south of town.  Its Board of Trustees first met the following year and classes were first held on September 21, 1904.

Today, the coeducational, liberal arts college, located on a 170-acre hilled, wooded campus with views of the Appalachian Mountains, is comprised of 22 new and historic buildings in two sections—the north, which stretches to the athletic fields and the front campus, which is located on a ridge overlooking Elkins.  Thirty associate and baccalaureate arts, sciences, pre-professional, and professional degree programs are offered to a 700-student base.

One of its historic buildings is Graceland Inn.  Designed by the Baltimore architectural firm of Baldwin and Pennington, the castle-like, Queen Anne-style mansion, originally located on a 360-acre farm, was completed in 1893.  Initially called “Mingo Moor,” and intermittently “Mingo Hall” after the area south of Elkins, the estate served as the summer residence of Senator Davis, who regularly transported a train of invited friends and associates during July and August so that they could escape the Washington heat and enjoy Elkins’ higher-elevation, cooler temperatures.

The estate was ultimately renamed “Graceland” after Davis’ youngest daughter, Grace.  Following his wife’s death in 1902, he continued to conduct business from offices inside it, while Grace herself resided there during the summer months with her family.

The estate was finally ceded to her own children, Ellen Bruce Lee and John A. Kennedy, its last two owners.

Acquired by the West Virginia Presbyterian Education Fund in 1941, it was used as a male residence hall by the college until 1970, whereafter it was closed.  Restored during the mid-1990s, it subsequently reopened as an historic country inn and as a dynamic learning lab for hospitality students.

Overlooking the town of Elkins, on the Davis and Elkins College campus, Graceland Inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, features a two-story great hall richly decorated with hardwoods, such as quartered oak, bird’s eye maple, cherry, and walnut, a grand staircase, a parlor, a library, and its original stained glass windows.  The Mingo Room Restaurant, reflecting the mansion’s initial designation and open to the public, is subdivided into four small rooms lined with red oak and fireplaces and an outdoor verandah, and eleven guest rooms, located on the second and third floors and named after prominent family members, contain antiques, Victorian reproductions, turrets, canopy beds, sleigh beds, armoires, marble bathrooms, and claw foot tubs.

Graceland Inn, the David and Elkins College, the town of Elkins itself, the historic depot and railyard, their tracks, and the Appalachian Mountain’s coal and timber resources are all inextricably tied to the town’s past–and its future.

B. Seneca Rocks

“Seneca Rocks” designates both a region of the Potomac Highlands and the outcroppings after which that region is named.

Resembling a razor back, or shark’s fin, and located at the confluence of the Seneca Creek and the North Fork South Branch Potomac River, the 250-foot-thick, 900-foot-high Seneca Rocks, accessible by West Virginia Route 28, were formed 400 million years ago during the Silurian Period in an extensive sand shoal at the edge of the ancient Iapetus Ocean.  As the seas decreased in size, the rock uplifted and folded, erosion ultimately wearing away its upper surface and leaving the arching folds and craggy profile they exhibit today.

Made of white and gray tuscarora quartzite, the formation features both a north and south peak, with a notch separating the two.

The current Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, which replaced the original visitor’s center, features relief models of the area, films, interpretive programs, and a bookshop.

A path leads to the Sites Homestead, part of the center.  Constructed in 1839 by William Sites as a single-room log cabin below Seneca Rocks Ridge, it is typical of then-current Appalachian homes whose German Blockbau-style featured square logs and v-notched corner joints spread apart by stone and clay chinks.  Its small casement windows were equally of German origin, while its “hall and parlor” floor plan reflected English style.  Chimney location indicated house location: northern-style dwellings incorporated internal ones and southern style homes sported external ones.

In the late-1860s, one of Sites’ sons expanded the homestead, adding a second floor, and, after use as a hay barn, the Forest Service purchased it in 1969, restoring it during the 1980s.  In 1993, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The greater Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, offering significant outdoor sports opportunities, contains a key portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, whose mountains and forests collect water which then flows into the Potomac River and the bay itself.  Acting as a cleansing and filtering mechanism, its headwater forests purify the water before it reaches the streams.  Spruce Knob is both the highest point in the Chesapeake Watershed and the entire state of West Virginia.

Aside from facilitating water, the area has provided sustenance to humans, who first lived in Native American villages within its mountains, and then created farming settlements and logging camps, extracting its resources and supporting life for some 13,000 years.  Today, it is home to 15 million people.

The Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area itself is part of the much larger Monongahela National Forest.  Established in 1920 with an initial 7,200 acres, the present 910,155-acre forest contains the headwaters of the Monongahela, Potomac, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart, and Gauley Rivers; five federally-designated “wildernesses”—Dolly Sods, Outer Creek, Laurel Fork North, Laurel Fork South, and Cranberry—whose very remote and primitive areas only offer lower-standard trail markings; and four lakes.

A Mecca for outdoor sports enthusiasts, the national forest features 169 hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails which cover more than 800 miles, 576 miles of trout streams, 129 miles of warm-water fishing, 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas, and wildlife viewing of black bear, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, gray fox, rabbits, snowshoe hare, grouse, and woodcock.

C. Canaan Valley

Blanketed with bigtooth aspen, balsam fir, and spruce, Canaan Valley, stretching 14 miles, is the highest such valley east of the Mississippi River, its namesake mountain separating it from the Blackwater River and creating a deep, narrow canyon in the Allegheny Plateau.

The pristinely beautiful area encompasses two state parks—Canaan Valley Resort and Black Water Falls State Parks; two ski areas—again Canaan Valley Resort and Timberline Four Seasons Resort; and the nation’s 500th wildlife refuge.

Natural sports abound: hiking, horseback riding, fishing, golfing, swimming, rafting, and interpretive nature walking during the summer, and skiing, snowboarding, and tubing during the winter.

Nucleus of most of this is 6,000-acre Canaan Valley Resort State Park, which encompasses 18 miles of trails, wetlands, open meadows, northern hardwood forests, wildlife, 200 species of birds, and 600 types of wildflowers.

Canaan Valley Resort, located within the park, offers 250 modern guest rooms, 23 two-, three-, and four-bedroom mountain cabins with fireplaces and full kitchens, 34 paved, wooded campsites with full hook-ups, and six lounges and restaurants, including the Hickory Dining Room in the main lodge.

Its 4,280-foot mountain, whose longest run is 1.25 miles and whose vertical drop is 850 feet, features one quad and two triple lifts, and 11 trails for night skiing.  Its winter activities, like those of the extended Canaan Valley, include skiing, snowboarding, airboarding, tubing, snowshoeing, and ice skating, while summer programs include scenic chairlift rides, guided walks, golf, tennis, and hiking.

D. Big Mountain Country

Big Mountain County, location of West Virginia’s second-highest peak, serves as the birthplace of eight rivers—the Greenbier, Gauley, Cheat, Cherry, Elk, Williams, Cranberry, and Tygart—while its Seneca State Forest, which borders the former in Pocahontas County, is the state’s oldest.  An interesting array of sights include steam-powered logging railroads, astronomical observatories, preserved towns, a premier ski resort, and their associated assortment of outdoor sports and activities.

The Durbin and Greenbier Valley Railroad’s fourth excursion train, the “Durbin Rocket,” departs from the town of Durbin itself, located some 40 miles from Elkins.

Powered by a 55-ton steam engine built for the Moore-Keppel Lumber Company in nearby Randolph County, and one of only three remaining geared Climax logging locomotives, the train makes a two-hour, 11-mile round-trip run along the Greenbier River and through the Monongahela National Forest as far as Piney Island, where the rental “castaway caboose” is disconnected and pushed onto a very short spur track for a one or more night stay.

The ultra-modern, high-tech National Radio Astronomy Observatory, located a short distance away in Green Bank, offers an opportunity to learn about radio wave astronomy.

Designing, building, and operating the world’s most advanced and sophisticated radio telescopes, the observatory produces images of celestial bodies, such as planets, stars, and galaxies, millions of light-years away by recording their radio omission quantities.

The Green Bank Science Center, nucleus of this experience, features a museum which introduces the science of radio astronomy, radio waves, telescope operation, and what is being learned through them about the universe; the Galaxy Gift Shop; the Starlight Café; and the departure point for the escorted bus tour of the facility, prior to which an introductory film and lecture are presented in the theater.

The tour’s highlight is the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT), designed when the previous 300-foot device collapsed in 1988 and Congress was forced to appropriate emergency funds to design it.

Dedicated on August 25, 2000, after a nine-year development period, it is 485 feet tall, is comprised of 2,004 panels, has a 100-by-110 meter diameter, a 2.3 acre surface area, and weighs 17 million pounds.  The world’s largest, fully maneuverable telescope with a computer-controlled reflecting surface, it is functionally independent of the sun, permitting 24-hour-per-day operation, and receives wavelengths which vary between 1/8th of an inch to nine feet.

Initially employed in conjunction with the Arecibo Observatory to produce images of Venus, it later detected three new pulsars (spinning neutron stars) in the Messier 62 region.

A 15-minute drive from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory is another significant sight, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.

Tracing its origins to 1899 when John G. Luke acquired more than 67,000 acres of red spruce in an area which ultimately developed into the town of Cass, it became the headquarters of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company.  The town, supporting the workforce needed to convert the raw resources into finished products, sprouted shops, services, houses, a sawmill, tracks, and a railroad to haul the timber.

Instrumental to the operation had been the Shay, or similarly-designed Climax and Heisler steam locomotives, whose direct gearing delivered positive control and more even power, allowing them to ply often temporarily-laid tracks, steep grades, and hairpin turns, all the while pulling heavy, freshly-felled timber loads.  The Western Maryland #6, at 162 tons, was the last, and heaviest, Shay locomotive ever built.  The railroad inaugurated its first service in 1901.

During two 11-hour, six-day-per-week shifts, the town’s mill was able to cut more than 125,000 board feet of lumber per shift and dry 360,000 per run with its 11 miles of steam pipes, adding up to 1.5 million board feet cut per week and 35 million per year.  After 40 years of milling at Cass and Spruce, more than two billion board feet of lumber and paper had been produced.

Operating until 1943, the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company sold the enterprise to the Mower Lumber Company, which maintained it for another 17 years, at which time it was closed and purchased by the state of West Virginia, in 1961.

The railroad and the town of Cass, which remain virtually unchanged, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Aside from the historic buildings, there are several other attractions.  Connected to the large Cass Company Store is the railroad-themed Last Run Restaurant.  Turn-of-the-century logging can be gleaned at the Cass Historical Museum.  The Shay Railroad Shop, having once housed coal bins, offers additional books and crafts for sale.  The metal, Cass Showcase building above it, having stored hay to feed horse teams, features an introductory film and an HO-scale train and town layout reflecting their 1930s appearance.

Escorted walking tours of Cass, usually conducted in the afternoon after the trains have returned from their daily excursions, offer insight into what it had been like to live and work in a turn-of-the-century company town, while the Locomotive Repair Shop tour includes visits to the Mountain State Railroad and Logging Historical Association’s shop, the sawmill area, and a look at Shay and Climax locomotive maintenance and repair.

An excursion on the Cass Scenic Railroad itself, which commenced tourist rides in 1963 and is therefore the longest-running scenic rail journey in the country, is a living history experience.  Pulled by one of the original Shay or Climax steam locomotives, the train accommodates passengers in equally authentic logging cars which have been converted to coaches with wooden, bench-like seats and roofs, while a single enclosed car, offering reserved seating, sports booth-like accommodation and is designated “Leatherbark Creek.”

All trains depart from Cass’s reconstructed depot, at a 2,456-foot elevation, climbing Leatherneck Run, negotiating 11-percent grades, maneuvering and reversing through a lower and upper switchback, and arriving at Whittaker Station, which features a snack stand, views of the eastern West Virginia mountains, and a reconstructed, 1946 logging camp.  The eight-mile round-trip back to Cass requires two hours. 

A four-and-a-half hour, 22-mile round-trip continues up Back Allegheny Mountain, passing Old Spruce and the Oats Creek Water Tank, and plying track laid by the Mower Lumber company, before reaching 4,842-foot Bald Knob, West Virginia’s third-highest peak.

Limited runs are also offered to Spruce, an abandoned logging town on the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River.  This train also transits Whittaker Station.

Although not affiliated with the Cass Scenic Railroad, the Boyer Station Restaurant, located six miles from Green Bank on Route 28, offers inexpensive, home-cooked, country-style meals amidst railroad décor with wooden, rail depot-reminiscent tables and benches, train and logging memorabilia, and large-scale, track-mounted model railroads.  It is part of a 20-room motel and campground complex.

Winter sports account for a significant portion of the Big Mountain Country’s offerings.  Ten miles from Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is Snowshoe Mountain.

Located in the bowl-shaped convergence of Cheat and Back Allegheny Mountain at the head of the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, the area, striped of trees by logging between 1905 and 1960, had been discovered by Thomas Brigham, a North Carolina dentist, who had previously opened the Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain Ski Resorts.

Reflecting European style, Snowshoe Village is located on the mountain’s summit and offers 1,400 hotel and condominium rooms, restaurants, shops, services, and entertainment.  The 244-acre resort, which combines the Snowshoe and Silver Creek areas, has a 3,348-foot base; a 4,848-foot summit, making it the highest such ski resort in the mid-Atlantic and southeast; 14 chairlifts; 60 runs, of which the longest is 1.5 miles; and 1,500-foot vertical drops at Cupp Run and Shay’s Revenge.  Average snowfall is 180 inches.  Spring, summer, and fall activities include golf, boating, bicycling, climbing, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, skating, and swimming.

The extended area’s Seneca State Forest, named after the Native Americans who had once roamed the land, borders the Greenbier River in Pocahontas County and contains 23 miles of forest, 11,684 acres of woodlands, a four-acre lake for boating and trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill fishing, hiking tails, pioneer cabins, and rustic campsites.

4. New River-Greenbrier Valley

The New River-Greenbrier Valley region of West Virginia is topographically diverse and ruggedly beautiful.

Split by the Gauley River, its northern section is comprised of a rugged plateau in which is nestled the calm, azure Summersville Lake, while mountainous ridgelines, affording extensive interior coal mining, are characteristic of its central region.  Horse and cattle grazing is prevalent on the flat farm expanses which intersperse the eastern edge’s lush, green mountain plateau, divided by the Greenbrier River, the largest, untamed water channel in the eastern United States, which flows through it.  Its southern region is a jigsaw puzzle of omni-directional ridgelines and very narrow valleys.

New and Bluestone River-formed gorges provide a wealth of rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, and white water rafting opportunities in this region of the state.

The area’s most prominent, and beautiful, topographical feature is the New River Gorge National River.  Flowing from below Bluestone Dam, near Hinton, to the north of the US Highway 19 bridge near Fayetteville, it dissects all the physiographic provinces of the Appalachian Mountains.  A rugged, white water river, and among the oldest in North America, it flows northward through steep canyons and geological formations.  Approximately 1,000 feet separate its bottom from its adjacent plateau.  On July 30, 1998, it was named an American Heritage River, one of 14 waterways so designated.

Its related park encompasses 70,000 acres.

Signature of the New River Gorge National Park is its New River Gorge Bridge.  Completed on October 22, 1977 at a million cost, the dual-hinged, steel arch bridge is 3,030 feet long, 69.3 feet wide, and has an 876-foot clearance.  Carrying the four lanes of US Route 19, it was then the world’s longest, and is currently the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas and the second highest in the world after the Millau Viaduct in France.  Its longest single span, between arches, is 1,700 feet.

There are three related visitor centers and vantagepoints.  The Canyon Rim Visitor Center, located two miles north of Fayetteville on Route 19, offers exhibits, films, interpretive programs, trails, and a scenic overlook, while the Grandview Center is located in Thurmond off of Interstate 64 on Route 25.  The park’s headquarters are in Glen Jean.  

Fayetteville is the hub for New River Gorge kayaking and white water rafting.

Coal, as synonymous with West Virginia as logging, is an industry the tourist should experience sometime during his visit.  The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, located in the city of the same name, offers just such an opportunity.

A 1,400-square-foot Company Store, coal museum, fudgery, and gift shop serves as a visitor’s center and threshold to the sight’s two major components.  A coal camp, the first of these, depicts 20th-century life in a typical coal town, represented by several relocated and restored buildings.

Plying 1,500 feet of underground passages in the 36-inch, Phillips-Sprague Seam Mine, which had been active between 1883 and 1953, track-guided “man-cars” driven by authentic miners, encompass the complex’s second component and make periodic stops in the cold, damp, and dark passage to discuss and illustrate the advancement of mining techniques.  The rock duster, for example, ensured that coal dust would not explode deep in the mine.  Strategically positioned roof bolts avoided cave-ins.  Pumps extracted water.  Dangerously low oxygen levels dictated immediate evacuation.

Coal had fueled the world’s steam engines for industrial plants and rail and sea transportation.

The Phillips-Sprague Mine is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

5. Conclusion

West Virginia’s three principle regions of Charleston, the Potomac Highlands, and the New River-Greenbier Valley offer immersive experiences into the past which shaped the present by means of its pristinely beautiful and resource-rich mines and mountains that yielded coal, timber, logging railroads, and an abundance of outdoor sports.

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Watching wonderful creatures in their natural habitat can make you appreciate Mother Nature’s awesome gifts. This is even more apparent once you experience whale shark- watching in Donsol in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines.

Donsol is a quaint coastal fishing town about 600km away from Manila, the country’s capital. Located in the southwest coast of the island of Luzon, it has been frequented for years by “Butanding” or whale sharks. This is the town’s best kept secret until a group of foreign divers brought it to public attention in 1998. Unfortunately, people of dubious intentions took advantage of the find. Poachers were all over the place after the news of the Butanding migration broke out. But thankfully, the Philippine government immediately took action to protect the whale sharks, declaring them as protected species. But just what makes the waters of Donsol special for the whale sharks in the first place?

The sea waters in this town provide the right temperature for the Butandings when they migrate between the months of February and June. Aside from the favorable water temperature, these sea creatures would also feast on the rich fish food in these parts. The abundant planktons provide the Butandings more than enough sustenance for their long stay.

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Every time the whale sharks start to arrive, the town transforms into a busy place packed with local and foreign tourists. People from different parts of the world would come to Donsol just to watch these incredible creatures swim and roam underwater. This year alone, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) noted the presence of 165 Butandings at the coastal waters of the area. Some of them were even able to come as close as 20 meters from the shore. With this exciting activity, it is no wonder that the number of tourists that usually flock the town every year raised to 20 percent.

Most of the hotels in Donsol organize activities for visitors, such transportation arrangements for instance, although sometimes there’s an added fee aside from the standard price. One of the places in the area that can’t be missed is Giddy’s Place PADI Dive Resort. This resort offers a wide range of exciting activities such as diving and kayaking.

For whale shark interaction, you are required to register at the Visitor’s Center, which is located at Barangay Dancalan. Whale shark watchers and tourists are assigned a Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO) to guide them. For safety of both the tourists and the Butandings, there are also a set of strict guidelines that must be followed. The center provides tour boats along with the BIO. There are resorts in the area that offers pre-booking for the tour, albeit, for a minimal service fee. Standard price is PhP 300 for the registration and PhP 3500 per boat, which can accommodate up to 6 people.

From Manila, Donsol is accessible by plane going to Legaspi. From there, a public van or private pick-up can take you to the coastal town itself. Fees for private vans usually cost around PhP 1500 – PhP 2000 per van. Private rent-a-vans are available just outside the airport’s vicinity. If you prefer public vans, you have to ride a tricycle from the airport to the terminal. You also need to wait for the seats to be filled before you can go on your way to Donsol. Naturally, public vans are cheaper than the private ones – they cost around PhP80. You will be dropped off at the bus station in the city center. From there, you have to ride another tricyle going to Dancalan. Alternatively, you can reach Donsol by land via bus from Manila either directly to Donsol or via Legaspi.

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Alaska has been a cruise lovers’ favourite for many years. Many cities and sites are inaccessible by road, and a cruise ship provides passengers with a view of many natural wonders that cannot be seen from land. Over 750,000 cruise passengers will sail Alaskan waters during the short 5 month cruise season, attracted by the prospects of seeing towering glaciers, charming small towns, and all manner of wildlife.

The sheer ease of cruise travel is one reason for its popularity. You take in the scenery from your ship, disembarking to visit ports of call or to engage in sports activities.
This compares to less than 40,000 who visit Antarctica during its short cruise season. Sixteen major cruise lines will send more than 40 diverse ships to Alaska, ranging in size from 12 passengers to over 2600! Ships sail roundtrip from Vancouver or Seattle to the southeast panhandle of Alaska. Cruises usually include famous Glacier Bay National Park, home of 16 magnificent glaciers.

More cruise ships than ever are sailing Alaskan waters. Alaska is one cruise destination that is very high on most cruise lovers’ list. Alaska’s cruise season generally runs from May through September, although some smaller ships start up in April. May and September are considered the shoulder seasons, when lower rates and more aggressive discounts are offered.

Summer is the big vacation season in the northwest, and many non-cruisers also choose to head to this beautiful part of the world. Cruisers go to Alaska to see the magnificent mountains, beautiful bays, and wonderful wildlife.

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Many cruisers realise that if you love nature, you might be able to appreciate it more on a small ship. There is a wonderful variety of small ships sailing to Alaska, and each has something special to offer cruise lovers. Small or alternative ships are best suited for people who prefer a casual, crowd-free experience that offers passengers a chance to get up close and personal with Alaska’s natural surroundings and wildlife.

On the other hand, the megaships look and feel like floating resorts. Big on glitz, they offer loads of activities, attract many families and seniors, offer fancy casinos and fully equipped gyms, and provide a wide variety of meal and entertainment options.

Over the last few years, the number of Alaska shore excursions and activities available for cruise passengers has doubled. Today, shore options are focusing more than ever on adventure and outdoors activities: Kayaking, bicycling, dog sledding, river rafting and sport fishing are possible in the scenic wilderness of this great state, alongside more traditional tours focusing on culture and history.

Juneau, the capital of Alaska, has a great variety of things to see and do. A number of memorials are situated along the waterfront and boardwalk and the famous Red Dog Saloon is nearby; state and city museums and government buildings are a short walk, with shops all along the way.

Mendenhall Glacier, a 20 minute drive from downtown, is the most accessible glacier to any town on the Inside Passage. Active adventures abound in Juneau. This is an excellent spot for whale watching, wildlife viewing, kayaking and river rafting. Some whale watching companies actually offer cash refund if you don’t see a humpback or orca whale during your tour.

Sitka, on Baranof Island, has one of the most picturesque settings of any Alaskan port. Sitka is the former Russian capital of Alaska, which combines native culture, Russian history and Alaskan wilderness.

Famous for the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Skagway is known as the “Garden City of Alaska”. Garden enthusiasts should visit Jewell Gardens, which includes a miniature town site and train within the gardens. The gold rush cemetery is a fascinating spot just a short walk from town.

Every spring and summer, a spectacle blooms unlike anything else on Earth – Alaska cruising means thundering glaciers, temperate rainforests, rugged coastlines, majestic peaks, untamed wildlife, and so much more.