on location: south � soula mitsiopoulos

26 October 2009 LeisureGroupTravel.com

West Virginia

Step back in time at the Farmstead

at WVU Jackson’s Mill, near Weston.

Outdoor activities

and historical attractions

offer group travelers a bounty of

options in the Mountain State

26 February 2010 LeisureGroupTravel.com

Journey to

NNeed to get away from the hustleand bustle fast? Look no further thanWest Virginia. Being only a day’s driv-ing distance from half of the U.S. pop-ulation makes the state easy to reach.With an abundance of unique attrac-tions and outdoor sports, West Virginiacould be the answer to your next quicktravel destination.

From mountain hiking to boardwalktours through state parks, the MountainState offers an activity for everyone andlots of group-friendly sites in any season.With plenty of natural snowfall andcozy cabins etched into the mountain-sides, skiing and snowboarding are pop-ular during winter months. In the spring,travelers can expect temperatures con-

ducive to whitewater rafting, fishing andhiking. Summertime allows for world-renowned rock climbing and visits tocolorful gardens. Fall welcomes beauti-ful autumn foliage all over the state.

Not enthusiastic about the out-doors? Spas and resorts loaded withamenities are plentiful, and perform-ances at indoor and outdoor musical

I

O

theaters can easily be arranged.Farmer’s markets boast fresh produceand specialty food products. As a site of several battles during the

Civil War, West Virginia has intriguinghistorical roots. It is the only state to bedeclared a state by presidential procla-mation when President Abraham Lin-coln did so during that war.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURENothing says outdoors like a moun-

tain hike. But very little can compareto the experience of climbing high,vertical faces in extreme terrain thatmight otherwise be inaccessible toconventional rock-climbing. Via Fer-rata (Italian for “iron road”) at NelsonsRock Preserve is a new attraction inthe North Fork Valley of PendletonCounty. Climbers of all experience lev-els are able to gain hundreds of verticalfeet of elevation over a half-mile route

equipped with fixed cables, ladders andbridges. The end of the climb revealsan exposed summit with beautifulviews of the Allegheny Mountains.Reservations are being taken for springof 2010, beginning in March. (visitvia-ferrata.com).

For groups with thrill-seekersamongst them, a trip to New RiverGorgemay satiate their appetites foradventure. This part of West Virginiaplays host to hikers and outdoor en-thusiasts of all experience levels, butin the fall it hosts the largest extremesports event in the world. On thethird Saturday of every October inFayette County, nearly 200,000 spec-tators gather around the New RiverGorge Bridge to witness hundreds ofBASE jumpers leaping off the edgeof the bridge. (BASE is theacronymn for those who jump offBuildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges)and Earth (a cliff ). For the faint ofheart, the area offers hiking trails fea-turing horseback riding and scenicwaterfalls. (newrivergorgecvb.com).Bordering parklands of the New

River Gorge National River nearOak Hill, ACE Adventure Resort isbilled as America’s largest adventure

resort. Featured on the Travel Channel,the resort is located on 1,500 acres with20 different adventure activities avail-able. With 50 cabins, the resort is idealfor groups. Activities include ATVing,mountain biking, whitewater raftingand an Adventure Play Park with abeach. New in 2010 is an addition to thepark’s Canopy Tour, where participantscan soar from tree to tree along a zipline. The resort’s lake has trampolines,inflated climbing walls and a waterslide.The Lakeside Dining Lodge servesbreakfast and dinner. (aceraft.com).

IN THE PAST LANEWest Virginia is rich in railroad his-

tory. The nation’s oldest railroad line, theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad, has morethan half of its track within the state’sborders. The line was so important toboth the Confederacy and the Unionduring the Civil War that the two sidesfought to keep the line in their posses-sion. Today, you can view the world’slargest collection of operating gearedsteam locomotives at Cass Scenic Rail-road State Park. Visitors can ride thelocomotives on excursions throughwilderness surrounding the town ofCass. (cassrailroad.com).

LeisureGroupTravel.com February 2010 27

Steam locomotives chug through the woods at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.

Vertical challenges await climbers at

Via Ferrata outdoor recreation center.

R

For a true taste of Appalachian her-itage, group travelers can visit an under-ground coal mine at Beckley ExhibitionCoal Mine in Beckley. Under the su-pervision of an experienced coal miner,tours go 1,500 feet beneath the earth inauthentic “man cars.” The recent reno-vation at the largest and most popularcoal heritage attraction includes the Ra-hall Company Store, a visitor’scenter, coal museum, fudgeryand gift shop. The historic coalcamp grounds offer a look atearly 20th century coal mininglife. Nearby is the Youth Mu-seum of Southern West Vir-ginia, whose main gallery ismade up of four railroad boxcarsthat feature exhibits designed toeducate children on various top-ics, such as the Appalachianfrontier. (beckleymine.com).

Groups get a taste of pre-Civil War life in Appalachia atthe Farmstead at WVU Jackson’sMill, just a few minutes from I-79 inLewis County. The site is the boyhoodhome of Confederate Gen. Thomas“Stonewall” Jackson and includes awater-powered grist mill, a blacksmithshop, spinning and weaving shops, andother reminders of the period, with activities such as candle dipping.(http://jacksonsmill.ext.wvu.edu/his-toric_area).

Most everyone has heard of the Ap-palachian Trail, and a visit to the historictown of Harpers Ferry can you take youright through it at Harpers Ferry Na-tional Historical Park. A walk along thetrail will take you into Maryland inminutes. Having changed hands eighttimes during the Civil War, the town iswhere abolitionist John Brown led hisfamous raid in 1859. Plenty of shop-ping, dining and lodging is available inthis quaint town. (harpersferrywv.net)

To experience what it was like during

the Civil War, travelers can visit Prick-ett’s Fort State Park in Fairmont. It wasbuilt in 1774 as a refuge fort on the Vir-ginia frontier. The park has Civil Warreenactment events and costumed in-terpreters who recreate life in the 18thcentury. (prickettsfortstatepark.com).

George Washington’s telescope andDaniel Boone’s rifle can be found in

Charleston, the state’s largest city andcapital. The beautiful State Capitol andWest Virginia State Museum are notfar from one another. Music, theater anddance choices abound and include the70-year-old West Virginia SymphonyOrchestra. In the historic East End awalking tour showcases the Capitol,Governor’s Mansion and an officebuilding that made it through the 1862Battle of Charleston during the CivilWar. (charlestonwv.com)

Escape to an underground worldwhen you visit Seneca Caverns inRiverton. Guided tours of the largestcavern in West Virginia showcase thebeautiful rock formations that naturecreated. Along the way, you will stop byMirror Lake, an underground pond.(senecacaverns.com).

RESORT LIFESubterranean lore of a different sort

can be found at The Greenbrier in

on location: south �

28 February 2010 LeisureGroupTravel.com

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine offers an

underground adventure and much more.

E

30 February 2010 LeisureGroupTravel.com

White Sulphur Springs. In the late1950s, the federal government ap-proached the historic resort about con-structing an Emergency RelocationCenter for the U. S. Congress. In case ofwar, the underground facility wouldhouse members of Congress. In 1992,

the true purpose of the bunkerwas revealed and today it’s openfor tours. The classic Southernresort offers outstanding ameni-ties and impeccable service.Guests can enjoy fine cuisine atthe resort’s recently debutedPrime 44 West steakhouse,named for former NBA playerJerry West. The Hall of Famer’smemorabilia decorates thevenue and he greets guests therewhen he is in town. Opening inApril of 2010 will be the resort’snew casino. (greenbrier.com)

Visitors looking for accommodationscloser to Charleston will be impressedwith The Resort at Glade Springs inDaniels, just an hour’s drive from the state capital. The four-season re-sort offers 54 holes of championshipgolf on three courses. Guests can enjoy

treatments at Spa Or-ange or visit the recre-ation center, where anindoor pool, bowlingalley and cinema await.(gladesprings.com).

On the eastern sideof the state, only threehours west of Washing-ton, D.C., lies CanaanValley Resort andConference Center. Itis nestled on a plateauoverlooking the CanaanValley, the highestmountain valley east ofthe Rockies. The four-season resort with a250-room lodge offersfine dining, hiking andbiking trails, skiing andother amenities. Cabinsand campsites are alsoavailable. (canaanre-sort.com)

ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONSLively entertainment abounds in the

Mountain State. The West VirginiaPublic Theatre in Morgantown hastop-notch Broadway productionsthroughout the year. The summer 2010season features the musicals Hairspray,42nd Street, Will Rogers Follies, Josephand the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,The Full Monty, Patsy and Carousel.(wvpublictheatre.com)

For a genuine mountain music expe-rience, travelers should stop by Ameri-can Mountain Theater in the HistoricRail Yard in downtown Elkins. Thestate’s first and only “Branson-style,”family-friendly variety show blendscountry, Southern gospel, bluegrass,pop and patriotic music. The ChristmasSpectacular (starting right after Thanks-giving) is a seasonal sellout. (american-mountaintheater.com).

You can enjoy holiday-season magicat the Winter Festival of Lights atOglebay Resort and Conference Cen-ter in Wheeling. As one of the nation’slargest light shows, the annual extrav-aganza shows off more than 70 larger-than-life light displays on a six-miledriving trail. It was featured on theTravel Channel’s  “Most ExtremeChristmas Celebrations.” The festivalruns from Nov. 12, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011.(oglebay-resort.com/fol.htm).

With so many outdoor activities andhistory-rich attractions to choose from,it is easy to see why West Virginiamakes an ideal group travel destination.From wilderness parks to luxurious re-sorts to lively musical theater, its treas-ures are endless. LGT

on location: south �

Groups have a toe-tappin’ good time at

American Mountain Theater in Elkins.

PLAN IT!West Virginia Division of Tourism: 304-558-2200, wvtourism.com.

Where River & Rail Connect

with Majesty & Adventure!

Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitors BureauStop by our Visitor’s Center at The Station located at

210 11th Street in Huntington - across from Harris Riverfront Park.304-525-7333 | www.wvvisit.org

All Aboard!

HighlightingHuntington,

Barboursville & Milton

There’s so much to see and do in Cabell County.Whether it’s one night or one week, we can connect

you with great places to stay, unique restaurants, coolshopping, fun things to do and interesting places to visit.

CABELL COUNTYWest Virginia

LeisureGroupTravel.com February 2010 31

Groups touring Dixie can choose from some exciting new sightseeing options

Here is just a sampling of what’s creating a buzz:

ARKANSASOzark Medieval Fortress, a castle in

the making, opens for its first season inLead Hill on May 1. The attraction isbeing built in the Ozark Mountainsover a 20-year time span. Groups willbe able to watch the castle going up onestone at a time. Historians, masons, car-

penters and stone carvers dressed in authentic garments will work for 20years on the genuine fortified castle,using 13th century techniques, materi-als and rules to build 45-foot-high towers, six-foot-wide walls, a draw-bridge and stone walls surrounding theinner yard. The castle, located about

30 minutes from Branson, Mo., will be open seven days a week throughNov. 30 in its first season. (870-436-7635, ozarkmedievalfortress.com)

LOUISIANAThe new Shreveport-Bossier Film

Trail, a self-directed tour, highlightsproductions filmed in and aroundCaddo and Bossier parishes. Since 2005,filming has become a major industry inShreveport-Bossier. Some 72 movie andTV productions have been filmed in thearea, 13 of them in 2009. Locations inShreveport-Bossier have been recreatedas Paris, France; New York City; andeven Senegal, Africa. The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureaucreated the trail in partnership with thefilm office and produced the brochures.Stops on the film trail include BossierCity’s Louisiana Boardwalk, where The Cleaner, starring Samuel L. Jackson,was partially filmed in 2007. Maggie’sHanger (the James Burton rock ’n rollnightclub), another stop, was shown inThe Guardian, one of the first majormotion pictures to shoot in the area. Intotal, there are 21 stops on the film trail.(shreveport-bossier.org)

MISSISSIPPINASA’s INFINITY, an interactive

space museum, opens in early 2011 atthe Stennis Space Center on Missis-sippi’s Gulf Coast. Located near theMississippi Welcome Center on I-10,just east of New Orleans, the 72,000-square-foot glass building will provide a showcase for the world-class level ofexploration and discovery that has beena part of NASA, Stennis Space Centerfor over 40 years. Visitors can browse on their own or choose a mission – aguided session that places them in therole of “scientists in training.” In the Im-

LeisureGroupTravel.com

�e Norfolk waterfront is the perfect destination for fun, dynamic group tours. From museums to harbor cruises, live entertainment to outdoor recreation, there’s always something unique and interesting to be found in the heart of the Virginia waterfront. Plan your visit today at visitnorfolktoday.com, or contact our sales department at 1-800-368-3097.

A FRIENDLY CITYWhere memories come to life.

visitnorfolktoday.com | 1-800-368-3097

The heart of the Virginia Waterfront.SM

Southon our radar

mersive Theatre guests will receive anorientation. (infinitysciencecenter.org) Ground has been broken on the

$10.5-million project to rebuild the Jef-ferson Davis Presidential Library andMuseum at Beauvoir, the Biloxi beach-front home of the only president of theConfederate States of America. The re-

stored home, damaged in2005 by Hurricane Katrina,reopened last year. Recon-struction of the destroyedlibrary and museum will becompleted by August 2011.(beauvoir.org)

NORTH CAROLINAThe pedestrian-friendly

Antler Hill Village opensthis spring at Biltmore Es-tate in Asheville. Locatedadjacent to the BiltmoreWinery and River BendFarm, it will include a new

exhibition space, village green with live entertainment, dining, shoppingand outdoor adventure center. As partof the $18.6-million project, the win-ery will be enhanced to offer newly designed tour and tasting areas. Theexisting interpretive farm area withhistoric barn, kitchen garden and

farmyard will be incorporated as well.(828-225-1333, biltmore.com)

SOUTH CAROLINADowntown Myrtle Beach is finally

getting its own boardwalk. The mile-long Oceanfront Boardwalk andPromenade is planned for the area be-tween the 14th Avenue North Pier andthe Second Avenue North Pier, and willextend all the way to First Avenue. Con-struction is under way with sections ex-pected to open in spring 2010 through2011. No building will be done duringthe peak tourist season from Easterthrough Labor Day. Construction willbe completed in phases, with the finalBoardwalk comprised of three sections:North Dune Walk, Central Boardwalkand South Promenade. Also new thisspring is Wonderworks, a hands-on science attraction at Broadway at theBeach. (cityofmyrtlebeach.com/board-walk.html, wonderworksonline.com)

LeisureGroupTravel.com February 2010 33

Starting in May, groups can watch a medieval

fortress take shape in Northern Arkansas.

COMFORT INNSOUTH FOREST BEACH 800-522-3224843-842-6662comforthiltonhead.com

DAYS INN HILTON HEAD843-842-4800daysinn.com/hotel/15527

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL & SUITES843-757-2002866-757-2002BlufftonExpress.com

HOLIDAY INN OCEANFRONT800-423-9897843-785-5126hihiltonhead.com

RESORTQUEST HILTON HEAD ISLAND800-826-1649843-785-1181resortquesthiltonhead.com

SHELTER COVE HARBOUR &MARINA SHOPS/DINING888-568-9555palmettodunes.com

Plenty of excitement I N O N E B E A U T I F U L P L A C E

The Hilton Head and Bluffton area offers a variety of activities to please just about any group. Adventure out on the water for a dinner or dolphin cruise or explore the numerous charming marina villages

with boutique shopping and water-view dining. Learn more about our Gullah culture and our vibrant arts community. Day trips within easy reach include the historic areas of Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston.

Learn more at HiltonHeadIsland.org

Contact Brenda Ciapanna, Sales Manager at our Visitor & Convention Bureau. grouptour@hiltonheadisland.org, 800-523-3373 ext. 368