West Virginia 2008 Official State Travel Guide - (Page 11) Welcome to WEST VIRGINIA G ayle and I truly enjoy our trips through the hills and valleys of the Mountain State. Whether by motorcycle or car, each trip takes us past stunning landscapes and wonderful people. Every winding road leads to a new adventure where strangers are friends waiting to be made. West Virginia has a rich cultural heritage waiting for you to explore. See Civil War sites that shaped our state and the nation. Learn about the state’s coal-mining past at the Coal Heritage Museum in Madison or discover the ingenuity of our agricultural ancestors at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington. Visit the birthplace of renowned Pulitzer- and Nobel-prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck in Hillsboro. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day at the place where it started in Grafton. Take in Appalachian-inspired crafts, music and cuisine at local shops or at Tamarack, the state’s artisan showplace in Beckley. West Virginia’s artisans are renowned for their handmade masterpieces. Fairs and festivals throughout the state offer time-honored music, Appalachian dance and cuisine that honors the tradition of the region and satisfies the palate. Enjoy fishing, biking, hiking, rafting or skiing, surrounded by lush forests and unspoiled natural beauty. View scenic wonders like the amber water as it tumbles over Blackwater Falls; the East’s most spectacular wilderness area at Dolly Sods; a botanist’s paradise at Cranberry Glades; and challenging climbs along the sheer cliffs at Seneca Rocks. Whatever season, Mother Nature is dressed in her best. We personally guarantee you will experience genuine hospitality, a friendly smile and a warm “hello” that all say “Welcome to Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia.” Regardless of the adventure you hope to experience – be it a family vacation or a romantic getaway – you’ll find it here. Gayle and I invite you to uncover West Virginia and enjoy all it has to offer. See you on the roads! With warmest regards, Gov. Joe Manchin First Lady Gayle Manchin Here To Help Travel counselors are standing by to help plan your trip – or even assist when you’re on your way. Call 1-800-CALL WVA to find lodging, attractions and information on exciting events. If you’re traveling by car, stop in at one of the state’s eight Welcome Centers, which are Highland Scenic Highway. staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May to October, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November to April. Welcome Center travel planners can provide assistance with places to stay and notto-miss vacation opportunities in the area. Along the West Virginia Turnpike, you can also find information centers and rest areas. Interested in Civil War sites? The outdoors? Appalachian crafts? Resorts, golf or spas? Read the accounts by our travel writers, who’ve explored every nook and cranny of the state and chronicled their journeys in the front Airports of this guide. If you know what region West Virginia has eight airports that you’d like to explore, skip to the story offer commercial airline service: introducing it and view helpful listings. Beckley/Raleigh County, Bluefield/ Then make your plans to visit Wild and Mercer County, Charleston/Yeager, Wonderful West Virginia! Clarksburg/Harrison-Marion Regional, Huntington/Tri-State, Lewisburg/ Greenbrier Valley, Morgantown and Parkersburg/Mid-Ohio Valley. Train Service For information about traveling to, from and within the state by train, call 800-872-7245 (800-USA-RAIL), or visit www.Amtrak.com. Travel the MARC rail commuter system’s Brunswick Line, which offers service from Washington, D.C. to Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg. Call 866-743-3682 (866-RIDE MTA), or visit www.mtamaryland.com. g Plan Your TRIP! Using This Guide State Highways Six major interstate highways enter West Virginia: I-64, I-68, I-70, I-77, I-79 and I-81, and there’s one toll road, the West Virginia Turnpike (I-77), an 88-mile stretch of four-lane interstate from Charleston to Princeton. Planes, Trains & Automobiles W W W . C A L L W VA . C O M 11 http://www.Amtrak.com http://www.mtamaryland.com http://www.callwva.com http://www.callwva.com
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