West Virginia 2008 Official State Travel Guide - (Page 25) Wonderful West Virginia REPORTS SMALL TOWN ROUNDUP by Ellen Hoffman WHERE: BRAMWELL DON’T MISS: Self-guided walking or driving tour of the Southern West Virginia “millionaires’ town,” including imposing homes built by bankers and coal barons early in the 20th century and the Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center. Public, open house tours second Saturdays in May and December. MORE INFO: Town Hall, 304-248-7114. For open house tours call 304-248-8381 or www.bramwellwv.com. WHERE: DAVIS DON’T MISS: Blackwater Falls, tumbling 63 feet over a more than 500-foot-deep gorge; a standout in the Canaan Valley/Tucker County region, where half of the land is forest, wilderness, fish and wildlife refuge or park property; neighboring Thomas (see below). MORE INFO: Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-782-2775, www.canaanvalley.org. WHERE: HARPERS FERRY DON’T MISS: Historic Pre-Civil War town with tours led by costumed guides and park rangers; located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, where the view of the water gap is seen best from the cemetery at the top of the hill; a stroll on the Appalachian Trail. MORE INFO: 1-866-HELLO-WV or www.nps.gov/hafe or www.hello-wv.com. WHERE: HELVETIA DON’T MISS: A tiny Swiss village, 2,200 feet up in the mountains, that lives its heritage in food, architecture and the annual Fasnacht festival, the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, with a masked ball and Swiss feast. MORE INFO: Randolph County CVB, 800-422-3304 or www.randolphcountywv.com/historicsites/helvetia.htm. WHERE: HINTON DON’T MISS: Historic district, including the Railroad Museum, with artifacts from the town’s heyday as a C&O Railways terminal; Railroad Days events are held two weekends in October each year; annual festivals honoring local hero John Henry, the railroad’s “steel-driving man,” who helped build the Big Bend Tunnel are held in the nearby town of Talcott. MORE INFO: Summers County Visitors Center, 304-466-5420 or www.summerscvb.com. WHERE: PARKERSBURG DON’T MISS: A self-guided walking tour of beautiful, stately homes in the Julia-Ann Square Historic District; a sternwheeler ride across the Ohio River to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park for carriage rides around the island and tours of the mansion. MORE INFO: Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-752-4982 or www.greaterparkersburg.com. WHERE: SHEPHERDSTOWN DON’T MISS: In the Eastern Panhandle on the Potomac River, the oldest town in West Virginia with Civil War and Federal architecture, galleries, shops, restaurants and a lively art and cultural scene. MORE INFO: 1-866-HELLO-WV or www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com or www.hello-wv.com. WHERE: THOMAS DON’T MISS: Just few miles from Davis (see above), MountainMade and other art galleries, shops; live music and eclectic food at The Purple Fiddle and a tour and taste of artisan beer at Mountain State Brewery. MORE INFO: Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-782-2775 or www.canaanvalley.org. W W W . C A L L W VA . C O M 25 http://www.bramwellwv.com http://www.canaanvalley.org http://www.nps.gov/hafe http://www.hello-wv.com http://www.randolphcountywv.com/historicsites/helvetia.htm http://www.summerscvb.com http://www.greaterparkersburg.com http://www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com http://www.hello-wv.com http://www.canaanvalley.org http://www.callwva.com
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