Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 18

The GOOD WALK
THe

Strolling Charleston, West
Virginia's Kanawha River
and Downtown

This easy urban walk can stretch to six miles or be shortened to a
few city blocks of culture, history and dining.
Text and photos by Leonard Adkins

Having grown up there, I say with conviction that in the
springtime, when tens of thousands of crabapple blossoms are reflected in the Kanawha River and thousands
more daffodils dot the banks, Charleston becomes West
Virginia's prettiest large city. When I return for a visit I
always devote several hours to the bi-level walkway-
one alongside Kanawha Boulevard and the other within
a few feet of the river-that runs for three miles, providing greenway-like access to historic neighborhoods, riverfront parks, the capitol building, the downtown area
and many childhood memories.
I start walking westward on the lower level from the
35th Street Bridge so that I can enjoy the river during
the first part of the outing. However, at .75 mile (when
the University of Charleston is directly across the river), it's worthwhile to rise up, cross the boulevard and
visit the state capitol building. Completed in 1932, it is
generally regarded one of the country's most beautiful.
From its gold dome to its sculpted mythological gods
and goddesses above entrance doors, the building has
such an abundance of details that it could take weeks
to seek out and enjoy all of them. The second-floor ceiling, with intricately carved panels depicting leaves of
18 BlueRidgeCountry.com

the state's native trees, has always impressed me. Next
door is the Cultural Center, the depository for the state's
artistic, cultural and historical heritage.
It's only a few steps from the capitol building to the
East End Historic District where I spent many a boyhood
day riding bicycles with friends. Its streets are lined with
homes from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, including the Brass Pineapple, a blend of the Victorian and art
nouveau that is one of the city's few B&Bs.
Back onto the boulevard, I stay on the upper level
to admire the architectural aspects of additional palatial
early-1900s homes, many of which are now law offices.
About 1.5 miles from the capitol, I detour once more,
this time wandering into downtown for a bite. Thanks to
a major revitalization effort, Capitol Street, downtown's
main thoroughfare, has come back from the brink of being deserted and is a thriving mix of art galleries, restaurants, shopping experiences and business offices.
Taylor Books is one of America's few surviving independent bookstores, attracting patrons with a blend of
new and used books and an espresso bar that serves pastries, soups and other items made in-house. In addition
to the usual flavors, Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream cre-


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Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017

Features
Festival Guide 2017
Waterfalls of North Carolina: A Photo Essay
Wytheville Loves Edith
Barry Glick, Garden Guy
Vanishing Landmarks of North Georgia
Cheese!
Departments
From the Editor
Contributors
Mill Creek Stories
Worth a Click
Creature Feature
The Good Walk
Mountain Report
Country Roads
Singing in the Garden
Festivals & Events
Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 5
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - From the Editor
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Contributors
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 8
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Mill Creek Stories
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 12
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 13
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 14
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Worth a Click
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - The Good Walk
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Mountain Report
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Country Roads
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 24
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Festival Guide 2017
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 28
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 32
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 34
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 36
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Waterfalls of North Carolina: A Photo Essay
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 40
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 43
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 44
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Wytheville Loves Edith
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 46
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Barry Glick, Garden Guy
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 50
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 51
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Vanishing Landmarks of North Georgia
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 53
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 54
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 55
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Cheese!
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 57
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Singing in the Garden
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 59
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 60
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 61
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Festivals & Events
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 63
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 64
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - 65
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2017 - Cover4
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