West Virginia Christmas Celebrations By Samantha Cart For many, the joy of the holiday season can be overshadowed by the work of decorating, entertaining and gift giving. This year, rather than allowing the season to pass in a blur of parties, plays, storefronts and errands, make time to experience a truly unique take on the…
“All my memories gather ’round her….”
All four staff members at West Virginia Executive (WVE) magazine are native West Virginians who grew up exploring the hills and hollows of this great state, making priceless memories with our Mountain Mama. A lifetime of outdoor adventures, scenic overlooks and one-of-a-kind activities with family and friends have inspired a deep-rooted love for getting out and
experiencing Almost Heaven first-hand. Here, our staff shares its favorite Mountain State destinations with the hope our readers will be inspired to get out and make their own memories in wild, wonderful West Virginia.
Fifty years ago, West Virginia’s multi-million-dollar whitewater rafting industry was founded by a handful of high-spirited college students with a few canoes and Army surplus rafts. The Dragan brothers—Chris, Tom and Jon—and Jon’s girlfriend, Melanie, all 24 years old or younger, started the state’s first whitewater company, Wildwater Unlimited, in the 1960s and began taking friends down the New River in Army surplus rafts. The spirit and adventure of the sport quickly spread throughout the state, creating a tourist destination at the New River Gorge and a new brand of adventure available around the state that now includes outdoor activities, lodging, dining and more.
Every year on the third Saturday in October, BASE jumpers from around the world gather at the historic New River Gorge Bridge as they prepare to fling themselves from the top and parachute an impressive 876 feet to the bottom of the gorge.
Smokey’s Steakhouse may have opened as an a la carte restaurant in 2017, but this memorable dining destination has a long-standing history nestled above the New River Gorge. The restaurant, which is part of Adventures on the Gorge (AOTG), was originally named after Dana “Smokey” Morton, bus driver extraordinaire, who came to Class-VI River Runners in 1979 when the company purchased a bus from Oak Hill City Lines. Morton passed away in 1988, but his legend lives on through this Fayetteville favorite, which is home to delicious food and breath-taking views.
For many, having to attend a business conference or retreat can seem more like a chore than the opportunity it presents. In order to help turn that
stigma around and give your employees something to look forward to, plan your next getaway at one of these venues where the local communities are ripe with opportunity for a variety of extracurricular, off-the-clock adventures.