Staff Picks: Top 20 Tourism Spots
“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.
Whitewater in West Virginia: Celebrating 50 Years
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.
An Insider’s Guide to Bridge Day
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.
In the Chef’s Corner: Smokey’s Steakhouse
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.
Off the Clock: After-Hours Conference Fun
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.
Tranquil Retreats
Company retreats can carry a stigma that overshadows the event’s intended productivity. At the mention of a retreat, employees may relate these required events to being stuck in a stuffy room for hours on end, and when this becomes the reality, productivity is a pipe dream. Retreats are company investments intended to result in idea generation, problem solving and team building, but when the venue fails to inspire creativity and comradery, the end result is a loss for everyone in attendance.