ALMOST HEAVEN
“Life is old there,
older than the trees,
younger than the mountains,
blowing like a breeze”
West Virginia was a place unlike any other I have visited before. The magic, mystery and historic nostalgia seemed to fill up the hearts of all who have stepped foot here — along the winding rivers and trailheads that scatter the wide and endless landscape. We discovered so many little gems on our expedition: from rainy mountainside hikes, to visiting an organic farm, to hearing the stories of the people who have grown up here.
HARPERS FERRY
Harpers Ferry is a quaint little town within a National Park, sitting among the rolling hills along where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet. We had the chance to stop by the cutest little candy store, True Treats Historic Candy, to try molasses sweets and peppermint Gibralters. We cozied up for a yummy lunch at the Potomac Grill, where we sipped hot tea, surrounded by old National Park signage.
BLACKWATER FALLS STATE PARK
Nestled among red spruce trees in a magical forest, Blackwater Falls rushes with an amber tint, cascading gracefully within the Allegheny Mountains. We stumbled upon this beautiful location on an early hike through the drizzling October rain. Some of the leaves were beginning to turn a bright gold, and they shone like honey on the trails in the mid-morning storm.
LOST RIVER
We had so much fun exploring and eating at an amazing farm in West Virginia called Wardensville Garden Market. We had fresh tomatoes, peppers, homemade breads and locally made jams! We also had some sweet apple pie for a little taste of something sweet. The owners also have an amazing trading post called Lost River, where they sell incredible American-made goods by talented artisans from all over.
SENECA ROCKS
Way out in the wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest, we hiked up Seneca Rocks through the steep wooded mountainside in the drizzling rain. As soon as we got to the top, the clouds slightly parted and out poured a magnificent golden sunlight into the entire valley — glowing out into the and hills & the North Fork River way down below.
POTOMAC EAGLE SCENIC RAILROAD
On the last day of our week exploring the peaceful and nostalgic regions of West Virginia, we took the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad over the river and through the woods on a crisp autumn day. You could see the Blue Ridge Mountains peeking out in the distance, as we winded and twisted through the highlands of this incredible state.
West Virginia is a place that I will truly never forget, and was honored to be able to tell the stories of the nostalgic counties of this state. Thank you so much to West Virginia Tourism for inviting me on this incredible expedition.
Onwards,
A
