Hatfield and McCoy Adventure
Learn About the Famous Feud Start your Hatfield and McCoy family adventure with an Appalachian themed dinner at TAMARACK: The Best of West Virginia. Try the Appalachian Mountain Burger with Red Eye Country Ham, Fried Green Tomatoes, Swiss Cheese, and Real McCoy Mustard Sauce. Another local favorite is the Pan-Fried West Virginia Rainbow Trout with Lemon Brown Butter, Skillet Fried Potatoes and seasonal greens. Leave room for dessert! There is Bread Pudding with Cinnamon Sauce. Next, visit Theater West Virginia for their theatrical retelling of this famous story. Travel south on Interstate 77 and merge onto Interstate 64 towards Lewisburg. Take exit 129B onto Grandview Road and travel five minutes to Grandview. As the sun sets on the Cliffside Amphitheatre allow yourself to be taken back in time to the 1800's. Some say it started with a dispute over ownership of a hog. Others say the ill-fated love of Roseanne McCoy and Johnse Hatfield caused it. Whatever the reason, there was bad blood between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky. This historical drama chronicles the battles and bloodshed spurred by pride and politics. The story of the Hatfields and McCoys has been told and retold until the real men and women diffuse into myth, but they did exist. After the smoke clears in the morning get the day started with a hearty breakfast at your hotel or at one of the great establishments on exit 44. Now that you've seen the tale, take a road trip to visit The Hatfield Cemetery in Logan County. The Hatfield Cemetery is the resting place for several key participants in the Hatfield-McCoy feud. Buried here are the leader of the Hatfield clan, Anderson "Devel Anse" Hatfield; his son, Johnse, whose affair with Roseanna McCoy was a crucial turning point in the feud; French Ellis, who married into the family and was an active participant in many feud events; Devil Anse's wife, Levicy; and several more of the Hatfield children. Begin your trip by taking exit 42 from Interstate 77 onto state route 16 also referred to as the Coal Heritage Trail. This portion of the trail takes you deep into coal country passing through what were once thriving coal camps including the towns of Stotesburg, Tams, Helen, Amigo and Allen Junction. The trip from Mullens to Pineville takes you through Itmann, named for coal baron, I.T. Mann, and along the scenic Guyandotte River. Follow WV-16 straight onto WV-10, straight onto WV-97. Turn onto US-52 and turn right onto WV-44 ending in the town of Sarah Ann. (Plan at least one extra day during the Annual Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival held in June). For more information on the reunion please contact Matewan City Hall, phone (304) 426-4092. For additional information on the Coal Heritage Trail contact the Coal Heritage Highway Authority www.coalheritage.org, 304-256-6941.
Millionaires and Miners
A Self-Guided Walking Tour Through a Historic Town The historic homes in Bramwell are open for tours to the public the 1st Saturday in June and the 2nd Saturday in December. Private group tours may be arranged prior to arrival, contact Betty Goins at 304-248-8381. You can do a self-guided walking tour everyday in this beautiful historic town. Begin your tour by reserving a room in one of the areas hotels or motels. Bluefield and Princeton have a variety of options. On the first day of your journey recapture the Gilded Age by visiting the historic town of Bramwell. Bramwell was home to as many as nineteen millionaires and their families who made their fortunes from the Pocahontas coalfields. The tour begins at the Presbyterian Church where you will hear the general history of Bramwell. As you visit each home you are greeted by a costumed guide who will tell you the story of the original home owner and their families. After visiting the Bank of Bramwell stop in to the Masonic Temple for light refreshments. There are several unique boutiques located on Main Street to browse through. Be sure to visit the Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center where the locals have donated memorabilia that depicts the history of the town from its beginning all the way through to present day. Once you have visited the millionaire's town, travel a short distance to the Pocahontas Mine & Museum for a walking tour. The Pocahontas Mine was the first world wide exhibition mine. (To extend this tour add a day for the Bramwell Octoberfest in the fall). Day two have a hearty breakfast at a local restaurant. Today you will begin to travel the Coal Heritage Trail. You have seen how the Millionaires lived in Bramwell now see the towns where the miners worked and lived. The trail will begin on US route 52 in Bramwell. Along the way you will see sites where coal was king and still reins today. As you reach the town of Welch that grew from the railroad as a result of the rapid expansion of the mining industry you will merge onto state route 16. Between Mullens and Pineville you will pass the Itmann Company Store. Named for I. T. Mann who resided in the town of Bramwell and started the Bank of Bramwell. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Continue traveling north to the town of MacArthur where you will take Interstate 77 to exit 45. A must see along the trail is Tamarack -The Best of West Virginia. Tamarack is a great lunch or dinner stop as well as a shopping destination. Visitors get a chance to see one of a kind arts and crafts made by West Virginians around the state and the food court provides a taste of art at an affordable price. (To extend this drive continue on Interstate 77 and take US route 19 towards Summersville the trail will end in Ansted on route 60 the Midland Trail.) Return to Princeton south on Interstate 77 take exit 14 through Athens into Pipestem State Park. Stretch your legs on a trail or enjoy a horse back ride before dinner. Stay long enough to enjoy a meal at the one of the dining rooms at the Park. If you are bringing a group contact the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau 1-800-221-3206 or the Town of Bramwell 304-248-7114 for their personal touches on this tour. Contact the Coal Heritage Highway Authority for a copy of the Coal Heritage Trail Map www.coalheritage.org or 304-256-6941.
Hub and Spoke Tours
Explore Our Surrounding Areas Extend your visit to southern West Virginia by using one of our hub & spoke itineraries. Make one of our counties your base camp as you explore all that the surrounding area has to offer. Tour #1 Beckley, WV Breakfast at hotel or local restaurant Tour Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, Youth Museum of SWV & Mountain Homestead Enjoy a box lunch from the one of our local restaurants or eat at Daniel Vineyards before the Tour Tour Daniel Vineyards Dine & Shop at Tamarack Marketplace Take in a show at Grandview's Outdoor Amphitheatre produced by Theatre West Virginia Tour #2 Departing from Beckley, WV Breakfast at hotel or restaurant Head to Historic Downtown Lewisburg for shopping & lunch Take in a tour of The Greenbrier Bunker or tour and taste at Smooth Ambler Spirits or go caving at Lost World Caverns Return to Beckley to shop / visit Tamarack Marketplace Dine at The Resort at Glade Springs, The Char, Pasquale's or choose from many other wonderful dinner establishments. Tour #3 Departing from Beckley, WV Breakfast & shopping at Tamarack Marketplace Head North to Fayette County where you can visit the Canyon Rim Visitors Center at the New River Gorge Bridge - Gorgeous overlooks! You can even walk the catwalk with Bridge Walk to get a 'birds eye view' of the Gorge. Shopping stop at Canyon Rim Gifts. Stop in Fayetteville for lunch. Choose from Pies & Pints Pizzeria, Secret Sandwich Society, Cathedral Cafe, or the TakeOut. Then head to Hawks Nest State Park. Take a trip down into the Gorge then board the New River Jetboat to view the New River Gorge Bridge from a different perspective. Travel to Summersville for Historic sites at Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park & Summersville Dam. Tour Kirkwood Winery Dining & Lodging in Fayette County Tour #4 Fayette County Breakfast at area restaurant or your lodging facility Soft adventure trip on a scenic float trip on the New River with lunch included- minimum age 6 OR Take a more adventurous ride down the Lower section of the New -“ lunch included - min age 12. Both trips on the water give you an opportunity to learn about the coal history of the New River Gorge and the boomtown of Thurmond. Visit Historic Fayetteville & shops. Dine at area restaurant and take in a performance at the Historic Fayette Theatre or form teams and visit Fayetteville's Escape-A-Torium Tour #5 Departing from Fayette County Take the scenic & historical Coal Heritage Trail to Twins Falls Resort State Park for brunch and then enjoy a group activity at the park. Activities include bird watching, nature hikes, golf, taking photographs of the Pioneer Village and more. Visit Historic Hinton and the Railroad Museum Take in the John Henry Monument and Graham House before departing to The Market for dinner. Lodging at Pipestem Resort State Park
Outdoor Lover’s Getaway
West Virginia is the perfect getaway state for the adventure-lover. There are so many great outdoor adventure opportunities that you could stay forever. Below you will find an example itinerary for 2 very full days and 3 nights. Arrive in southern West Virginia for an adventure of a lifetime. Choose a lodging facility from our list of hotels, cabins, bed and breakfasts and lodges and then get rested for your West Virginia adventure. Day 1: Breakfast at your lodging facility or on your own. Head to the River with one of our professional river companies. Whether you are a young family or an adventure seeking group, the New River has full day trips on the Upper/Middle section for ages 6 and up and Lower section for ages 12 and up. One day trips normally last 6 hours and include lunch, equipment and shuttle to and from outfitters base camp. Dine at one of the great dining facilities in the Fayette County area: Pies & Pints, Secret Sandwich Society, or The Station. Back to your lodging facility for a good nights sleep . . . you're going to need it! Day 2: Breakfast at your lodging facility or on your own. Depart on a morning half day adventure: Now it's time to see the New River area from a different angle. Go horseback riding (min age around 8) or rock climbing (min age 6). These trips can also be arranged in different formats from 2 hour to full day trips. These are guided adventures and include all equipment. Half day trips are approx 4 hours. For a great lunch in the Fayetteville area try Cathedral Cafe, Secret Sandwich Society or Pies & Pints. After lunch head to the Canyon Rim Visitors Center. The National Park Service Rangers are on hand to answer any questions about the area and you can walk through the museum of historical artifacts of the New River Gorge. Learn about the railroad and coal history and watch a short film on the construction of the New River Gorge Bridge. Then it's off on a hike! Two of the most popular hikes are listed below. The Rangers also have trail maps and a lot of great suggestions. Long Point Trail a 1.6 mile moderate hiking trail. Best view of the Bridge. Rt. 19 to Rt. 16 S in Fayetteville to Gatewood Road for 1.9 miles, turn left on Newton Rd. Parking within 50 yards on left to trail head. Thurmond Minden Trail (Mary Ingles Trail) 3.2 miles, easy hiking/biking trail. Great trail, scenic views Rt. 19 Glen Jean Exit take an immediate left go .05 miles turn right and follow signs to Thurmond Rt. 25. Trailhead is on left 5.1 miles Dinner in the area. Treat at Smokey's on the Gorge or The Char or Pasquale's in the Beckley area. Return to your lodging facility for you last night in the West Virginia Mountains. Adventure itineraries like these can be booked as packages through one of our whitewater outfitters. They can arrange lodging, meals and the outdoor activities of your choice with one phone call and can arrange for it all to be in one convenient invoice. These itineraries have been submitted by Visit Southern West Virginia, local marketing organizations in West Virginia to serve as suggestions on how you can begin to plan your next great vacation in Southern West Virginia. We encourage you to contact the individual attractions, lodging facilities and restaurants for further information and additional sites to see and services in their areas.
The Springs Tour
A Driving Tour of the Historic Springs & Resorts of the Greenbrier Valley More then a hundred years ago, in what is today one of the most pristine rural areas in West Virginia, visitors came by the thousands to visit the many natural springs in Monroe, Greenbrier and Summers Counties. Where the healing waters flowed, grand resort hotels flourished. Some of them, such as the Greenbrier, continue to operate today. Others are abandoned now, their vast edifices and cool spring houses still whispering of past grandeur. Of some, only memories remain. The Springs Trail is a driving tour of these historic springs. Along the way you will find spectacular scenery in any season, friendly people, fine lodging and food and enjoyable shopping and a wealth of history. And, yes, you can still "take the waters." You may begin your tour at any point along the circular trail. We will begin in Union, the county seat of Monroe. Settled in 1774 by James Alexander, Union retains a leisurely, traditionally Southern flavor. In the town's National Historic District are many 19th-century buildings of note, the Confederate Monument Park, and the Monroe County Historical Society Museum. A walking tour is available. From Union, drive south along US 219 to Salt Sulphur Springs. Three types of springs flow here: sulphur, sweet and iodine. The grand old Salt Sulphur Springs Hotel, with its tall white columns, still stands. A store, church, bath house, and spring house also remain, all built with limestone quarried from the hillside above the bath house. It is the largest pre-Civil War stone building complex in West Virginia. Continue driving south on US 219. You will pass the Indian Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1898 by the teenaged Weikle brothers. You are traveling along Indian Creek, one of the oldest Native American north/south routs, also known as the Seneca Trail. At Raines Corner, turn west on Rte 122. At Hunter Springs, about 3 miles along Rte 122, you will pass Creekside Resort, a contemporary spa and comfortable lodging. Continue west along Rte 122 to Greenville. Here you will find Cook's Mill complex now known as the Old Mill. Look for the Cook's Fort historical marker just outside of town. Follow Rte 122 west to Rte 25. Turn left and drive south along Rte 25 for about 5 miles; then turn right, straight across Hans Creek, taking County Route 25/2 west until it meets Rte 27, Red Sulphur Road. Within another mile, in a narrow valley, you will be at the site of Red Sulphur Springs. Built in 1832 and converted to a military hospital during the Civil War, Red Sulphur was one of the largest and most popular resorts in the area. Not a trace remains except the spring itself and its rock foundation. At Red Sulphur Springs, Rte 27 meets Rte 12. Turn right and follow Rte 12 north to Rte 3, about 12 miles, where you will cross the Greenbrier River. (At this point, diving west on Rte 3 will take you to the National Historic District of Hinton and Campbell-Flanagan- Murrell Museum House.) Continue on Rtes 12 and 3 to Lowell, where you will find the Graham House Museum (1770). Continue east on Rtes 12 and 3 to the Summers/Greenbrier county line and shortly afterwards, the old historic town of Alderson, a National Historic District. The town is divided by the Greenbrier River between Greenbrier and Monroe Counties. In and near Alderson, you will find lodging, fine handcrafts and food. Leave Alderson on Rte 12, driving north to Palestine. At Palestine, turn left onto County Rte 25 and follow it northwest about 8.5 miles to Blue Sulphur Springs. Of the magnificent 19th, century resort that once occupied this broad valley, only the spring pavilion is left, its twelve stately columns standing in silent tribute to a gracious era. From Blue Sulphur Springs, take County Rte 31 east to Rte 12, near Asbury, and continue north on Rte 12 to US 60, the Midland Trail. Follow US 60 east to the National Historic District of Lewisburg. Here you will find historical sites, charming shops, excellent restaurants and plenty of lodging, including the venerable General Lewis Inn. The North House Museum, maintained by the Greenbrier Historical Society, is open year round. A walking tour of Historic Lewisburg is available. Continue driving east along US 60, passing through Caldwell at the Greenbrier River to White Sulphur Springs, home of the famous Greenbrier Resort. Many other lodgings and restaurants are in the area. Follow US 60 east to the intersection to the intersection of US 60/I-64. Follow the combined highway just about 1.5 miles to the junction of Route 311. Turn right and travel south on Rte 311, passing into Alleghany County, VA and immediately through a tunnel. Continue south to Crows, VA, an old stage coach stop where there was once a famous inn, on the way to Sweet Springs. Continue south along Rte 311 to Sweet Chalybeate Springs also once known as Red Sweet Springs with its beautiful gazebo, pool and waterfall. Now, following Rte 311 south, you will cross from Virginia into Monroe County, WV. Just about a mile inside the state line is Sweet Springs Resort. The massive main edifice is an impressive example of Jeffersonian architecture. It is the best preserved of the pre-Civil War resort hotels. At Sweet Springs, you will leave Rte 311 and travel west on Rte 3. Follow Rte 3, crossing the Great Eastern Divide, to Gap Mills. Just past Gap Mills, Route 8 leads northwest to the site of Roxalia Springs and Moncove Lake State Park. Continue along Rte 3 toward Union. Just before you reach Union, be sure to take the right turn and short drive to Rehobeth Church and Museum, a pioneer log church built in 1786. It is the oldest Methodist church west of the Alleghenies. Follow Rte 3 into historic Union, where the Spring Trail begins and ends. For additional visitor information contact: Monroe County Tourism, PO Box 341, Union, WV 24983 866/677-3003, ext 11 or email tourmonroe@yahoo.com
