2021: A Year in Review


With the increased interest of the newly minted New River Gorge National Park and Preserve by both social bloggers and print and televisions outlets, Visit Southern West Virginia, with the help of our partners, hosted and was able to assist the West Virginia Tourism Office with the planning and hosting of many visiting writers.

A successful partnership for media coverage came from the Southeast Association of Travel Writers — Freelance Council, hosted by Adventures on the Gorge. Visit Southern West Virginia was able to host 10 writers for a pre-tour and 7 for a post-tour and have the entire group of 43 attendees visit some of southern West Virginia’s most popular attractions. Below is the running list of articles that we can attribute to this conference.


PublicationLinkAuthorUnique Visitors
Per Month
Circ.
1Yahoo.comExploring New River Gorge, the country’s newest national park (yahoo.com)Christine Loomis149,324,782
2Yahoo.comTravel writers visit Southern West Virginia (yahoo.com)Local story about meeting149,324,782
3MSN.comAdventure at the edge of America’s newest national park (msn.com)Christine Loomis69,470,745
4Parade10 Don’t-Miss Destinations for Your Summer Travel Bucket List (parade.com)Melanie Haiken42,000,000
5USA TodayAdventure at New River Gorge, America’s newest national park (usatoday.com)Christine Loomis20,613,8461,621,091
6USA Today, 10 BestVote – Fayetteville – Best Small Town for Adventure Nominee: 2021 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel AwardsChelle Koster Walton20,613,8461,621,091
7USA Today,10 Besthttps://www.10best.com/interests/outdoor-adventures/new-river-gorge-national-park-adventure-west-virginia/Christine Loomis20,613,8461,621,091
8News BreakExploring New River Gorge, the country’s newest national park – News BreakChristine Loomis7,611,036
9AAA ExplorerA quick guide to America’s newest national parks (aaa.com)Larry Bleiberg5,840,480
10Chicago TribuneWhite-water rafting at West Virginia’s New River Gorge – Chicago TribuneTerri Colby5,238,566283,103
11Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionNewest national park ‘Almost Heaven’ for adventure seekers (ajc.com)Lynn and Cele Seldon3,055,867142,640
12Arizona Republic (AZCentral.com)Adventure at New River Gorge, America’s newest national park (azcentral.com)Christine Loomis2,821,990130,283
13AAA World MagazineNew River Gorge story AAA World.pdfEric Lindberg2,651,200
14Detroit Free PressAdventure at New River Gorge, America’s newest national park (freep.com)Christine Loomis1,585,170131,211
15Orbitz Travel BlogMeet New River Gorge, America’s newest National Park | OrbitzEvelyn Kanter1,199,791
16FlipBoardExploring New River Gorge, the country’s newest national park – FlipboardChristine Loomis1,167,170
17Indianapolis StarAdventure at New River Gorge, America’s newest national park (indystar.com)Christine Loomis735,653114,774
18Des Moines RegisterAdventure at New River Gorge, America’s newest national park (desmoinesregister.com)Christine Loomis633,429
19Cincinnati EnquirerAdventure at New River Gorge, America’s newest national park (cincinnati.com)Christine Loomis577,02195,865
20Traveling MomWhy You Must Visit the New River Gorge National Park | Traveling MomCindy Richards560,000
21Traveling MomNew River Gorge Bridge Walk | TravelingMomCindy Richards560,000
22Inhabitat.comhttps://inhabitat.com/arrowhead-bike-farm-celebrates-west-virginia-biking-community/Teresa Bergen480,951
23Inhabitat.comAdventuring in New River Gorge, the newest US national park (inhabitat.com)Teresa Bergen480,951
24My Itchy Travel FeetBest Things to Do in Southern West Virginia for the Boomer Traveler (myitchytravelfeet.com)Debi Lander409,673
25My Itchy Travel FeetRiding the Hatfield McCoy Trails for Beginners: ATV Fun in West Virginia (myitchytravelfeet.com)Debi Lander409,673
26Wander with WonderLewisburg West Virginia: A Cute Small Town in Greenbrier Valley | Wander With WonderTeresa Bergen400,000
27Wander with WonderAdventures on the Gorge: Visiting New River Gorge National Park | Wander With WonderTeresa Bergen400,000
28ToGo RV4 National Parks in the Southeast Worth Visiting by RV | Togo RVRobert Annis300,000
29Sing Tao Daily News星島日報 (singtaousa.com)David Lang280,000
30RV MagazineWild and Wonderful – RV.comChris Goodier188,416462,000
31RV Magazinewww.rv.com Family RVing – A visit to the New River GorgeChris Goodier188,416462,000
32Florida NewslineTravel | New River Gorge: Our newest National Park – Florida NewsLineDebi Lander180,000
33GoNOMADWVA’s Dazzling New River Gorge | GoNOMAD TravelRich Grant145,000
34WV Metro NewsTravel writers visit W.Va. to get a look at the newest National Park – WV MetroNewsLocal story about meeting144,000
35WV Metro NewsExperienced travel writer says New River Gorge “major breaking travel news story” – WV MetroNewsLocal story about meeting144,000
36Go World TravelChina Tells the History of The Greenbrier Resort (goworldtravel.com)Claudia Carbone125,000
37Go World TravelExplore America’s Newest National Park With Adventures on The Gorge (goworldtravel.com)Claudia Carbone125,000
38Luxe Beat MagazineWest Virginia’s Greenbrier – Almost Heaven – Luxe Beat MagazineSherry Spitsnaugle100,000
39WCHS-TVNational park designation brings nation’s top travel writers to New River Gorge (wchstv.com)Local story about meeting68,844
40Orlando MagazineSouthern West Virginia’s Best Kept Secrets Revealed – Orlando MagazineSusan Moynihan64,00032,000
41Western New York Family MagazineWestern New York Family Magazine, Buffalo, NY – Western New York Family Magazine (wnyfamilymagazine.com)Deborah Williams50,0007,000
42OttsworldOffroading on the Hatfield and McCoy Trails in West Virginia (ottsworld.com)Sherry Spitsnaugle37,729
43Indianapolis MonthlyFree Fallin’ For New River Gorge – Indianapolis MonthlyRobert Annis30,57142,672
44TravelAge WestAdventures on the Gorge: Southern West Virginia’s Portal to Outdoor Adventure | TravelAge WestChristine Loomis25,70913,412
45Register HeraldGALLERY: Freelance Council of the Society of American Travel Writers | Gallery | register-herald.comLocal story about meeting23,46913,412
46Register HeraldTravel writers explore southern West Virginia | State & Region | register-herald.comLocal story about meeting23,46913,412
47Register HeraldBusiness briefcase | Money | register-herald.comLocal story about meeting23,469
48DeSoto Magazinenew-river-gorge | DeSoto MagazineJason Frye20,000
49Knoxville Daily SunNational park designation boosts visibility of West Virginia’s New River Gorge – travel article by Tom Adkinson (knoxvilledailysun.com)Tom Adkinson17,0021,002
50Knoxville Daily Sunhttps://www.knoxvilledailysun.com/travel/2021/west-virginia-artisans.htmlTom Adkinson17,0021,002
51Knoxville Daily Sunhttps://www.knoxvilledailysun.com/travel/2021/bridgewalk.htmlTom Adkinson17,0021,002
52Western New York Family MagazineWestern New York Family Magazine, Buffalo, NY – Western New York Family Magazine (wnyfamilymagazine.com)Deborah Williams7,00050,000
53Lawrence MagazineLawrence Magazine | fall 2021 by Sunflower Publishing – IssuuSusan KrausN/A
54Rails to Trails MagazineRails to Trails Magazine | Rails-to-Trails ConservancyRobert AnnisN/A
55Gazette ExtraMountain high: Natural beauty, history await visitors in West Virginia | Living | gazettextra.comMary BerginN/A
56Roads TraveledNew River Gorge: newest national park, coal mining heritage – Mary Bergin’s Roads Traveled: Good Food & Travel in Wisconsin, the Midwest and BeyondMary BerginN/A
57Adventure Mom BlogTop Things to Do at New River Gorge National Park – Adventure Mom (adventuremomblog.com)Nedra McDanielN/A
58“Don’t Waste Your Money” (Appears in 22 Television Markets)/ WCPO.comhttps://www.wcpo.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/as-travel-prices-rise-fast-heres-how-to-still-find-a-cheap-vacationNedra McDanielN/A
59RickShawJourney.comExploring New River Gorge, the country’s newest national park (rickshawjourney.com)Christine LoomisN/A
60Travel World International MagazineThe Greenbrier, West Virginia – home of former top-secret bunker amidst a world of elegance – TravelWorld International Magazine (travelworldmagazine.com)Sherry SpitsnaugleN/A
61WV Metro NewsWest Virginia Becomes a Travel Destination – WV MetroNews
62Montgomery HeraldTravel writers visited SWV this week | News | montgomery-herald.comLocal story about meetingN/A
63Montgomery HeraldTravel writers’ conference sees dividends | Community | montgomery-herald.comLocal story about meeting resultsN/A
64Fayette TribuneTravel writers’ conference sees dividends | News | fayettetribune.comLocal story about meeting resultsN/A
65Fayette TribuneTravel writers visit Southern West Virginia | News | fayettetribune.comLocal story about meetingN/A
66Coast To Coast MagazineVisit Southern West Virginia An Outdoor Adventure Playground
Page 28-34
Richard Varr
67Destination I Do Unexpected Drivable Destinations Three Ways to Tie the Knot in WV Susan Moynihan
60 USA Today 10-BestclInclusion of the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in the USA 10-Best Museum Poll (placed top 10) https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-history-museum/Chez Chesak
511,125,5666,860,063