Tag: West Virginia

“Gorge-ous” Views at the Newest National Park

Michelle Cardenas

Established as a national park in 2020, New River Gorge is one of the newest additions to the national park system, and it provided us with some memorable firsts. The park is renowned for its rugged beauty, rich history, and the New River, which is one of the oldest rivers on the continent. Spanning over 70,000 acres, the park boasts over 100 miles of trails, offering a variety of experiences from strenuous hikes to scenic walks–although on the rainy, overcast morning we visited, the view was somewhat obstructed until later in the day.

We began our journey by taking a quick look around the Visitor Center, where we familiarized ourselves with the park’s history and features. The park ranger provided valuable information about safe exploration routes, ensuring our hike would be both enjoyable and secure. From the Visitor Center, we headed to the section of the New River Gorge that houses the Castle Rock Trail and the Grandview Rim Trail. These trails, totaling about 3.2 miles out and back, promised a mix of strenuous and scenic experiences.

Our group split up to tackle the different trails. Professor Yawn, Cinthia, Olivia, and Chrissy set out on the Castle Rock Trail, navigating its more strenuous, rocky terrain.

Meanwhile, Stephanie and I took the Grandview Rim Trail, which led us through a beautiful tunnel of luscious vegetation.

The trails eventually converged, and we all continued together toward our final destination, the Turkey Spur Overlook. When we arrived at the “overlook,” we were mostly looking over clouds.

But the sky slowly cleared, and we were able to see some of the river and train tracks in the gorge.

There were also stairs (150, to be exact) to a lookout that gave us an additional perspective.

But with the rain returning, we took shelter briefly under an overhang….

…and then returned to the car….

…while making the most of nature views along the way…

We even gave Flat Sammy a chance to explore!

…Although he didn’t much appreciate the rain.

New River Gorge is a National Park with multiple units, consisting of not only the “Grandview” area, but also Sandstone Falls and the Bridge. We were unable to visit the Falls, but we did make sure to see the Bridge, which was pretty magnificent.

It is the longest (3,030 feet) steel span bridge in the United States, and the third highest (876 feet), and it is really an architectural marvel and beauty from multiple perspectives.

Looking away from the bridge, visitors are graced with beautiful views of the gorge and a distant bridge.

The smaller bridge in the photo above was the former means of traversing the gorge, a route that takes some 45 minutes to drive. With the New River Gorge Bridge, that trip is now less than a minute.

The natural beauty of the area shone through, even in less-than-ideal conditions. Most importantly, this trip allowed me to check off another first with LEAP, creating lasting memories with a wonderful team and making my first national park visit an unforgettable experience.

Caving In: Discovering the Wonders Beneath West Virginia

Whenever LEAP Ambassadors have the opportunity to travel, we make the most of it. So it was that on an off morning of conference sessions, we stepped foot into the Lost World Caverns which, for many of us, was the first time stepping foot into a cave.

Discovered in 1942, these caverns have become a popular destination, offering a fascinating glimpse into the subterranean world carved out over millions of years by the relentless force of water.

Originally, the only way into the cave was through a hole in the ground, and “visitors” had to be lowered in by rope, and then hauled out in reverse.

For us, it was much easier. We entered through a man-made opening, we were immediately struck by the chill in the air, a stark contrast to the surface temperatures. The sound of dripping water echoed (literally!) around us, setting the stage for the natural wonders we were about to witness.

Inside, the caverns revealed spectacular dripstone speleothems, including stalactites and stalagmites.

These formations, created by the slow deposition of minerals from dripping water, were breathtaking. We were particularly fascinated by the columns referred to as “soda straws” or “pencil stalactites,” delicate formations that looked as though they could be easily snapped. 

The formations themselves, with whimsical names like the “Pig Tail,” and “The Veil” left us in awe. Each turn in the path revealed a new and stunning sight, and it was hard not to be overwhelmed by the beauty and intricacy of the cave’s interior.

I didn’t really know what to expect, but from the beginning, it was clear that this was a unique and special place.

The views were unlike anything I had ever seen before, with each rock formation appearing both immense and intricately detailed.

It’s amazing to know that the Earth presents its beauty not only on the surface but also beneath it. Most importantly we all had fun caving in to our sense of adventure!

From Sullivan’s Island to West Virginia

Based on the weather in the morning…

…we did not expect a full day of outdoor activities.

But with a little help from the weather, and with some weather forbearance on our part, we were able to partake in a full day, which would include a morning of kayaking (see here), an afternoon of exploring Sullivan’s Island, and an evening mixer with legislators, lobbyists, and legislative staff. Quite a day for college students!

Fort Moultrie

We arrived at Sullivan’s Island ready to explore, despite some rain, and we learned that the name of the island comes from Florence O’Sullivan, who was among the first European to settle and did much to develop the colony of South Carolina in the 17th century.

We began by visiting the “Edgar Allan Poe” library, fittingly named not only because it is a library, but also because Poe lived on this island when stationed at Fort Moultrie. It’s even possible Poe stepped foot in the structure that now houses a library; it was a garrison long before it was a library.

Interestingly, Poe wrote “The Gold Bug” here, and he used the island setting in the short story.

Poe was stationed at Fort Moultrie, which played a key role in the American Revolutionary War.

Entering the Fort’s visitor center, we were able to browse the varying artifacts that were preserved from the days the fort was active, such as a 300-pound cannonball, manillas (a form of currency to purchase slaves), and an actual map with the route of the slave trade.

The original fort on this site was defended by South Carolina colonist Col. William Moultrie–for whom the fort is named–and was made of Palmetto wood. When the British attacked, the fort, and Moultrie’s men, withstood the bombardment. Moultrie became a hero, and the Palmetto became the State Tree of South Carolina.

We took the time to go through the many structures by the fort, making sure to get up close to some rare cannons from the Civil War lining the exterior. The cannons included several Rodmans, Brooke Rifles, Parrott Rifles, and Columbiads, reflecting the technological innovation that occurred over the years in battle.

There was also a Sally port, which was a highlight for the group. The bomb-proof structure was used to store gunpowder, keeping their supply dry and ready for use. Morgan, in particular, couldn’t fathom how soldiers could run back and forth through the narrow passageways in a battle.

In one of the structures, we discovered a small “passageway” where soldiers or those based in the fort could receive mail – magazines. Jessica and I decided to test this out by having me hand her an umbrella.

The visit to Fort Moultrie was captivating, educational, and exciting to see! And, perhaps best of all, it was on the beach, allowing us a quick transition to some senseless fun!

Sullivan’s Island Beach

The beach offers not only fun in the sun (or clouds), but also a nice view of The Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge.

For most of us, this was only the second beach we had really been to (Galveston was our common experience), and we were able to swim, share stories, laugh, and even engage in some competitive behavior.

Even after a couple of hours spent at the beach we could have stayed longer, but we needed to eat and get back for our evening with at the Southern Legislative Conference.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Feeling a bit exhausted and famished after a long day of outdoor activities, we searched for a place where we could enjoy a nice meal that would satisfy our craving for Mexican food. Sullivan’s Island had the perfect restaurant a couple of blocks away from the beach: Mex 1 Coastal Cantina. 

We were greeted by a welcoming staff and presented with traditional tortilla chips and tomato salsa, not long after we were seated. Our entrees included Street Taco Platters: Carne Asada Tacos with Roasted Corn and a mixed plate with a Carne Asada and Pork with Pineapple taco, Chicken Quesadillas, Braised Chicken Baja Bowl, and the Mexi-Cali Burrito. This restaurant’s menu included some of the traditional Mexican delicacies, but it also had many unique entrees that were inspired by different cultures. An example of this would be the Mexi-Cali Burrito, a twist on a Mexican burrito with the addition of French Fries and queso on top. 

The food was savory – full of flavor – and delectable; it was the perfect way to end our adventure on Sullivan’s Island. With tans, happy hearts, big smiles, and most importantly, full stomachs, we headed back to the hotel to prepare for an evening of fun hosted by the West Virginia Legislature.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia–2024 Conference Preview

By Ingrid Cuero

Who could turn down a night that includes great music, not-so rhythmically inclined dancing, and vibrant conversations? Not us! 

In 2024, West Virginia will be hosting the Southern Legislative Conference. As a preview, the State Legislature hosted an evening of jazz, dancing, a few remarks by legislators, and a lot of fun–all with a 1920s theme.

The Rivercity Dixieland Jazz Band set the stage with their jazz standards, including their rendition of “The Charleston,” which we attempted to learn! The song fit both our location, and also the 1920s’ theme of the evening.

We enjoyed the food provided by the sponsors, the music, and we even danced a bit! Morgan, Olivia, and I danced early in the night, and by the end of the night, Jessica and Michelle joined us!

With the evening being sponsored by the West Virginia delegation, Roger Hanshaw, Speaker of the WV House…

…invited everyone to attend next year, emphasizing that the conference would be held at the beautiful Greenbrier Hotel. We were sold!

To sweeten the deal, he and the WV Director of Tourism did some giveaways (which we competed for but lost)…

…and then he led a rendition of John Denver’s, Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Not many speakers could take on the role of musical guest, and it was an absolute delight. Afterward, we took a photo with him, and it was Michelle and Olivia’s first time to meet a Speaker of the House!

And we also enjoyed the music, people watching, and conversations.

Our long day ended in style-and in air conditioning, away from the threatening weather elements of the morning and afternoon. We called it a night, got in the car, and let city roads take us back to the place where we belong.