USA
West Virginia: Quiet Country Roads and Much, Much More!
Article and photography by Michael Morcos
I was amazed to find out from our guide that Abraham Lincoln and I shared the same exact view from the same spot of the well-kept historic houses and gardens in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. This little-known town played a major role and was once at the forefront of the American Civil War, and where two weeks before the end of the war Virginia was split, and West Virginia was born. Hero or villain, John Brown sure made his name here two years before the start of the Civil War. He and a couple of dozen other like-minded individuals decided it was time to free the slaves and mounted a successful surprise attack on Harper’s Ferry, but this was short lived as federal troops moved in to capture him. He was tried and hung but sparked the resistance against slavery.
The junction of two great rivers, the Potomac River and Shenandoah River was a great water source that led to the creation of Washington DC down-stream. From this very point comes the tri-state area of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland and from the shore, we could see all three.
Adventures galore
Adventure seekers can get their kicks with River Riders, where there is plenty of thrilling options to choose from, all in fun and safety. We would opt for the tree-to-tree tracks and after a safety briefing, we would proceed to the first of three tracks. Clutching the cables we would each take our turns traversing obstacles. Onto the second track, somewhat harder, we found ourselves even higher with less footing space, our group would also drop in numbers. Finally, we were down to three who attempted the ultimate skill test of balance, strength and determination and doing daredevil stunts, balancing ourselves on thin wire, climbing down netting, and finally sliding quickly down a zip line. What an adrenaline rush, what an adventure, a great day to remember.
Country roads
I think I’ve heard this song more in one week than I have in the past decade. Country Roads the internationally beloved song by John Denver and is a shoe tapping melody and just about everywhere we went we were treated to this famous piece, and loved every time it played, knowing we were in the land of West Virginia.
Country music is alive and well in these very small communities as we would take in two small live music venues, where the artists played their hearts out and brought the audience a great night of performances. I was impressed by the ambiance of these two bars, a great ending to a perfect West Virginia day.
Germany in West Virginia
How odd was it to be checking into the Bavarian Inn, and in of all places West Virginia. This unique Inn was started by a German immigrant and his family who built a world class hotel and grounds with their love of the old world. This establishment was popular and known by locals, but the real crowd came on weekends to be pampered and taste the exceptional cuisine and even on premise brewed beers. The location of the buildings could not be any better as it hugged the shores of the Potomac River, the same river that George Washington traversed in the famous painting.
We were pleasantly surprised when we found ourselves on German Street in the town of Shepherdstown. Historically beautiful, it had well-kept period homes, restaurants, boutiques, and galleries that lined the two sides of this charming street. That night, we would go on the Shepherdstown Mystery Walk, a ghost hunting tour. Our guide, dressed in a magnificent and striking long blue dress, would bring us to cemeteries and explain that the city has suffered tremendously, and had more than its share of tragedies during the Civil War. Shepherdstown became an outdoor field hospital for some 8,000 wounded and dying soldiers and thus the many lost souls that haunt this now quiet town. It was certainly enlightening and educational to find such a small town had such significance in US history.
The train that could
There is a nostalgic love of train travel that goes back centuries to when the rails were first set. To relive those fantastic days of old, we would ride the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad to nowhere. Starting and ending at the same station, this eclectic train was made up of several cars that span the many past decades. It was a relaxed and fun journey that brought us past farms, forests, by the river, over bridges and all along the way we would feast on wonderfully prepared dishes.
Very stately
It might be the best for last, as we certainly delighted in visiting the Blackwater Falls State Park. Our rooms at the beautifully run lodge were clean, comfortable, and relaxing with fantastic views of the West Virginia hills. We would then take in what this park is most visited for. Walking down a couple of hundred steps, we first heard the loud roar and thunder. A few more steps and we made our way through a small opening in the forest and got our first glimpse of the fantastic falls. It was breathtaking and mesmerizing at the same time to see the power of nature at its most wild!
More adventure awaited us as we would hike Seneca Rocks. The trip was a challenging and invigorating hike uphill towards the summit, but with the incredible panoramic views from on top, it was worth every last step. Here we would absorb the magnificence of natural surrounding all the while delight at all the wildlife around us, including many eagles drifting in the crosswinds. There wasn’t a care in the world. West Virginia was at its spectacular best and confirmed why it was a place I had to visit!
I had the good fortunes of walking in the footsteps of three incredible men: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. They were here and left their mark to what would become a great state and a foundation for an incredible country. West Virginia, in some ways, was what I expected, but then again, I learned of its historic significance, its boundless natural beauty and with the unbelievably friendly laid-back people, it is a place to discover, absorb and remember!
