# Need quick info: What is there to do in W.Va. this weekend? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349 "2011-05-26T20:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/1 "2011-05-26T20:37:15Z")
Everyone’s going to the beach this weekend. Memorial Day travel here is up by 12,000 people this year, according to the AAA. So, where can we go? I found some cheap hotel rates in West Virginia. Should I take them? What is there to do? We don’t go in for outdoorsy things very much, although we do like exploring pretty little towns and maybe some very light hiking. We like art galleries and artists’ communities, historical sites, streetside food and farmers markets, films, theatre, etc. Pretty waterfronts are big with us. So, whaddya say? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/2 "2011-05-26T20:56:03Z")
You could marry that cousin you’ve always had your eye on ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/3 "2011-05-27T03:47:41Z")
I don’t know a huge amount about the area, but your mention of art galleries reminded me of [Tamarack](http://www.tamarackwv.com/). I went once, and it was really a neat place! It’s located in Beckley, which puts you not too far from the New River Gorge Bridge and museum, and some other cool stuff. [Linky to a clearninghouse of stuff to do in that area](http://www.newriverwv.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/4 "2011-05-27T04:39:52Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > You could marry that cousin you’ve always had your eye on Can we hold the gratuitous regional slams, please? Particularly on the very first reply to a new thread? No warning issued. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/5 "2011-05-27T13:05:54Z")
You want a place to stay free? I’ve got a vacation house that’s between Cumberland and Romney in a place called Springfield. I’m not using it this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/6 "2011-05-27T13:59:44Z")
West Virginia’s a big state. Where are you thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/7 "2011-05-27T14:14:25Z")
Eh, looks like the trip’s been nixed. Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe I can make use of them soon. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/8 "2011-05-27T14:43:22Z")
Awww! I was going to suggest the [Palace of Gold](http://www.palaceofgold.com/). Bunch of Hare Krishnas, awful website, but beautiful grounds. ETA: Check out the virtual tour! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/9 "2011-05-27T14:57:12Z")
Strangely enough, we went there as kids. I don’t think I’m going to go back there, especially after finding out about all the sex slavery and abuse that went on with those folks. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/10 "2011-05-27T15:00:13Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Strangely enough, we went there as kids. I don’t think I’m going to go back there, especially after finding out about all the sex slavery and abuse that went on with those folks. :eek: Link? I too went there as a child. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/11 "2011-05-27T15:08:27Z")
I can’t find a link to it, but in 1987, _Rolling Stone_ published an investigative piece called “Dial Om for Murder.” It was pretty shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/12 "2011-05-27T15:12:15Z")
I know, it’s hard to find a link. With your article name, though, I am finding some stuff. ISKCON is the organization, and they have a lot of dirty laundry to their name. What is it with so many organizations that end up with child abuse? I wanted to say more, but I just don’t have the words. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/13 "2011-05-27T16:03:57Z")
WV is a big state. I don’t know exactly where you’re going, but I’d suggest Beartown, Dolly Sodds, and [Green Bank](http://www.gb.nrao.edu/). Not sure if Green Bank will be open this weekend. The parks are very nice, I’ve been to Watoga and Big Bend but both will probably be full of campers this weekend. Check out some caves too. Or just get lost down some rural back roads. Watch out for private property though, it’s not impossible to come across a moonshine still with surly owners (seriously, from what I’ve heard.) Oh, I forgot a really neat one: [Cass Railroad](http://www.cassrailroad.com/). It also has a neat little town. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/14 "2011-05-27T16:15:27Z")
I have a vague recollection that someone told me that there’s a halfway decent film festival somewhere in West Virginia. Is it true? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/15 "2011-05-27T20:06:20Z")
Harper’s Ferry is quite nice. It’s a little town on a mountainside next to the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. Beautiful. It’s accessible on Amtrak and also commuter rail from DC. West Virginia is actually a pretty big state, so really, what to do is region-dependent. It’s like asking what there is to do in Pennsylvania over one weekend (Are you going to Pittsburgh? Philly? Coal country? Amish country?) ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/16 "2011-05-27T22:24:51Z")
Bummer that you had to cancel your trip. The [Vandalia Gathering](http://www.wvculture.org/vandalia/) is this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-quick-info-what-is-there-to-do-in-w-va-this-weekend/583349/17 "2011-05-27T22:50:49Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Can we hold the gratuitous regional slams, please? Particularly on the very first reply to a new thread? > > No warning issued. Sorry, bad joke.