We don't do as much traveling as we used to. But we recently took a day trip to southern West Virginia.
Our first stop was Hawks Nest State Park. If you have traveled there before, you know where they get the expression half the fun is getting there - that is unless you are prone to motion sickness. If you are, then I would advise you to sit in the front seat of the car.
We have been to Hawks Nest many times, but this is the first time we ever rode the tram down to the river.
We wanted to ride the jet boats, but they were all booked up.
So we did the next item on our list. We went on a hike. My husband has a bad knee, so he didn't go with my son and me. He loves to talk, so he stayed and talked to the tram guys.
The hike was beautiful - a path filled with large rocks, rhododendron, foot bridges, caves, snakes . . .
Of course, my son had to climb up onto the first big rock we came to. Boys will be boys.
And speaking of snakes. This is where I encountered a baby snake wriggling under my shoe. I didn't stay long enough to see what kind he was, but he wasn't a black snake.
On the way back down the trail on this neat little foot bridge.
Our next stop was at a trail we had never walked on before. You drive over the New River Gorge Bridge, which is an experience I never tire of, and then travel a local road to a set of trails that take you to a great place for a photo op of the bridge.
I never took any pictures along the trail because we were in a hurry. We even sprinted in a few places. I never walked a trail so fast in my life. It was late and given the length of the trail we were going to be walking back in the dark. Thank goodness for cell phone flash lights!
The first mile and 3/4 was a fairly easy walk. But the last 1/4 mile was a heavy breather. This is approaching the end of the trail. And believe me when I tell you the view was well worth the huffing and puffing.
This was as far out as I would venture. My son said that I couldn't fall off unless I just walked off the edge. I said different --- You could trip. You could slide. You could get woozy. So I played it safe.
We still got some great pictures. My son even took a few selfies.
After enjoying the view and taking a bunch of pictures, we started back. And yes, it was in the dark. I kept imagining encounters with wild animals, but none appeared.
My son said, "If we see Big Foot, shine the light while I take the picture."
I told him, "Please make it a clear picture."
For some reason all the pics people take of Big Foot are blurry. 😊
Press this link to a list of trails in the area. I would like to try them all out. The name of the trail we took is the Long Point Trail.
Hope you enjoyed this Traveling West Virginia.
Have you ever been to either of these places?
If not, I hope you get to visit some day.
