http://www.usresident.com/content/articles/us-travel-guides/west-virginia/ Sat, 19 May 2012 19:18:45 +0000 43200 http://www.usresident.com/content/articles/us-travel-guides/west-virginia/robert-c-byrd-green-bank-telescope-an-out-of-this-world-experience-r107 My visit to the Green Bank Telescope began as we neared the valley.From miles around the enormous structure of the telescope could be seen.As the largest fully-steerable single aperture antenna in the world, it is visible for three to five miles before actually arriving at the telescope’s visitor’s center.I thought it odd that as we came closer to the telescope our radio reception began to fade to static.

Once we arrived at the visitor’s center, we were amazed by all the exhibits, programs and other things offered to visitors.After wandering around the gift shop and examining some of the smaller exhibits, we joined a small group of fellow visitors in a seminar about the history and function of the Green Bank Telescope.

Our tour guide explained many interesting facts about the Green Bank Telescope and its surrounding facility.He explained that the area around the telescope is a “quiet zone”, in which all cell phone, radio and television signals are jammed so that the telescope can better function.The only television signal available to those living near the Observatory is from satellite!If you plan to visit the Green Bank Telescope, leave your cell phone behind.Any electronic equipment such as cell phones, beepers or CB radios that rely on radio transmission to function properly are useless in the area surrounding the telescope.

After listening to the short seminar, our guide led us out of the visitor’s center and on board a waiting bus.As we toured the grounds of the observatory, our guide told us of the Green Bank Telescope as well as the other telescopes, both historic and still in use, placed around the facility.He gave us information concerning who was using the telescopes, and what was being studied with them.He fielded questions regarding all aspects of the telescopes, and gave us ample opportunity to snap photographs.The tour took about an hour and a half, and was full of interesting facts about our solar system and beyond.

One of the best parts of touring the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope is the price:It’s free!Access to the exhibits, the seminar and the tour are all free, and our tour group was filled with people young and old.There is truly something for everyone interested in space at the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope.

Other amenities available at the observatory include a small restaurant, the Starlight Café, which serves an a la carte menu as well as prepared boxed lunches.The Galaxy Gift Shop has a wide assortment of t-shirts, jewelry, posters and other observatory-related articles for sale.If you would rather explore the observatory facility on your own and not take advantage of the free guided tour, visitors may walk or bike through the telescope array, but driving is strictly prohibited.

An interesting, enjoyable and educational side trip, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia can add a cosmic aspect to a trip through “Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia”.]]> Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:32:55 +0000 e58cc5ca94270acaceed13bc82dfedf7 http://www.usresident.com/content/articles/us-travel-guides/west-virginia/pipestem-state-park-pure-west-virginia-r106 My family and I have visited Pipestem State Park many times over the years. The entrance to the park is at the base of the mountain, and as we drove toward the lodge and deeper into the park, the mountains enfolded us into their bosom. Once inside the park, I find there is little reason to leave; with lodgings, food and activities all within Pipestem State Park, the resort is completely self-contained.

There are several options for lodging inside Pipestem. My family and I have visited the park on more than one occasion and have stayed in both the main facility, the McKeever Lodge, at the mountain’s summit and at the Mountain Creek Lodge, nestled in the Bluestone Gorge alongside the Bluestone River. While both lodges are comfortable and offer unmatched views of the breathtaking Bluestone Mountains, a favorite of my family is the Mountain Creek Lodge because of its unusual access; by aerial tramway! My family has also taken advantage of the large campground at Pipestem. While the campground will accommodate recreational vehicles, we enjoy “roughing it”, camping in a tent with friends and cooking outdoors over an open fire. Although we have never made use of them, Pipestem also offers rental cabins.

From childhood to adulthood, I have always found new and interesting activities to take part in at Pipestem. As I child, I enjoyed the guided horseback rides through the park where I have seen all manner of wildlife native to West Virginia. Pipestem also offers a miniature golf course, which is an enjoyable distraction on a cool autumn evening. Another of my favorite childhood memories of Pipestem is being out on the lake near McKeever Lodge, taking a paddle boat with my father. Canoe rentals are also available, but we have never been brave enough to attempt navigating a canoe. As an adult, I have enjoyed

My family and I have eaten at almost all of the restaurants offered at Pipestem, but our favorite has always been the Bluestone Dining Room at McKeever Lodge. Whether we have the buffet for dinner or order from the menu for breakfast, our meal is always delicious. The view from the lodge into the valley only serves to enhance the dining experience; in the morning, with the mist rising off the mountains, or watching the sun set in the evening, you really feel like you’re in the wilderness, away from the world and taking it easy. For a quick afternoon snack, we like to dine al fresco at the Black Bear Snack Bar, also located in McKeever Lodge. For some reason, it just seems like hamburgers and hot dogs and a soda just taste better when you have a beautiful view accompanying it! My family and I have never eaten at either of the other two restaurants in Pipestem State Park, but you may also choose from Mulligans Sports Lounge at the 18-hole golf course or the restaurant at Mountain Creek Lodge.

If you find yourself looking for activities outside Pipestem State Park, nearby attractions include the Tamarack, a showcase of West Virginia foods, crafts and craftsmen; the Exhibition Coal Mine, where you can experience what many West Virginians do, every day, to make a living; WinterPlace Ski Area, one of the East Coast’s foremost ski resorts; and the New River Gorge National River, celebrating the oldest river in the United States. I have visited many of these attractions myself, and they are interesting, but I have found that once I get to the park, there’s simply too much to do there to occupy my time.

Open year-round, Pipestem State Park is a resort that will appeal to families of all sizes. You’ll be treated like a member of the family, and you and your family will feel the true heart of West Virginia.]]> Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:31:40 +0000 c9f95a0a5af052bffce5c89917335f67 http://www.usresident.com/content/articles/us-travel-guides/west-virginia/smoke-hole-caverns-exploring-west-virginias-underworld-r105
After hearing my parents sing the praises of this state park, we were anxious to spend a weekend relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty of this enormous valley renowned for its ski areas. Once we got there, however, we found that in the fall of the year, there isn’t much activity in Canaan Valley itself, and we set out to make our own West Virginia adventure.

After collecting brochures on area attractions, we chose Smoke Hole Caverns as our destination. A leisurely drive through rural West Virginia back-roads brought us to the caverns. The scenery was beautiful; pastoral farms, old-timey stores and the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center all flanked our path as we traveled a little over an hour from Canaan Valley to the caverns.

Once there, we found we had arrived in between scheduled tours. The Smoke Hole Caverns area also features a restaurant, and we took a little time before buying our tickets to enjoy a delicious lunch of open-faced roast beef sandwiches while enjoying the scenic beauty of the surrounding Seneca Mountains. Our lunch complete, my husband and I made our way to the combination gift shop/ticket sales office and purchased our tickets for the next tour. The guide gave us important information to help us prepare for the tour while we waited for our underworld adventure to begin.

Our guide informed us that the caverns are a constant 56˚F, and recommended that we wear either a sweatshirt or jacket while on the tour. She also told us that while the trail was well-maintained and relatively flat, that it was a mile or so long, and anyone with difficulties walking may want to think twice about taking the tour. There are few places to stop and rest once inside the caverns, and some of the passages are a tight fit. Since we were already wearing sweatshirts, my husband and I purchased our tickets and waited for the tour to begin.

In ten minute’s time, the announcement that the tour was about to begin was made. We followed the guide outside and to the entrance of the caves. She unlocked and opened the door, and a blast of cold air immediately struck us, making us thankful for our warm clothing. Peering through the crowd, the caverns were dark and eerily quiet. The guide led us through the door, down a narrow path and into the cavern’s first chamber. The sound of perpetually dripping water filled the air, and the smell of million-year-old dust filled our noses. Then, she flipped on the lights.

The enormous cavern was illuminated with lights of every color, beautifully accenting stones and rock formations. Our guide used her flashlight to highlight spots around the cavern, telling us the legends and history around some of the more notable formations. My favorite in the first cavern was a huge ledge above us and to the left, overlooking the rest of the cavern. Our guide told us that when the Native Americans were making use of Smoke Hole Caverns, the spot on the ledge was used for sacred ceremonies such as weddings and tribal councils.

As we wound our way through the twisting and turning caverns, our guide flipped lights on and off to illuminate our path. She pointed out large formations of stalagmites and stalactites, formed over millions of years by constantly-dripping water. A few of the more interesting formations we saw included “The Devil’s Footprint”, which is what appears to be the impression of a single cloven foot in solid rock, “The Fairy Village”, a series of tiny, delicate formations inside a small adjunct chamber, and some of the larger “flowstone” formations, which are usually made of limestone but look like huge mounds of softserve vanilla ice cream.

While photography is permitted inside the caverns, I didn’t have much luck. We purchased a single-use camera at the gift shop, but because of the low light, many of the pictures we took were very dark and hard to see. I recommend either a good camera with a high-speed film or a digital camera, which would allow you to take pictures until you are happy with the results.

Our guide was friendly and informative, and allowed our group to take as much time as we needed to look at the formations and take pictures. She answered our questions to the best of her ability, and imparted her information in a way that added to the mysterious, other-worldly feel of the caverns. The tour, which lasted about an hour, ended as our guide led us up the stairs and back into the warm autumn sunlight. The hike back to the restaurant and gift shop was about a half a mile, but was enjoyable in the beautiful Seneca Mountains surroundings.

Smoke Hole Caverns is a great way to experience natural history in the making. After millions of years, the caverns are constantly changing and evolving, providing a new experience with each visit. Exploring West Virginia’s “underworld” is a welcome change, making any vacation to Northeastern West Virginia a truly unique experience.]]> Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:30:35 +0000 af21d0c97db2e27e13572cbf59eb343d