WILD AND WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA

      There are many beautiful places all across the world. From the New York City skyline to the Hawaiian Islands, there are many eye catching sights. From Paris to Rome, the past and present co exist. Here in the United States, from the painted desserts of Arizona to the coast of New England, there is beautiful scenery everywhere. You have probably heard the saying, "Almost Heaven". This is the motto of the wonderful state of West Virginia.

     West Virginia is mostly known for its coal and breathe taking scenery. West Virginia produces millions of tons of coal on a annual basis. Coal is the states number one export, providing electricity to millions of people. For those of us that call West Virginia home, we benefit from coal in many ways. Coal provides a strong income for the state economy. Because coal is here in West Virginia, the citizens here, pay below averages on their power bill.

      Besides coal, West Virginia is also known for its hunting and fishing. There are thousands of places  that are considered good hunting and fishing spots here. From white tail deer to large mouth bass, it all can be found here. West Virginia has many parks and lakes. There are many places to go camping as well. West Virginia is mostly mountains. Most of the cities and towns are located in the valley. The State Capital is located in the city of Charleston. Back in the 50's, West Virginia had over 3 million residents. Now, the population is under 1 million residents. Some of the residents here, moved to North Carolina to work in the factories. They left because they are not a lot of jobs here. West Virginia was part of the state of Virginia, until it was made a state during the Civil War era.

      As far as sports goes in West Virginia, they follow West Virginia University. There are no pro teams loacted in the state of West Virginia. WVU campus is located in Morgantown, up in Northern West Virginia. Whether it is women's and men's basketball or football, there is a strong base of fan support for the Mountaineers. Year in and year out, West Virginia competes with the best schools in the nation. Often, they have been ranked nationally in each sport. Most football fans remember West Virginia quarterback Pat White. In his four years at WVU, he won conference championships and all four Bowl games, the only quarterback to do so. And in basketball, last year, West Virginia made a trip to the Final Four.

      There is many things to do in the State of West Virginia. Here, there is a little bit of everything for any age. Whether it is hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, or white water rafting, West Virginia offers it all. There are various activities for everyone here, anytime of the year. Want to visit in winter? Why not. You can check out the snow resorts in the Eastern part of West Virginia. If you like history, West Virginia offers many museums about past events in West Virginia, such as the Civil War. West Virginia offers many trails for four wheelers on the Hatfield and McCoy trails. There is plenty to do here. If you have planned a visit or your thinking about it, you will get your moneys worth.