West Virginia: An Explorer's Guide
For visitors and residents alike, there is no other book that will direct you to the best and most hidden secrets that the Mountain State has to offer. Leonard's native state is quickly becoming the outdoor playground of the eastern United States, and he reveals where to hike, bike, canoe, kayak, whitewater raft, fish, swim, rock climb, hot air balloon, and golf. Don't feel energetic? Then let Leonard tell you about scenic railroad excursions into the mountains, world-class art museums, historic sites, and the most wonderful places to eat and slumber.
Children have not been forgotten, with entries about amusement parks, special venues geared toward the younger set, and restaurants and bed and breakfasts that cater to children. Pets have their own entries as well.
This book is destined to become THE classic guide for the east's most beautiful state.
"Leonard literally pursued seeing everything...He left no stone unturned."
Greater Parkersburg, WV Convention and Visitors Bureau
"It was inevitable. Sooner or later, someone would write the definitive travel-and-adventure guide for the Mountain State.
Leonard Adkins did.
The Charleston native - known as "The Habitual Hiker" for his long-distance treks along the Appalachian Trail and other prominent footpaths - took on that daunting assignment and nailed it on the first try.
That should come as no surprise to those who know of Adkins' recent literary exploits. His guidebooks to the Appalachian Trail and to hiking paths in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and the Caribbean have captured widespread acclaim. Writers don't win the National Outdoor Book Award or the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award unless they've got some serious literary chops.
In "West Virginia: An Explorer's Guide," Adkins provides a stunning amount of information in a format that's easy to follow and even easier to read.
Looking for scenic views? This book tells you where to find them.
Looking for historic sites? It's got them, too.
Hiking trails? Of course.
Fishing holes? You bet.
The book highlights the best places to stay and the best places to eat. It tells you where to play golf or to bowl a line or two. It can even tell you where to head in case of a medical emergency.
Sprinkled throughout the book are folksy anecdotes of local interest. Did you know, for example, that pepperoni rolls were invented by northern West Virginia's Italian coal miners? Or that the Hatfield-McCoy feud actually began in the 1860s because of a Civil War-related killing?
In short, "West Virginia: An Explorer's Guide" is a must-have for anyone who wishes to experience the Mountain State at its wildest and most wonderful."
John McCoy, Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail