Summer 2023 Editor’s Letter

Are you a happy camper? If not, you will be by the time you finish this issue.

After you’ve read about more than 200+ places to visit in West Virginia—from campgrounds to ice cream shops to tiny town treasures—if you aren’t inspired to hit the road in search of a new favorite find, then we will have failed miserably or you’ll need to visit a doctor pronto to have your pulse checked.

Summer is a verb in the Mountain State. It is something we excel at. And in my experience, there’s no better way to fully immerse yourself in our wild wonderfulness than by spending a few nights in the great outdoors. Not outdoorsy, you say? Then opt for a luxurious glamping tent or geodome. Don’t like to sleep on the ground? Then sleep in the trees in one of our state’s top-notch tree houses. I guarantee it will give you a new perspective. If you’ve never experienced RVing, then rent one. It is incredibly easy—you can even arrange for the RV to be delivered to a designated campsite of your choosing. And if you are like me and secretly covet an antique Airstream, then read Daniele Pennington’s tips on buying and restoring vintage campers. Beginning on page 82, we share valuable tips, suggestions, and so much more that will inspire you to say, “RV there yet?”

And what’s summer without a hot dog cookout? Whether you are gathered around the campfire and roasting wieners or hosting a Fourth of July celebration at your home, you’ll hit a home run with our Hot Dog Topping Bar on page 100. Let your imagination run wild—we sure did. In fact, we had so much fun with this food feature, Carla and I decided to concoct a personalized hot dog for every county. You’ll have to wait until next year for that story, though. You’ll also want to keep our feature on ice cream close at hand (page 70). When you need to cool off, try one of our 50 favorite ice cream shops from around the state. We know it isn’t a comprehensive list, but it’s a lip-licking starting point.

This issue also celebrates our state’s Incredible Kids. This year we had more than 60 children nominated. I hope their heartfelt stories of perseverance as they’ve faced challenges that no child should ever have to endure and their uplifting acts of goodness will make your heart swell with pride. These children should inspire the greatness in you. As I read about our Incredible Kids, I couldn’t help but think back to 22 years ago, when my daughter was born. She was diagnosed with Poland syndrome. Poland syndrome is a disorder where muscles on one side of the body can be underdeveloped or missing, and it often results in abnormalities that can affect the arm, hands, or chest. We were fortunate that Abby had a mild case. Many children born with Poland’s don’t have arms or hands. But those first several months were wrought with anxiety, doctor appointments, and many trips to various children’s hospitals—and I shed a lot of tears. We were determined that she would not grow up believing that this disorder would limit her in any way, shape, or form. And it hasn’t. Abby, who happens to be featured on page 11, radiates light everywhere she goes—she has always been happy, kind, creative, and caring. She recently graduated from Shepherd University and, as her capstone project, she created ARTtrek, a mobile art gallery. I’m so proud of her. She’s overcome many challenges and done so with grace and determination—and with a smile on her face. Although she is 22 years old now, she’s still my incredible kid.

NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS, Editor

Correction: Dry Run Spirits and Loafer’s Glory Resort and Event Venue, featured in our Spring 2023 issue (“Tree to Bottle in Pendleton County”) are in Pendleton County, as the corrected title indicates—not in Pocahontas County.