One look at the cover and I bet you can guess that this issue is all about celebrating summer with friends and family—and food! We celebrate our state’s agritourism industry by sharing a plethora of locations around West Virginia that are embracing our agricultural heritage—from pick-your-own farms to fields of flowers to dinners showcasing local produce (page 60). What better way to enjoy the community than by celebrating its bounty with loved ones? I’m a sucker for a table out in the middle of a field. Add fresh produce and locally sourced meat, and I’m all in.
Have you heard of the term forest farming? West Virginians have been doing it since, well, forever. Hunting and fishing, tapping trees for syrup, collecting honey, and foraging for mushrooms might come to the top of your mind, but it includes much more (page 98). There is a resurgence of interest in medicinals, like ginseng and black cohosh, that are native to Appalachia, and dried flowers, mosses, or pine boughs harvested from the forest have become household decorative staples. I encourage you to take a walk in the woods and just see how many things you can identify that can be utilized in your own home. I’m thinking we should put a long farm table in the middle of the woods and only eat foraged foods. Any takers?
While relaxing in the forest has always been one of my preferred places to unwind, for more than a year now, I’ve been on a mission to identify some of the state’s best spas for girlfriend getaways. Please don’t send me hate mail if I missed yours. I’m willing to continue my studies and do a sequel. Self-care is not something I am prone to do, so this forced me to enjoy some time with friends, learn what treatments are available, and visit places to determine what makes each location special (page 84). I highly encourage you to use this as a guide for a weekend trip with your gal pals. My face and body wish I’d done some of these things before my fifth decade on this planet. Make sure you follow us on social media: @wvliving on Facebook and Instagram. I’ll be sharing some fun—although probably not the most personally flattering—videos documenting our experiences!
In this issue, we also take you to Ripley. This small town has a lot going on. Given its darling shops, fantastic restaurants, and community spirit that is off the charts, it’s time for you to plan a trip—or once you read our story on page 54, you might want to relocate. We also travel to South Charleston. I climbed the Mound for the first time—I know, shocking. But I have to think I’m not the only one who has been to South Charleston many, many times and not climbed the Mound. If you fall in that camp, promise yourself that you’ll do it the next time you visit. It’s so easy, and the views are well worth it (page 27).
Another fantastic place I recently visited is Lost River Vacations in Hardy County. I met one of the owners, Jane Jonas, during our WV Living Best of WV pop-up parties around the state, and she introduced me to her Deaf-owned collection of tiny house vacation rentals near Lost River State Park (page 51). At every turn, she and her partner, both of whom are Deaf, have supported the Deaf community. Not only were these tiny houses designed by Deaf people, but they were built by Deaf contractors. Jane told me that my company’s mission—to change perceptions of West Virginia—resonated with her because her company wants to change perceptions of how the hearing world perceives the Deaf community. Such a cool story, and the tiny houses are adorable. I can’t wait to watch their expansion and witness their success.
Speaking of success, congratulations to our 2024 Incredible Kids (page 108)! Each year, our readers nominate the young superheroes among us. It is always our honor to highlight their stories of accomplishment and perseverance, and by doing so, cheer them on to an even brighter future.
I hope this issue inspires you to have a spa-tabulous summer filled with food, friends, family, and laughter!
Nikki Bowman Mills, Editor
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2024 ISSUE
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