SPRUCE KNOB ~ Highest Point in West Virginia

This was my first trip ever to Spruce Knob and it was absolutely beautiful.

Spruce Knob sits 4,863 feet above sea level which makes it the tallest point in West Virginia and it's also the tallest mountain within the Allegheny Mt. Range.

The view from the lookout tower ~
  Mountain tops for as far as you can see, a thick forest of Spruce trees and large boulders that littered the ground.

Those trees were a welcome sight after standing atop the lookout tower. The winds were pretty strong but once we were back on the ground those trees offered shelter from them. We could also feel a definite temperature change as our bus began climbing the mountain road...glad we brought warm winter clothing.

                              Looking out over Germany Valley
On the way back down the mountain we stopped for a view of Germany Valley and a lesson on the formation of these mountains which happened millions of years ago during the Paleozoic Era.
I'm more of a history buff than a science lover but let me tell you, I learned so much from this group of Science teachers and I loved every minute of it!

I hope that this science fieldtrip will continue for many years to come. It was an AWESOME learning experience for the kids as well as us adult parents.

Next stop... The Sinks of Gandy!

Top Kick's Military Museum in Petersburg, WV

Click on photos to enlarge!

I'll warn you ~ this post has a good many photos!

Day 2 of our field trip began with a stop at the Petersburg Fish Hatchery ~ "Home of the Golden Trout" ~ in Grant County, WV. Unfortunately most of the pictures that were taken here did not turn out so this is all I've got to show you.

After leaving the hatchery we headed up the road to the Top Kick's Military Museum and I have tons of pictures from this place that I could share.

Top Kick's is a one of a kind military museum run by Gereald W. Bland. What began as a hobby and interest due to his own military career (Vietnam Vet) has mushroomed into a unique museum that is located beside his home and is open to the public.
Here you will find everything under the sun that relates to our U.S. Military from WWI clear through IRAQ.
When you approach the building you first spot the mini jeeps that sit upon the rooftop.

Outside the museum as well as inside you will find over 35 military vehicles that have been restored to original or near original condition.

All have a story to tell and Gereald is more than happy to share them with you.

He is especially fond of the Jeep that he rode in during the filming of "Major Payne".

As you browse room to room you will find many antique items.

                                 Candies and Gum

                                  Cigarettes and such

                            War-time Newspapers

 

                                 Artillery Shells

                  and my favorite ~ old military bicycles.

There is memorabilia in every nook and cranny of this building. Lots to see!
 Click on link for more info ~ Top Kick's Military Museum
If you are ever in the area of Petersburg I can tell you that this is one interesting place to stop. My son wants me to take him back someday so he can see more and I know that the rest of my bunch would love it too!


Spruce Knob and The Sinks of Gandy coming NEXT!

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!

Our Home Away from Home

Here are a few photos of where we stayed while on our three day field trip.
The girls all shared this house. It was nice and roomy with  5 big bedrooms, each containing 3-4 beds.

The boys got the cabins which were located directly to the right of the house. I never made it inside any of the cabins to see what they were like but my son said that we girls lucked out. The house was much nicer than the cabins.
                                 (Click on pictures to enlarge)

Just about a mile down the road was the Smoke Hole Restaurant which is where we went each night for dinner. 

The weather was nice so we ate outdoors on the open patio and afterwards the kids roamed the property where there were swings, fishing ponds, gift shops and a few wooden bridges that you could walk across a little stream on. At one point I looked up to see my son and a few others across that bridge visiting a few horses that had wondered through.

These cabins are also located in the same area as the resaurant and they are where me and hubby honeymooned almost 17 years ago.
The tourist business must be thriving in this area because this place has definitey expanded over the last 17 years. They have made it a beautiful place to honeymoon or just to get away from it all for a week or weekend.

Later that evening all the kids gathered in the living room of the "girls" house for a lecture on the windmills that are located on many of the mountain tops in that area.

Here are a few pics of those. These were taken a few years ago when we drove to Thomas, WV for a wedding.
These windmills are pretty impressive to look at. They are HUGE!

Well that's all I have for today.
I'm off to wipe some more walls down.
I've slowly begun to do some spring cleaning here at the house. My hopes are to get all my rooms done and then I plan on having a yard sale with everything that I have decided I no longer need.
Have a great day!

Cathedral State Park & Blackwater Falls

                                                            Blackwater Falls
These were stops two and three on our field trip. First up was Cathedral State Park which is located in Preston County, WV. This forest contains some of the last of the ancient hemlocks that once grew everywhere in the Appalachian highlands. The largest trees measure 90 feet tall and are 21 feet in circumference.

                                   Cathedral State Park
Unfortunately, some of my pictures didn't turn out so the above photo is the only one that I have from this stop. We were crossing a little bridge to go to a picnic shelter.

Next stop ~ Blackwater Falls

This is one of those places that I could go to over and over again and never bet bored with.
This five story tall waterfall is beautiful and due to the heavy rains that we have had lately the falls were booming.
The black or sap colored water is caused by fallen hemlock and red spruce needles that result in a build-up of tannic acid.

 Only 200 and some steps to descend to reach this overlook.  Not bad going down but it's a real treat to climb back up to the top.

Blackwater State Park covers a total of 2,456 acres and if you are a nature lover then you will have plenty to do here.
Fishing, boating, camping, hiking, swimming, skiing, sled riding and more.

That's all for today!
Next I'll show you where we stayed (and where hubby and I honeymooned almost 17 years ago) as well as an awesome military museum that's tucked away near Petersburg, WV and a fish hatchery that supplies all of our state parks.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all of you!