Tag Archives: campground

A Weekend of Whitewater Rafting the Lower New River, 1998

It was a long holiday weekend and our family decided to plan a whitewater rafting trip on the New River in West Virginia.   We would set up camp at a nearby campground finding a lot large enough for a couple of tents.

We contacted Wildwater (now Rivermen at Adventures on the Gorge), a whitewater rafting outfitter that would take us down the lower New River where we would pass underneath the New River bridge.  We learned that the minimum age to participate was 12 and my youngest sister and Mom would have to hang back at the campsite.

We opted to take the Lower New River Rafting Trip because not everyone had been rafting before.  According to the brochure, “the Lower New River offers one of the best whitewater rafting experiences in West Virginia . It is a large volume river with large shelf drops and boulders, creating the perfect combination of waves and hydraulics for a world class whitewater rafting experience.”

Our excursion would include a guide, life preservers and instruction on how to safely raft down the Class III and IV rapids.  The inflatable raft would hold up to eight of us including our guide.  The trip was to last anywhere from 4 – 6 hours which would be followed by a robust lunch.

We were instructed to bring a second change of clothes for after the trip, sunscreen, waterproof  bags to hold medication and other valuables.  The guides also have waterproof bags if the guests do not provide one.

After our safety requirements discussion, we were ready to head down the river! Here are the photos of our trip…

Our day on the river was more than fantastic with amazing rapids, scenic views and an exhilarating experience.  I look forward to returning again when my little sister can join us.  She would absolutely love it.

Have you rafted the New River or maybe the Gauley?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for perusing my photos of our rafting trip and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

What to See and What to Do:

Rivermen Adventures on the Gorge
219 Chestnutburg Road
Lansing, WV  25862
Telephone:  888 287 4496

  • Rafting Fee:  Adults:  $99, must be at least 12 years old and able to swim
  • Hours:  By reservation;  contact their website for time slots available
  •  Amenities:  Guide, life preservers, plastic bags for valuables.
  • Length of Time:  4 – 6 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Bring sunscreen, plastic bags to protect valuables, remove jewelry and expensive items (do not bring them if possible), make advanced reservations

Where to Stay:

New River Gorge Campground
632 Milroy Grose
Lansing, WV  25862
Telephone:  304 658 3600

Where to Eat:

Rio Grande
571 Mall Road
Oak Hill, WV  25901
Telephone:  304 465 5434

I ordered the taco salad with beef and a house margarita.

What to Eat: 

  • Pepperoni Rolls (invented in West Virginia) is bread with pepperoni baked inside
  • Buttermilk Biscuits
  • Chili and Slaw dogs
  • Cornbread and Pinto Beans
  • Mexican cornbread
  • Morel mushrooms
  • Mountain Dew
  • Ramps are wild onions
  • Venison

What to Read: 

  • True West Virginia Ghost Stories, by Jonathan Moore
  • New River Gorge, by J. Scott Legg

Photo Guide for the New River Gorge

  • Bridge View from Tunney Hunsaker Bridge
  • Grandview
  • Fayette Station Road
  • Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center

Camping Out at Carolina Beach

I met up with some friends for a long weekend during the summer to camp Carolina Beach State Park. We packed up our car with our gear and snacks, reviewed our camping checklist and made the two and a half hour drive from Raleigh.

When we arrived, we found the perfect campsite large enough for two tents and began to unload the car.  Driving our posts into the sandy ground, it wasn’t long until we set up camp and enjoyed lunch before setting out to explore.  Camping was how my family vacationed when I was growing up, visiting the Ohio state parks to hike, camp and ride our bikes, so I was feeling a little nostalgic.

There are nine miles of easy trails at Carolina Beach State Park.  We began our afternoon hiking the “Campground Trail” which was rated an easy hike, one mile in length.  The sandy path took us through the camp sites which connected with the Sugarloaf Trail.  This extension brought us to the marsh overlook where we spent a few moments exploring the wetlands for birds and wildlife.  From here, we found the quarter of a mile Oak Toe Trail for views of the Cape Fear River.

We heard about Fort Fisher located about 20 miles south of Wilmington.  We thought it would be a fun experience to access the recreation area by boarding the Southport Ferry.  The ride lasted 35 minutes to Pleasure Island where we could explore the Civil War encampment.   Fort Fisher was a pivotal battle during the Civil War, fought in the state of North Carolina.   Protecting the trade routes, the fort was strategically built along an outlet along Cape Fear, often called the “Southern Gilbraltar”.   Built in 1861, it became the largest Confederate Fort sitting on 200 acres and was eventually captured by the Union forces.  The site remained abandoned until World War II.

Along the sea face is a fence that surrounds the high mounds along the coast.  Its design resembled the Tower of Malakoff at Sevastopol in Russia and was often called “The Tower”.  It is said that over 1,000 soldiers and slaves died here during the battle.

Several cannons, which guarded the seacoast, remain fully functional and are fired during special occasions.  Each year, the park commemorates the Second Battle of Fort Fisher which took place in January 1865.

We stopped to explore the remains of Fort Fisher.

To the left of the opening in the ground, there were stairs that led up to a cannon at Sheppard’s Battery.

It was a beautiful day to enjoy the fort, setting up camp and hiking Carolina Beach State Park.  We had worked up an appetite from all of the hiking and we could not wait to make camper pies and s’mores over a fire.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Carolina Beach State Park and/or Fort Fisher State Historic Site?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my camping trip and visit to Fort Fisher and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

What to See and What to Do:

Fort Fisher State Historic Site
1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. S.
Kure Beach, NC  28449
Telephone:  216 421 7350

  • Admission Fee:  Free
  • Hours:  Open Tuesday – Saturday from 9AM to 5PM; Sunday from 12PM – 5PM (Memorial Day through Labor Day); Closed Monday and most major holidays. .
  • Amenities:  Historical site, museum, guided tours, visitor center, trails, monuments and outdoor exhibits, handicapped accessibility, picnic facilities, gift shop
  • Length of Visit:  3 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:  During the summer, there may be mosquitoes so wear bug spray and bring water to stay hydrated.

Where to Stay:

Carolina Beach State Park
1010 State Park Road
Carolina Beach, NC  28428
Telephone:  919 707 9300

Where to Eat:

SeaWitch Cafe
227 Carolina Beach Avenue N
Carolina Beach, NC  28428
Telephone:  910 707 0533

We were hungry for crab and ordered the Carolina crab dip as a starter.  When I noticed the grouper sandwich on the menu, I was so excited.

What to Read: 

  • Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
  • Murder on Cape Fear by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
  • Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
  • Murder at Wrightsville Beach by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
  • Secret Missions of the Civil War, by Philip van Doren Stern

Photo Guide for Wilmington:

  • Riverwalk in Downtown Wilmington along Cape Fear
  • Concrete Pier at Wrightsville Beach
  • Carolina Beach Boardwalk
  • Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar
  • Carolina Beach State Park
  • Carolina Beach Marina
  • NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
  • Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
  • Fort Fisher State Historic Site