The Ghost Town of Union Level

Union Level, Va “The Most Visited Ghost Town in Virginia”, or so the sign on the building across the street would have you believe. We’re not entirely sure how true that statement is as there were only a few passerby’s when we visited. Nevertheless, it was a very interesting place to visit and if you’re willing  to make the journey we’d say that it’s worth it.

I grew up in a small town much like this one, in the Midwest, and I’ve always been fascinated and yet disheartened by what events led to the demise of these small communities. Researching, you’ll find that a lot of them were merely blips on the countryside where others were economic epicenters. Each one of them with their own unique story to tell. If you want to discover more about this one in particular, we highly recommend checking out the BLOG we found on the “Forgotten South” webpage.

Here’s a web link if you’d like to visit it.

https://theforgottensouth.com/union-level-virginia-ghost-town-history/

Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills, SD

The Black Hills of South Dakota are truly magnificent. Beautiful canyons, streams, lakes and waterfalls, there are so many things to discover there outside of the usual tourist hotspots. Spearfish Canyon is a great example of what make the hills so amazing. The canyon can be explored via HWY 14A or the myriad of back country roads that run all through the area. Either way you choose, I guarantee that you’ll discover a landscape that is unmatched by any other. Have you ever been to the Black Hills? What did you love most about it?

Exploring Blackwater

Jennifer and Bailey look over the powerful Blackwater River

Nature’s power on display as the Blackwater River cascades over the rock face

On the days leading up to Overland Expo East 2021, we visited a few of the more touristy area’s in the beautiful state of West Virginia. One of those places being Blackwater Falls near Davis, WV. If you haven’t been, we highly recommend adding it to your list of attractions and places to visit. Yes, there’s a trading post (aka tourist shop/trap) in the parking lot, but don’t let that deter you. Nor the masses that you’ll come upon while making the short journey to the falls from the parking lot. It’s worth it, trust me. We recommend visiting the historical markers and info stations along the short hike down to the observation decks. We found them very interesting and they allowed us to see the falls from a different perspective. You’ll understand what I mean if you take the time to read them. We won’t spoil that for you. No bother if you choose to bypass the info centers and head straight to the falls though. Nature’s power, showcasing the beautiful waters of the Blackwater River, cascading over the rock face is by far the main attraction here and is enough to keep anyone petrified with awe.