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OUTDOORS
Plenty going on to help get you through the summer heat
OK summer we get it, you're hot.
But here in wild, wonderful West Virginia we don't have to just sit here and waste away in sweaty old mosquitoville.
There's plenty of great outdoor spaces to cool off around the Mountain State.
Here's an ice-cold six pack of places to go wander about. Go online at www.herald-dispatch.com, and click on Entertainment, Sports or Life and then outdoors for even more ideas for outdoors places to go.
Island in the stream
The unique Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park near Parkersburg in Wood County is only a couple hours drive and a great way to cool off with a sternwheeler ride.
The Sunday Sundae Cruise is set for July 20 and again on Sept. 14 and 28. It's a three-hour tour that includes everyone's favorite, ice cream, plus a sunset cruise around the island.
If you missed fireworks, get this on the calendar, there's a Family Fireworks show Aug. 16 on Blennerhassett Island or while floating nearby on the Ohio River. The island snack stand will be open when passengers are island bound, and then it's onto the sternwheeler for river-front seating to view Parkersburg's Homecoming Fireworks display.
Reservations are required for evening events and available by phoning the park at 304-420-4800 or go online to www.wvstateparks.com and click on Blennerhassett Island.
A cool riding biker run
One of West Virginia's best all-brands touring rally returns to Snowshoe Mountain Resort for its ninth year July 16-20.
This year's Freedom Fest event will feature four fun-filled days of tours, live entertainment from classic rockers The Outlaws and Pure Prairie League, biker games and the newest addition, a $10,000 poker run. The area surrounding Snowshoe Mountain is one of the most picturesque in the country, and the winding mountain roads will keep you entertained no matter your destination. Snowshoe Mountain's many accommodations and amazing dining and nightlife options make it the perfect place to spend any time off your bike.
Go online at www.snowshoemtn.com.
Man the rafts
Launched in 1968 through the vision of the Dragan family, the rafting outfitters operating on the New River Gorge National River and the Gauley River National Recreation Area celebrate 40 years of commercial whitewater rafting this year.
This amounts to more than 3 million very wet and satisfied visitors to West Virginia.
You can get cooled off and make your river trip mild or wild by calling 800-CALL-WVA or go online at www.callwva.com or online at www.AmericasBestWhitewater.com.
Ride the trains
This weekend, Cass Scenic Railroad began its inaugural Steam Excursions Between Cass and Elkins giving the unique state park six working Shay engines in operation.
The Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society gets in on the action Saturday, July 26, as it hosts a West Virginia Rails Adventure weekend that includes an overnight trip from Huntington and Winfield to Elkins and Cass.
The trip includes a motorcoach trip from Huntington to Elkins for a ride on the New Tygart Flyer (a 46-mile round-trip train ride), then there's evening entertainment at the American Mountain Theater in Elkins on Saturday night.
Sunday, July 27, the group travels to Cass for a five-hour train trip to the top of Bald Knob.
There's a motorcoach trip back to Huntington with a stop at Tamarack in Beckley.
Trip cost is $289 per person.
Call 304-523-0364.
Some Ohio River hold 'em
Get in on one of the country's coolest poker runs, the second annual Huntington River Poker Run that takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 19, on the Ohio River.
Cost is $250 to register for the first two people and $50 for each additional person.
Cost includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and a chance to win more than $3,000 in cash and prizes by picking up your poker hand at marinas including The Showboat Marina/The Cajun Kitchen, Adams Landing and Holderby's Landing.
Go online at www.tristateboaters.com.
Made in the shade Out Wayne
Get OW (Out Wayne) with a shady, southern trip out of Huntington to the uniquely named Cabwaylingo State Forest, one of the closest state forests to Huntington.
Located on 8,123 heavily-forested acres, lounge at the pool, primitive camp for as low as $11, or bunk down in one of the super cool, old-school log cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps with stone fireplaces, the superintendent's residence, picnic areas, hiking trails and a fire tower.
Located near the campgrounds, the historical Tick Ridge Fire Tower, built in 1935, stands today as one of less than a dozen fire towers still remaining but not operational in the state.
Go online at www.wvstateparks.com and click on Cabwaylingo or call 304-385-4255.
Comedian Claude Stuart
J. Medicine Hat
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents "Boom A Ring"
Marshall Artist Series: "Nunsense"
Comedian Mike McCarthy
Covered Bridge Car Club of Milton
"The Witches' Ball"
The Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars Tour
Marshall vs. Houston (football)
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame"