Our travel began as Lisa, Mary Wade and I visited The Mystery Hole. 

Here in the hills of West Virginia, the laws of gravity run amok.  We experienced them firsthand during our ten-minute tour.  We saw water running uphill.  We saw balls rolling uphill.  We stood at a tilt. Lisa felt ill.  Mary Wade felt ill. 

Mary Wade wrote a fun article last year about seeing West Virginia through the eyes of visitors.  And she's got another one for this year!  There she is to the left, under the all-seeing eyes of the Mystery Hole gorilla.

Near Hawk's Nest State Park, near one of the most challenging whitewater rafting in the nation. 

We walked a couple of miles through lovely wooded areas to the edge of the cliff overlooking the Gauley River on Cliffside Trail.

After Hawk's Nest, we continued our drive to Lewisburg, where these fine products are available: 

Sparkling Mullet Body Wash and Cash and Vibrant Mullet Shampoo, formulated for all mullets and rat-tails (New Muscle Car Scent!). 

Yeee-haaah!  Let the good times roll!!

We decided to visit the opulent Greenbrier that evening, eventually deciding to eat at Draper's Cafe.

The Greenbrier is known for its classic architecture, exquisite interior design, carefully sculpted landscape, impeccable service and outstanding amenities have hosted distinguished guests from around the world since 1778, and has been awarded a National Historic landmark status.

The Greenbrier has played host to 26 U.S. Presidents, from James Monroe in 1815 to George W. Bush in 2005, as well as numerous heads of state and celebrities.

Guests enjoying drinks on the patio of the Greenbrier, overlooking the greens, kickin' it West Virginia style in the fine tradition of presidents and heads of state of yesteryear.

The facility offers 721 rooms, including 33 suites and 96 guest and estate houses. The Greenbrier has 10 lobbies, 40+ meeting rooms and a complete conference center facility. Guests enjoy over 50 recreational activities including 3 championship golf courses, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and a 40,000-square-foot spa.

In the late 1700s, when the property’s sulphur springs were discovered in the mountains and stories of the water’s healing powers spread, more and more travelers braved the dangers and hardships of travel to “take the waters” to restore their health.

The stately white columned main building of the Greenbrier was built in 1910, though the property dates 100 years earlier when visitors ‘took to the waters’ of the hot springs for its alleged rejuvenation qualities.

The United States of America was two years old when the Greenbrier – then known as the Old White Club – was built. Still going strong more than 200 years later, the Greenbrier was named Resort of the Century last year by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Resort.

Ever wake up Sunday and think, "Let's go to a Civil War reenactment?"  Me neither.  But we knew of one, the Battle of Dry Creek.

We arrived a half hour before the designated start time.  As we walked up, the immense BOOOOMM! startled the snot out of us although we were at least five hundred feet away from the cannon.

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Bumper stickers at the Civil War reenactment.